Tesco is to open nearly 200 of its stores on Boxing Day this year as it fights for its share of spend in the worsening economic downturn.

Tesco will open all its 179 Extra stores and 10 Homeplus stores on Boxing Day. Last year it opened just 50 of its biggest stores, and it usually gives most of its staff two days’ holiday over the festive period.

A Tesco spokesperson told the Financial Times: “We’re opening more of our biggest [Extra] stores this year and our Homeplus stores on Boxing Day as many customers tell us that they now see this day as a shopping day, with most other retailers opening their doors.”

Tesco has suffered under pressure from rivals, and from the hard discounters Aldi and Lidl.

It introduced its Discounter range earlier this year but this month delivered its worst UK sales performance for more than a decade. Tesco said its Discounter range had deflated sales during the quarter.

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