 |
 |
|
Doing it a bit differently
- Since 1993 Tesco has been expanding its business across Europe.
- The company has acquired stores in France, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and, of course, Ireland.
- Although customer needs and expectations differ from those in the UK, the Tesco commitment to Quality, Value and Service are equally strong in Central Europe.
|
|
The French Tour
- In 1993, Tesco acquired 7 hyper-markets and 95 supermarkets in Northern France from the French food retailer, Catteau.
- A Tesco Vin Plus wine supermarket aimed at English as much as French customers was opened near Calais in 1995.
- In late 1997, however, it was decided to sell the Catteau chain (except for the Tesco Vin Plus store) and concentrate on expanding the Central European operation.
|
|
Making a Trip to Central Europe
- In recent years, prosperity has been increasing in Central Europe and there is real demand for better stores and wider choice. Yet, modern retailing is still relatively underdeveloped.
- Tesco has already opened 2 large stores in Hungary which have proved extremely popular with customers.
- This year will see 6 hyper-markets opening, 3 more in Hungary, 2 in the Czech Republic and 1 in Poland.
- These stores will carry a full range of food and non-food products, from washing machines to hardware to toys.
- Tesco has entered and has developed the Hungarian, Polish, the Czech Republic and Slovakian markets as follows:
|
|
| Table 1: Table of Acquisitions and Central European Developments |
| Country |
No.of Stores Acquired |
No.of Stores Today |
Year of Market Entry |
Progress to Date |
Future Plans for 1999/2000 |
| Hungary |
41 |
41 |
1994 |
2 hyper-markets opened |
3 hyper-markets planned |
| Poland |
32 |
55 |
1995 |
Acquired Madex and Minor food chains |
2 hyper-markets planned |
| Czech Republic / Slovakia |
13 |
13 |
1996 |
All stores now ‘ Tesco ’ brand name |
4 hyper-markets planned ( 2-Czech Republic ; 2- Slovakia) |
|
|
| Tesco in Thailand |
|
|
Moving on to Asia
- In May 1998 the board of Tesco PLC acquired a controlling interest in Lotus, a leading chain of 13 hypermarkets in Thailand.
- This move into Thailand follows on from the entry by Tesco into the emerging markets of Central Europe.
|
|
Taking Thailand by storm
- The investment in Lotus accelerates Tesco’s expansion plans for Asia.
- The 13 Lotus hypermarkets are located throughout Thailand, including 5 in the Bangkok area.
- All Lotus stores are equipped with modern hypermarket systems
|
|
Sowing the seeds of success
- 12 further Lotus hypermarkets are to be opened in the next 4 years.
- As is the case in Central Europe and all of Tesco’s operations around the globe, Tesco will pave the path to success in Thailand with the same high standards of customer service, principles of innovation and firm policy of listening to our customers that we apply across the business.
|
|
|