Supermarket chain Tesco has announced plans to shut down more than 2,000 of its stores in England if the national team reaches the World Cup final on Sunday. The closure of Tesco Express outlets across England at 7.30pm, instead of their usual 10pm or 11pm closing time, will allow employees to head home or to a pub to watch the game if England defeats Argentina and advances to the final.
While employees will receive their regular pay for the early closure, Tesco’s larger stores in England will already be closed by the 8pm match kick-off time. The stores will resume operations as usual the next day. Despite the closure of Express stores in the evening, they will operate normally during the day, anticipating high demand for goods like beer, snacks, and other essentials should England progress in the tournament.
Customers will still have access to Tesco’s ultra-fast Whoosh service until 11pm for last-minute essentials, and existing online grocery orders for Sunday evening will be fulfilled as scheduled. Stores in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will maintain their regular opening hours.
Kevin Tindall, Tesco’s UK Operations managing director, expressed the company’s support for its staff and their desire to celebrate with family and friends if England makes it to the final. However, Tesco will not close its stores early for the crucial England versus Argentina game, as it did for the potential final. In contrast, electronic retailer Currys will close its stores an hour earlier to allow employees to watch the match.
VoucherCodes projects a viewership of 26.2 million for the semi-final, with many expected to gather in pubs, bars, and fan zones to watch the game. The surge in viewership is anticipated to boost hospitality sales, with an estimated 7 million fans watching in hospitality venues. The British Beer and Pub Association forecasts a significant increase in beer consumption during the game, with pubs potentially serving an extra six million pints.
Overall, VoucherCodes estimates a £357 million spending spree during the match, with significant sales coming from food and drink, sportswear, and electrical items. The expected boost in sales reflects the high anticipation and excitement surrounding the upcoming football matches.