Tesco is expanding its convenience store network as part of a wider UK retail growth strategy. The supermarket group plans to open more than 70 new Tesco Express stores by the end of its 2026/27 financial year.

The move strengthens its position in the UK convenience retail market and reflects continued investment in bricks-and-mortar grocery retail.

The rollout follows a programme of around 60 new store openings in 2025. Five former Amazon Fresh sites in London have also been acquired and will be converted into Tesco Express stores, with reopening scheduled before summer 2026.

Convenience store expansion drives UK retail growth

Tesco’s expansion plan centres on neighbourhood convenience stores. The retailer already operates more than 2,000 Express outlets across the UK and Ireland. The new openings will increase its footprint in urban and suburban areas where shoppers make frequent, smaller purchases.

The five former Amazon Fresh locations — including sites in Kensington High Street, Hounslow, Moorgate, Aldgate East and Wembley — provide ready-fitted retail space in high-footfall areas.

Amazon closed its UK Fresh estate in 2025, creating opportunities for established supermarket groups to secure existing store sites.

New Express stores are also planned in communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Recent and upcoming openings include locations in Devon, Wales and Scotland, alongside new larger format stores in Pitlochry and Heartlands.

Shifting consumer behaviour shapes store strategy

The expansion reflects changes in consumer shopping habits. Industry data shows that shoppers are making more frequent trips and favouring local stores for top-up purchases. This has increased competition in the UK convenience store sector.

Major supermarket groups have invested in smaller formats to capture demand for accessible grocery retail. Tesco’s Express growth strategy positions it directly against other national chains operating neighbourhood formats.

The focus on convenience also supports its wider omnichannel model, which combines physical retail with online grocery services.

Retail analysts note that established supermarket brands continue to prioritise physical store networks despite growth in ecommerce. For grocery retail, proximity and speed remain important factors for customers.

Investment in physical retail amid competitive pressure

Tesco’s store expansion comes at a time of tight margins in the UK grocery sector. Rising operating costs, inflation pressures and sustained price competition remain key issues for retailers.

Expanding convenience locations can help drive volume growth and strengthen local market share.

The company has stated that the programme will create new jobs and support local economies. The strategy combines convenience expansion with selective investment in larger superstores, balancing neighbourhood access with full-range grocery provision.

For international retail observers, Tesco’s expansion highlights the continued importance of physical retail in mature grocery markets.

Even as digital channels grow, convenience store growth remains central to supermarket strategy in the UK retail sector.