Tesco announced this week a restructure of its stores management team to reflect its shift from the hypermarket space race to the convenience stores at the heart of its new strategy.
Under the changes, Tony Hoggett, MD of Tesco Extra, moves to the role of UK operations director, reporting to UK MD Chris Bush.
He replaces Gerry Gray, who after 12 months in the role is moving to take up the new position of COO at Tesco’s c-store operation One Stop.
Gray’s move will see him take more day-to-day responsibility from One Stop CEO Tony Reed, who has been tasked with developing a new “blueprint” for Tesco’s convenience strategy across its UK and international operations.
With Tesco CEO Philip Clarke calling an end to the expansion of Tesco’s Extra empire, former head of superstores Hoggett will oversee the full spectrum of Tesco stores in his new role.
“Tony has been involved in many of the most important [developments at] our stores,” said a Tesco spokeswoman. “He oversaw the evolution of our superstore programme with stores such as Bishop’s Stortford and Chester, bringing in new developments [in] food-to-go, and has been instrumental in his role as head of Extra in rolling out the changes at prototype Extra stores such as Watford, Purley and Coventry.
“He will still oversee the refresh programme we are carrying out on the Extra stores, and we’ve said we will do 650 this year, but in his new role Tony will oversee all formats. He’s been absolutely at the forefront of Tesco’s store strategy.”
Tesco is on the lookout for a new MD of Extra to report into Hoggett.
Reed’s new role reflects the increasing importance of convenience to Tesco - as well as to other retailers. “The convenience channel is a key part of our strategy and Tony will be looking at areas including how we use the success of the One Stop operation to develop our services at home and abroad,” the spokeswoman added.
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