Tesco has confirmed plans to trial non-food stores in Aberdeen and Manchester over the next year. These stores are expected to be called Tesco Homeplus.
If the trial is successful, the move will enable Tesco to increase customer access to its growing range of non-food – currently only 20% of the UK have access to a Tesco Extra store.
Tim Mason, marketing director for Tesco said: "We know that our customers love the convenience of a one-stop shop and our priority will always be to provide this by selling non-food and food under the one roof.
"However only a minority of the UK live close enough to be able to access a Tesco Extra store.
"We hope this trial will be popular with those customers who cannot currently access our great value and wide range of non-food products."
The supermarket has just completed a customer research project to gain feedback on the proposed designs and is hoping that the two stores in Aberdeen and Manchester will be ready for opening at the beginning of October.
The new stores will closely resemble the supermarket’s Extra format – with no food. The stores will offer a wide range of non-food items from TVs, toys and toasters to books, bedding and beauty products.
The new stores will also give Tesco the opportunity to offer the full clothing range under one roof. Florence and Fred and Cherokee are the fastest growing ranges in the UK and clothing at Tesco grew by 28% last year.
Both sites are existing retail park stores that Tesco will convert into the new format. It is hoped that the renovation and merchandising will begin on the Aberdeen and Manchester sites from June.
Each of the stores will employ around 100 members of staff, creating new jobs in the local areas.
