Tesco’s new venture Jack’s opened its doors to the public today as staff were greeted with a queue of hundreds of shoppers, some of which arrived at 3am.
Following its official unveiling to the press yesterday, Tesco welcomes the public to two of its new Jack’s stores in Chatteris in Cambridgeshire and Immingham in Lincolnshire today.
Hundreds of shoppers waited outside the stores ahead of their ribbon cutting ceremony at 10am.
It’s opening morning and the rain has not kept them away! Jacks is here!!! #jacks pic.twitter.com/tlX5kUq2NU
— Adrian Connell (@adeyc36) September 20, 2018
Its reception was fairly mixed yesterday, with many questioning whether it could truly be a contender to German discounters Lidl and Aldi, especially with a far less aggressive roll out strategy than anticipated expecting just 15 stores in its first year.
Shoppers seemed to have equally mixed opinions, with some hailing its low prices and range.
“I occasionally shop in some of the other German stores like Lidl and Aldi so I was curious as I was nearby and thought I would just have a look, and I was really impressed,” medical sales worker Jeevan Gunaratnam, 48, told the Press Association.
“I think prices are good, I think the whole package Tesco has put together for Jack’s is really good and I think it will be a really good addition to the high street.”
I predict Tesco’s “Jack’s” no frills supermarket won’t fly. They have mistakenly thought Aldi & Lidl are just about low prices. They’re also about novelty, discovery & surprising quality. Silly #Tesco.
— Scarlet Wilde (@wilde) September 19, 2018
Others weren’t so positive, with many raising concerns that employees won’t receive the same benefits as their Tesco counterparts.
Jack’s employees will receive £9 an hour, more than Tesco staff’s £8.18 per hour, however they won’t receive the same benefits like an annual bonus or discounts.
There are many shops I avoid like the plague, This will be another one of them. Staff on different contracts to ordinary Tesco's , Stock to be plastered with the 'Butchers apron' Yeah, I'll stick with @LidlUK@AldiUK Thanks.https://t.co/NEJa1O8Po7
— Scotland's No1 Comrade Now Politically homeless (@no1_scotland) September 19, 2018
Named after Tesco’s founder Jack Cohen, Jack’s is a discount store aimed at breaking into the disruptive market currently dominated by the German discounters Aldi and Lidl.
The new Jack’s fascia is also Tesco’s new value brand, 1800 of the 2600 products will be part of the Jack’s brand.
The other 700 items will be branded, where their were no supply capabilities available or having a known brand was especially important.
8 out of 10 items will be “Grown, Reared or Made” in the UK.
Kantar Worldpanel’s head of retail and consumer insight Fraser McKevitt, said: “Jack’s isn’t going to make an immediate dent in the competition’s market share – not at the rate of openings announced today.
“For context, there are already over 1,300 Aldi and Lidl stores across the country and the two have a combined market share of 13.1%, so Jack’s is clearly playing a longer-term game.
“With its heavy Union Jack branding and promises on provenance Jack’s is clearly looking to make its name as a solid British retailer. Nearly half of shoppers try to buy local produce when they can so it could be a savvy move, though it’s still very early days.”
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