Tesco is having a second stab at the US market, announcing plans yesterday to open the first franchise stores of its clothing business F&F @FandFclothing across the pond.
The move comes just seven months after Tesco backed out of its Fresh & Easy venture in the US, booking a £1bn writedown on the move after attempts to take on US retail giants like Walmart failed.
Tesco is now planning to open seven F&F stores on the east coast this year, in partnership with its US franchise partner, Retail Group of America.
The first one will open near Boston in May and will sell women’s, men’s and kids’ ranges. Four more will follow in New York, then in Philadelphia, Newport and Virginia.
F&F has expanded quickly since its launch in the UK and Ireland in 2001 and now operates in 21 countries.