Supermarket giant Tesco is to revamp nearly half of its stores in Northern Ireland in what is says is a bid to enhance customer experience and help showcase locally-sourced products.
The multi-million-pound refurbishment programme has already begun, with three of the refreshed stores at Lisnagelvin in Derry, Newtownards and Bentrim Road in Lisburn having been formally completed last week.
Work due to start at Lisburn Road in Belfast and Strand Road in Derry in January, while improvements have also been carried out at a number of stores including Ballymoney, Castlereagh, Knocknagoney, Carrickfergus, Bangor, Cookstown and Ballymena, which have all benefitted from a full refurbishment and will launch in the coming weeks of December.
The revamps are part of an ongoing commitment by Tesco in Northern Ireland to enhance customer experience and to help showcase the growing number of local food and drink products sourced from the region.
Tesco opened its first store in Northern Ireland in 1995, following its acquisition of Stewarts Supermarkets.
It currently has more than 50 stores across the region and employs more than 9,000 staff making it one of the north largest employers.
Tesco NI says it offers 2,000 food and drink product lines from around 150 local producers.
Tesco NI’s retail director Ian Logan said: “We’re delighted to re-launch our stores that have received recent improvements.
“We have reformatted the Knocknagoney, Carrickfergus and Ballymena stores with fresh produce and bakery goods in mind to allow easier access to those revamped sections.
“Customers will be able to get a fresh cup of coffee and a snack on the go, including locally produced baked goods and overnight oats. With our commitment to sustainability, we have also installed more environmentally friendly fridges. Derry/Londonderry and Lisburn Road customers will soon be able to enjoy the same benefits.
“Customers at the Lisnagelvin, Newtownards, Lisburn, Bangor, Cookstown and Ballymoney stores will also be able to grab a cuppa and a treat while they shop and will enjoy more options at the beers, wines and spirits section,” Ian added.
“This is a significant ongoing investment programme that is reflective of our commitment to Northern Ireland and the hundreds of thousands of customers who visit our stores on a regular basis.”
Tesco UK said its investments had delivered volume growth ahead of expectations, and due to its performance, it now expects to deliver around £2.9 billion retail adjusted operating profit for the 2024/25 financial year (previously this figure was £2.8 billion).
Its chief executive Ken Murphy, speaking in October when Tesco reported group sales of £31,463 million (up 3.5% on the previous year), said: “We are in good shape, with volume growth delivering strong financial performance.
“This builds on our track record of delivery for all our stakeholders. Our strong momentum allows us to continue to focus on value, quality, innovation, and the broader customer experience, whilst investing in growth opportunities in a disciplined, returns-focused way.”
