Poundland has opened a flagship distribution centre in Harlow, Essex, as it seeks to grow its store estate from 540 to more than 750 in the next three years.

The new facility is Poundland’s largest, and will help drive growth in the UK and in Europe, chief executive Jim McCarthy said.

The centre will also enable Poundland to extend its product ranges, improve on shelf availability and extend automatic store ordering for certain ranges.

“The centre will provide greater availability of products to our customers and improved stock management for the business.

“The depot will also be critical to driving our expansion plans, helping us achieve our long-term target of opening 1,000 stores in the UK,” McCarthy added.

Poundland sells an increasingly wide range of chilled and ambient groceries, confectionery and household goods.