Tesco, the UK’s largest grocer, announced plans in January to open a trial store selling non-food items such as clothing and electrical goods.
The retail giant has been diversifying into new product areas for a while. There are already around 100 Tesco Extra shops throughout the UK, which stock a wide range of non-food items.
Commenting on the trial store, a spokesperson told OPI: "It is early days and we have no further detail but we will trial a non-food store at some point this year. Shoppers expect us to try out new ideas and we will continue to grow the number of Extras and develop non-food ranges in our existing stores."
In the same month, Asda, the Wal-Mart owned chain of UK superstores, announced expansion plans to the tune of £7 million ($13.5 million) to develop its jewellery, optical and photo centre businesses, which will appear in 258 of its 274 stores by the end of 2005.
Cheshunt (UK) and London (UK)
