Tesco stacks new store acquisitions

Tesco is pursuing "between 20 and 30" new store opportunities in Cheshire, South Manchester, Wirral and Merseyside according to area acquisition executive Andrew Crewther.

Crewther, formerly development director of Modus, joined Tesco late last year to take over from John Clarke, who left to join Property Alliance Group as retail director.

"There are still a lot of opportunities out there," said Crewther, who oversees new site acquisitions for stores with trading areas over 25,000 sq ft, a division known as F25 within Tesco. "As well as areas where we aren't represented we are always churning the estate in terms of replacement on or off site and refreshing older stores."

Crewther is based in Tesco's regional office on Portland Street, Manchester, along with two other F25 acquisition executives for North Manchester and Lancashire and Cumbria among other staff.

Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy stepped down this month after 14 years in charge. He was replaced by Philip Clarke.