Upmarket retailing in the UK

Guest blogger Lance Jungmeyer chiming in ...

UK retail behemoth Tesco is joining upscale retailers as it opens a slate of two- to three-story department stores. It is taking square aim at the likes of Marks & Spencer, Debenhams and others.

According to this Financial Times article, the thinking behind this store is that it is all-encompassing.

'In a marketing document describing the multi-level town centre store as a "whole new concept", Tesco said the shops would sell food, televisions, clothing, homewares and toys over two or three floors, with escalators linking the levels.'

The article notes that, one way or another, Tesco already gets one out of every seven pounds spent in all of British retail. This new format is a way to shave more market share from top-end competitors.

Speaking of the upper crust, if you have ever been to the granddaddy of all retail stores, the nine-story KaDeWe in Berlin, you can understand the appeal of a high-end retailer of foods, spirits, clothing, books, hi fidelity audio/video and more. A good chunk of one floor is dedicated to toy trains alone.

The food retailing floors (Yes, floors) are a sight to behold. From the cooking stations to the monster meat department and spotless produce department, it is a virtual circus of sights, smells and tastes.