Tesco opens new concept convenience store in London
Tesco has opened a new first-of-its-kind Express convenience store in Philpot Lane in the City of London.
The 1,000 sq ft store is smaller than a traditional Tesco Express store and is designed to cater for busy office workers in the area, including the 8,000 workers in the soon-to-open nearby ‘Walkie Talkie’ building.
Philpot Lane Express will offer breakfast, lunch and early afternoon food ranges, including more than 100 different types of sandwiches, as well as breakfast pastries, pre-packed sushi, soups, snacks and ready meals.
Andrew Yaxley, Tesco’s managing director for London, said: “Our new Philpot Lane store is a great example of Tesco providing the products and services that meet the shopping needs of our customers. This new store, located in the heart of London, will offer a wide range of ‘food-to-go’ items ideal for busy office workers, as well as the latest technology to help make the shopping trip quick and easy.”
The store will also include a Fred’s Food Construction food counter. The concept, which opened its first restaurant in Osterley earlier this year, is modelled on a New York style deli and will provide hot breakfast and lunch sandwiches, porridge and pastries in the morning and tea and coffee throughout the day.
Fred’s Food Construction co-owner Paul Goodale said: “It is fantastic to have support from Tesco and we are very pleased to be able to bring our concept, born on a road trip around the US, to the heart of the City of London. We look forward to welcoming new customers to be ‘fed by Fred’; simple yet delicious fresh food for hard-working people on the go.”
The store has been designed with the time-conscious office worker in mind, primarily using new ‘Slimline’ checkouts which use less space than traditional units. The checkouts will all be compatible with contactless payment, allowing customers to pick up their food and pay in seconds.
