UK's Tesco to enter American market

by Andrew Barrow, Posted Feb 15th 2006 @ 7:00PM

The UK's top supermarket chain, Tesco, is expanding not only into Eastern Europe and the Far East but now into America, a market where many foreign companies have come unstuck. (Top UK firms Marks & Spencer, Dixons and Next all tried and failed).

There was huge secrecy surrounding the plans to launch in America. Company executives were said to have masqueraded as Hollywood film producers claiming they were making a film set in a supermarket as cover for their research. They also built a complete store hidden in an aircraft hanger as the "set".

Tesco revealed plans to launch a £250 million "assault" on America's West Coast in 2007. Up until these plans were revealed, Tesco's main link with America has been a deal to bring the Cherokee clothing brand to Europe.

Specifics are still vague but it appears they will shun the big store format for convenience stores similar to the Tesco Express concept in Britain - smaller convenience stores situated at the heart of the high street - suggesting they are not planning to compete with market leader WalMart.

Tesco currently operates 2,467 stores in 13 countries.

Source

Filed Under: Business, Stores & Shopping
Tags: british isles, food and drink, FoodAndDrink, stores-and-shopping, supermarkets, tesco, west coast

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-15-2006 @8:30PM Jenny said... Yay! I cant wait! Maybe thats just cos I'm a brit. I think the reason I want them is that I used to do all of my shopping in tescos when I was in the UK, now (in San Diego)I get a bi-weekly co-op veg parcel, go to Trader Joes, Henry's, Vons and Ralphs for the rest of my shopping. It used to be so simple when I didnt have any choices!
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2-15-2006 @10:37PM Sir Not Appearing in this Blog said... I for one welcome our new tea-drinking overlords.

Bring lamb and mint crisps.
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2-15-2006 @10:39PM Andrew said... I think ONE bag a year is enough for you laddy! ;-)
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2-16-2006 @2:49AM Kelley Ritchey said... Does this mean that Tesco will flood the US market with musical sandwiches? See the link. My expectations for my sandwich are much lower!

http://bbq-iguanas.blogspot.com/2005/12/musical-sandwiches-are-here-next.html
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2-16-2006 @10:52AM Beth said... Sweet!! I used to shop at Tesco while studying at Queen's University in Belfast. But I probably won't be seeing one in my area, as I live in suburban Philly. *sigh*
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2-18-2006 @12:53AM Paula Murray said... I'm all for it. We had an extended stay in London, Dublin and Glasgow last summer, part of it in vacation flats, and really really loved our around-the-corner Sainsbury's on Victoria.

I live in urbia in Kansas City, MO, and would love to have a nearby small, fresh-food/quick to cook/quick to go through grocery somewhere near us. It may be a real option because there are lots of condos and apartments being built near our house.
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