Tesco 24-hour opening to end at Extra store in Whitstable
Published: 15:00, 31 January 2016
Retail giant Tesco has revealed plans to end 24-hour opening at its supermarket in Whitstable.
The Extra store in Millstrood Road is one of 76 across the country that will now shut at midnight and re-open at 6am.
The company says the move will mean staff have more time to stock shelves, improving the availability of products and the appearance of the supermarkets when they open in the morning.
Impact on staff will be "minimal," with just 400 workers affected nationally, it added.
Tony Hoggett, retail director for Tesco, said: "We’re always thinking about how to serve our customers better in each of our stores and with the growth of online grocery shopping, these stores saw very few customers during the night.
“It makes much more sense for colleagues at those stores to focus on replenishing the shelves instead and making sure they’re fully stocked when they open their doors at 6am.
“We’ll continue to make changes in store in ways that will make shopping at Tesco a better experience for our customers, at the times they want to shop.”
The changes will take effect between March 14 and April 11 this year.
Tesco began 24-hour trading in 1996 and about 400 of its stores are open 24 hours a day.
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Gerry Warren