Tesco calls end to 24-hour trading at 76 stores

Supermarket giant Tesco today said it would put an end to 24-hour trading at 76 of its stores '“ including four in Scotland.

Tesco is to end 24-hour trading at 76 stores. Picture: Steven Scott Taylor

The affected branches will close their doors between midnight and 6am in a move the UK’s largest retailer said was designed to “improve the shopping experience”.

The Scottish sites that will no longer open 24 hours a day are the Extra stores in Cumbernauld, Dunfermline and Inverurie, along with the Dingwall Mart Road superstore.

Reducing the opening hours will free up more time for workers to replenish the shelves overnight, the chain said, “which will mean better availability of products and better looking stores when they open their doors to customers each morning”.

The changes are due to take effect by 11 April. There will be no other change to the night operation of the shops, and Tesco said the impact on staff is expected to be “minimal”.

Retail director Tony Hoggett 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.”

He added: “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.”

About 400 Tesco stores are currently open 24 hours a day.