Jollyes names opening date for Chichester and Pontefract stores

Jollyes has confirmed its next two new stores, in Chichester and Pontefract will both open on Friday 14 March at 10.00am.

Both new stores will provide pet owners to Jollyes’ raw food frozen ‘shop-in-shop’ and community pet clinics which will offer essential vet services such as microchipping and vaccinations.

Jollyes has recruited around 20 roles across each of its two new stores, led in Chichester by Chris Ratcliffe and in Pontefract by Meg Percival.

Ratcliffe began his career as a sales assistant at Jollyes in North Harbour in 2019 before promotion to supervisor, and then deputy store manager at Waterlooville.

Percival worked at Jollyes’ Selby store for 18 months and has progressed in Jollyes and alongside other Jollyes colleagues transferring to the store, will bring significant pet expertise.

Both stores will have opening ceremonies led by retired police dogs supported in their later years by the National Foundation for Retired Service Animals (NFRSA).

Biting through a string of sausages at Chichester to declare the store open will be retired explosives search dog Hugo who worked at Gatwick Airport for six years. Fulfilling the same task at Pontefract will be retired prison dog Kaydee.

In Chichester, joining the opening team at Portfield Trade Centre on Bognor Road will be local MP Jess Brown-Fuller’s rescue golden labrador Mellow.

The Pontefract store will be inaugurated by community ensemble The Liquorice Singers to serenade shoppers with pet-themed songs alongside the Mayor of Wakefield Borough Council Darren Byford.

Joe Wykes, Jollyes CEO, said: “Over the last three years we’ve been opening stores right across the UK bringing the combination of the best value in town and the incredible expertise of our people in looking after families’ pets. We plan to bring that combination to significantly more locations in 2025 and we can’t wait to begin our 2025 opening programme in Pontefract and Chichester.”