Tesco: International Shopping
If you are thinking of moving to Europe, you will probably run into a Tesco, or be guided to one if you ask where to buy something. If you already live in Europe, you’ve probably already gone to one! There are some stores in Asia, but this is a token European spot.
Tesco is based in the United Kingdom, and is an international grocery and general merchandise chain. It is the third largest global retailer, other than Walmart and Carrefour, though it makes more money than Carrefour. What started out as a food and drink chain has gone above and beyond all.
Tesco exists in the UK, China, Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Ireland, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Poland, Slovakia, South Korea, Turkey, Thailand and the US (it operates as Fresh and Easy). One in Croatia is being built.
Tesco has a number of different types of stores. Tesco Extras are out-of-town hypermarkets. Usually the ground floor has food and the second has clothes and electronics. Most have a café. Tesco Superstores are large supermarkets. Tesco Metros are between superstores and Express stores, usually in city centers. Tesco Expresses are like convenient stores. Tesco Homeplus does not carry food, but home goods. They also have petrol stations! Most of these stores are located around England.
One example of a Tesco is the one in downtown Prague, located at Národní třída (National Triangle), which is a Metro and Tram stop. The company bought Kmart’s operations that it was undergoing to build in the country, and built Tescos instead. The basement floor stocks groceries, and you can sometimes find items that are not common in local stores, such as non-iceberg lettuce. There’s a plethora of alcohol, where they even sell minikegs, as well as a deli and cheese area. The base floor has many street food vendors outside, and inside includes stationary and bath and body products. There is another floor for apparel, and another floor for electronics. You must take escalators up and down all the floors, and it is very hectic!
Though Tesco does have insane selection, the prices are not very competitive. It is not considered a working-class store, like Walmart or K-Mart, but more of a Sears or Fred Meyer (in the Northwest). Many European countries but extreme taxes on products like shoes, clothes and books. Local food markets usually have better prices as well.
Not sure why you’d say Tesco isn’t a working class store ? It certainly is in it’s home country of England – although of course I can’t comment on how it is perceived in other countries. It’s on the same level as ASDA (now a subsiduary of WalMart) and just below Sainsbruys. These are the 3 supermarket leaders in the UK.
In Ireland, Tesco’s is perceived as being reasonably good value, but certainly not really cheap like Lidl or Aldi. I find that actually the one in my home town is quite expensive – it depends on what you’re looking for, their alcohol is competitively priced, and the food i certainly cheaper than another Enlgish export, Marks & Spencer, which is regarded as more upmarket. Most stores would be along the lines of the ‘superstore’ described above, although there are now some Express stores (bad value!) and some larger ones with petrol stations.
i discovered tesco on a trip to scotland this summer. absolutely loved it and their pastries were awesome. i ate so many maple pecan bars i bet i gained ten pounds!!
So where is the one in Croatia?