Tesco makes it easier to walk down the aisle

TESCO is changing the layout of its supermarkets to more closely resemble how shoppers plan their meals for the week ahead.

Rather than grouping similar items on one aisle, food and drinks that frequently form part of the same dish will be placed next to each other.

Tinned tomatoes will be moved away from other tinned vegetables and placed with herbs, salt and spices, for example.

Eggs, sugar, salt and other baking products will be moved into the same aisle, while olives will move away from canned vegetables to be placed with the pickled onions and gherkins. Baking goods such as decorations, sugar and other cake essentials will be split between the bread area and tableware.

Tesco will also streamline its range, removing poor sellers where there are several versions of the same item taking up space.

The latest changes are part of a major revamp begun by Dave Lewis, who took over as chief executive of Tesco last year.

They are being trialled at 50 stores across the country. If Tesco receives positive feedback, it could roll out the plans to other stores.

The changes do not currently include fresh produce, which is likely to remain near the entrance of all supermarkets.

A spokesman for the supermarket said it knew customers were “often pressed for time” and the new layout would make life “a little easier”.

Tesco said it would also listen to ideas from shoppers themselves, such as putting snacks like peanuts and crisps near the beer, or having curry sauces, rice and naan bread in the same aisle.