Tesco to axe 24-hour opening at 76 of its larger stores

The supermarket giant said the affected stores – which represent around a fifth of the 400 Tesco stores that currently operate around the clock – would close at midnight and re-open at 6am following the changes. 

It comes just four months after Retail Week revealed that Tesco had canned 24-hour opening at two of its larger stores.

Tesco insisted the latest changes to opening hours, which come into effect in the spring, are designed to “improve the shopping experience for customers,” freeing up staff to replenish products on the shelves overnight in a bid to improve availability each morning.

It added that making “more efficient use” of time and resources would allow the business to make cost savings, which it could pass on to customers.

The grocer said the changes would have a “minimal” impact on staff and insisted there would be “no other change” to night shift operations in the stores.

In London, Tesco’s Lewisham superstore and Woolwich Extra store will both be affected by the move.

Tesco retail director Tony Hoggett said: “We’re always thinking about how to serve our customers better in each of our stores and with the growth of online grocery shopping, these stores saw very few customers during the night.

“It makes much more sense for colleagues at those stores to focus on replenishing the shelves instead and making sure they’re fully stocked when they open their doors at 6am.

“We’ll continue to make changes in store in ways that will make shopping at Tesco a better experience for our customers, at the times they want to shop.”

The changes will take effect between March 14 and April 11.