º£½ÇÊÓƵ

National pet retail chain Jollyes is to open a new store in Scunthorpe later this month, part of a £1 million investment in the brand over the next 18 months.

The Gallagher Retail Park addition will be one of the first wave of new branches in a plan to take the number of outlets from 68 to 100, while doubling vet clinics hosted and rebranding its grooming parlours. The latter element, to be known as Jolly Groomer, will debut in North Lincolnshire when it opens on March 24.

Stores in Glasgow and Peterborough have just opened, with Christchurch, Warrington, Swindon and Merthyr Tydfil to follow for the Essex-based business.

Read more: British Steel secures largest ever order for rail sleepers with 244,000 heading to Guinea

New head of services, Colin Neave, who has moves from a regional manager role to focus on the expansion, said: “We’re moving at pace at Jollyes as we support our extraordinary colleagues as they support pet parents in their communities with much needed ways to lower the cost of looking after their four-legged family members.

“Our commitment to widen the provision of vet clinics and grooming services will help us build on our extraordinary growth as more customers discover the value and expert support our people provide.”

Scunthorpe will also be the home of one of its first Wash & Go dog-wash booths which for £5 provide a full clean-up for mucky pups without the hassle of messing up a home bathroom.

It has also partnered with Leeds-based to provide in-store veterinary services from fully trained and Royal Veterinary College-accredited vets, with eight Northern Ireland outlets to see vet clinics introduced from next week.