Tesco M’sia to spend RM27.5mil to renovate three more stores

GEORGE TOWN: Tesco Malaysia will spend approximately RM27.5mil until February 2018 to renovate three more stores in peninsular Malaysia.

These are the three outlets in Tesco Setia Alam, Tesco Bukit Indah, and Tesco Shah Alam.

“We have plans to renovate another six stores in 2018, but the budget has not been finalised yet,” Tesco Malaysia format director Corine Boudville said.

According to Boudville, so far RM83mil had been spent to renovate nine Tesco outlets in the country.

These are the stores in Cheras, Melaka Peringgit, Kepong, Taiping, Ipoh, Kajang, Kota Bahru, and Penang, where there are two stores.

Boudville told a press conference at the Tesco Tanjung Pinang store in Tanjung Tokong that the renovation was done under Tesco’s Next Generation programme.

“The goal is to resize the floor space of the hypermarkets to create a more efficient shopping experience for our customers without compromising on the range of products offered.

“The other goal is to create more retail space for our tenants.

“Under the Next Generation programme, the 9,000sq metre floor space of the hypermarkets is reduced to 6,000sq metres.

“The renovation for each store takes about 10 to 12 weeks,” she added.

According to Boudville, Tesco Tanjung Pinang refurbishment began in July 2017 and was completed in 12 weeks.

“With an investment of RM9.9mil, the store now has a larger space for a bustling food court and better mall tenant mix, while creating a great family shopping destination under one roof.

“The store will also introduce six self-checkout counters for customers’ convenience. This is the second store in Penang that has undergone transformation after Tesco Penang at e-Gate, which was completed earlier this year,” she added.

Meanwhile, Tesco Malaysia chief executive officer Paul Ritchie said in a press release that the company was on a mission to serve its shoppers a little better, every day.

“To do this, we have committed to help our customers by improving their shopping trip repurposing our stores and offering customers great end-to-end service through the Next Generation programme.

“Being in the retail industry, every little detail but continual improvements into the business is necessary in order to attract our customers.

Hypermarket makeover: Boudville (right) and Tesco Malaysia northern region store director Yew Yoong Sin checking out the newly-renovated Tesco hypermarket.