Tesco Newport sublets space to The Original Factory Shop

The Original Factory Shop and a children’s soft play area have become the latest businesses to take space in one of Tesco’s largest stores as the supermarket group looks for ways to attract shoppers.

Tesco has sublet space in its Tesco Extra in Newport, Wales, to discount chain The Original Factory Shop and play centre operator Funky Monkeys.

The overhaul of the store is part of a drive by Tesco to convert its hypermarkets into retail and leisure destinations.

The supermarket retailer has also installed its new family restaurant Decks into the Newport store. Decks sells family carvery meals, cakes, and alcohol and has been created by Tesco.

As part of the revamp of its hypermarkets, Tesco has bought a stake in coffee Harris + Hoole and acquired restaurant chain Giraffe. One of the first Tesco Extra's to be modernised was in Watford, which includes a Giraffe, Harris + Hoole, and a F&F clothing concession.

Discount chain Original Factory Shop sells a range of non-food items at almost 200 stores in the UK. Its sales have surged since the collapse of Woolworths in 2008.

Tesco shoppers will be able to reach the Original Factory Shop from entrances inside and outside the supermarket.

However, a spokesman for Tesco played down the prospect of a wider partnership between the two companies, stating that any tenants in Tesco stores “need to be right for the local community”.

The revamped Tesco store opened last week and the Funky Monkeys play area is scheduled to open on November 18.

Source : Graham Ruddick - The Telegraph
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