Tesco has unveiled an ambitious expansion of its UK and Ireland store network, committing to open more than 70 new convenience-format outlets by March 2027 and reinforcing its presence across urban and regional markets.
At the centre of the roll-out are five high-profile sites in London that the supermarket has acquired from Amazon’s defunct Fresh format. The locations — in Kensington High Street, Hounslow, Moorgate, Aldgate East and Wembley — are scheduled to reopen as Tesco Express stores before the summer, following Amazon’s decision last year to close all 19 of its UK Fresh shops.
Tesco already operates just over 2,000 Express stores in the UK and Ireland and opened 60 new outlets in 2025 as part of its ongoing convenience strategy. Further planned Express sites in 2026 include locations in Devon, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, reflecting a broad geographic push into smaller, frequented retail formats.
The expansion isn’t confined to smaller stores. Tesco has also brought larger formats into its development plans, with new superstores opened recently in Ripon and Harrogate, and two further large stores announced for Pitlochry and Heartlands in Scotland this year.
On the strategy, Nick Johnson, Tesco Group Property Director, said: “As one of the UK’s leading retailers, we support jobs and local economies up and down the UK, and as we grow our store network we’re delighted to have the opportunity to serve even more people, in even more communities. We are hugely excited about the year ahead and looking forward to meeting our customers where they are with great quality, exceptional value and brilliant customer service.”
Tesco’s announcement comes as the supermarket sector continues to prioritise convenience retailing, responding to consumer trends toward more frequent, local shopping journeys and away from large, weekly big-basket trips. Larger grocers are increasingly investing in smaller formats to capture everyday spend and drive growth in competitive urban market.
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