Poundstretcher is a crock of s**t
...says the former boss of, er, Poundstretcher
THE ex-boss of Poundstretcher has branded it a “crock of s**t” in a shocking TV documentary.
Chris Edwards was parachuted into the high-street chain in October to revive its fortunes.
But viewers will see the founder of rival Poundland left reeling by the state of the business, owned by millionaire Aziz Tayub.
In a new fly-on-the-wall Channel 4 series, Yorkshire entrepreneur Edwards, 67, finds staff stealing and workers fiddling clocking-off times.
On a visit to one “boring” store he moans: “It’s a grotty old place. If there are any worse than this, then God help us.”
And he says of stock choices: “I think we will sell a lot more Diet
Edwards raps ‘boring’ store Coke than cucumber and mint drinks. Poundstretcher has lost its way on the obvious. And until the distribution is right, we are b **** cksed. If we don’t hurry up, the business is gone.”
He brings in former soldier Mark Boyd to check on stock control. He sees workers stealing on CCTV.
“It amazes me we don’t search them at the end of a shift,” Mark tells the documentary makers. “To me, that’s a given.” The Tayub family – who saw a £3.4million profit turn into a £3.5million loss in 2017 – wanted to draw on Chris’s expertise after he sold Poundworld for £150million in 2015.
But tensions soon mount. “Everyone is running s**t-scared of Aziz,” Edwards tells the camera – only to be shown the door after six months as CEO.
Baffled, Edwards says: “The job is only a quarter done.” Aziz says: “It is not a question of sacking. Chris did a good job.”
Last year the tycoon owners were fined £1million over health-andsafety offences at premises. The firm failed to keep aisles and fire exits clear or properly train staff. ■■■Saving Poundstretcher starts tomorrow at 9pm on Channel 4