In an effort to make its convenience stores more acceptable to its neighbours, the UK’s largest retailer today (7 July) unveiled plans to revamp its Tesco Express facades.
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The new look, the company said, has been inspired by the comments of local people and customers who have said they want the storefronts to be more “subtle and welcoming”.
According to Tesco Express chief executive Colin Holmes people have expressed a desire for a less intrusive exterior. “They want our shops to blend in better to their neighbourhood, so we’ve developed new shopfronts that will enable us to take a more flexible approach when we design new stores. This will also mean going back to stores where we know we have got it wrong and giving them a much improved shop front,” he said.
The designs will allow Express stores to sit more comfortably within an areas existing architecture – often restoring original features – Tesco claims. Designs are currently being finalised, with discussions between the company, local authorities and landlords ongoing.
Tesco says that, because it will no longer have one formulaic shop front, the company will be able to embrace a range of different architectural styles – from contemporary designs to suit urban city centres to a more traditional look, which will see the restoration of original exterior designs. All facades will feature a new Tesco Express logo.
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By GlobalDataThe architect designing Tesco’s new look is Graham Tytherleigh of Aukett Tytherleigh, a critic of the current Express shopfront who approached Tesco last year with ideas on how the they should be developed.
“I found the loud colours of this and other Express stores unnecessary and I believe in some settings they actually work against the popular shopping offer that was available inside,” Tytherleigh explained.
“Tesco Express Stores occupy a variety of different building styles, often period terraces in conservation areas, so it is important the strengths of each building are identified and, where appropriate, original architectural detail reinstated.
“The new designs will see many fascias reduced to original proportion so they wiill now match those of their neighbours. The logo has been simplified and reversed out of a dark blue background and only the letter characters will now be illuminated to give a restrained but clear message at night.” Tytherleigh said.
