Tesco is looking to tap into more flexible working practices in the wake of the pandemic by converting unused space in its supermarkets into mini offices.
Later this month, the owner of office operator Regus will trial a 3,800 sq. ft. flexible working area on the upper mezzanine level of Tesco’s New Malden supermarket, with room for 12 private desks, 30 co-working spaces, and a meeting room.
The tie-up comes as supermarkets look for ways to fill excess space in stores after exiting non-core categories and closing fresh food counters. Some of Tesco’s larger stores already host retailers such as Decathlon, Pets at Home, Holland & Barrett, Timpson, and Vision Express.
Louise Goodland, head of strategic partnerships at Tesco said: “We are pleased to be working with IWG to offer customers the chance to work more flexibly from their local Tesco. We are always looking to serve our customers and communities better, and we will be interested to see how they respond to this new opportunity.”
Mark Dixon, the Chief Executive of IWG, added: “People don’t want to spend hours commuting every day and instead want to live and work in their local communities. A Tesco Extra in a suburban location, in the middle of a vibrant local community, is the perfect location for flexible office space.
“New locations in suburban areas will transform communities and are a response to the growing demand we are seeing from customers who want to live and work locally.”
NAM implications:
- The issue is whether office usage can generate more than the equivalent of £1,000 sq. ft. per annum.
- i.e. A no brainer…
