Poundland re-opens another 26 stores as retailers get ready to throw open their doors in June

Managing director Barry Williams said: “As an essential retailer, we’ve continued to support customers in hundreds of towns – especially those who manage their budgets week-to-week and find it difficult to bulk buy.

“And our store colleagues have done much more than their day job. They’ve also played a vital role, delivering care packages to other frontline workers and those in need in their communities. But even though we’ve kept serving customers, we know we’re at our best as part of a vibrant thriving high street and that’s why we’re looking forward to our neighbours reopening in the coming weeks.

“Healthy town centres are the lifeblood of our economy and our communities. It may have been tough for many retailers before this crisis and it’s more important than ever that we make sure we encourage customers to say hi to their high streets as we return to business-as-unusual.”

Poundland said it was working closely with shopping centre landlords to reopen the last of its closed stores as soon as possible.

The reopened stores will have “robust” health and safety measures in place like all the stores that have remained open, it added.

These include door marshals, floor markers to help maintain social distancing, perspex screens at checkouts and no self-checkouts.

Poundland also said that staff will be expected to wash their hands every 20 minutes and key surfaces will be wiped down every hour.

In the restaurant industry Nando’s said it will re-open a further 54 of its restaurants for delivery and collection services across the UK and Ireland.

The Peri-Peri chicken chain will be serving from a reduced menu to support its kitchen staff, who will maintain social distance in its kitchens and food preparation areas.