Ok so maybe it’s not such a slow day after all. I just found out a few minutes ago that the UK giant supermarket chain Tesco is coming to Kuwait. Can you figure out who’s bringing them? If you guessed Alshaya then you’re right! No location or launch date set or at least my source isn’t aware of them as of now. Will post more information when I find out. Last time I posted about Tesco was back in 2007. I was in London and got to experience their self checkout machines which I thought were pretty cool. You could read about my experience [Here]
63 replies on “Tesco coming to Kuwait”
i should probably take a picture of my face now and post it here
i cannot… literally cannot… close my mouth that is wide open in a huge grin! my eyes are about to pop out!
When it opens… i will be insha2 Allah the first person hugging it’s doors… i cant believe it! TESCO!? Here? in Kuwait?! TESCO?! My Favourite UK Supermarket!?!!
Kolloloooolololoooooololooooosh
Allah yefare7 galbik ib Shake Shack ya Mark mithil ma fara7t galbi ib TESCO… 😀
most of the supermarkets in usa works with self checkout
Same in UK, Tesco ain’t the only one.
SO HAPPY!! Was hoping for Waitrose but Tesco will do for now!
Best piece of news I heard this week.
We want WAITROSE not TESCO’s!!
Waitrose? its no way near Tesco in size and diversity of store own branded groceries. Its like comparing Sultan center to a co-op.
I am someone who greatly dislikes Tesco. I shopped at Sainsburys and Tescos for a while (couple of years) until I was finally introduced to Waitrose. And boy, what a hell of a difference. Waitrose rocks.
But I guess, like someone up there said, Tesco would do for now.
When will a Tesco or Waitrose come to Lebanon?
It’s great that all these chains are opening in Kuwait. I just wish more production happens here and we create companies that become chains, rather than always importing. That goes for the rest of the Arab countries as well.
The funny part is that local companies that do lots of franchising like Alshaya try this, but people always choose a recognizable, foreign name over something local.
oh my god, seeing Tesco’s logo but such a huge smile on my face.
Thanx Mark for the news.
Yalla next step, let’s change the highway names to Interstate 30, I-40, and I-50. And after that I think we are set to change the Kuwaiti Flag to an American Flag and be the 53rd state of America.
I cant wait!!!
Sarcasm…at its worst
lame
I second that Mo.
me 3 😉
Yeah you’re right, why can’t we rely on Kuwaiti companies like Sultan Center, who sell expired food for expensive prices and oh wait, it’s all American food anyway.
Hilarious!!
Great news. I hope they do the online shopping as I used that all the time in the UK.
Mohammed,
it’s a UK store not US
Your right,
Let’s not forget to also place the United Kingdom’s flag right next to the American flag. Excuse my ignorance.
God you’re corny
Kaleedo and you’re just so nice and respectful.
I am actually…that’s very perceptive of you.
I can’t help it. Im good like that 😉
location maybe in aswag al-qurain or the huge salmeya park under construction
nothing beets lulu hypermarket so far
Mohammed,
Take a chill pill mate! Im sure the UK & US expats have make Q8 a better place for a lot of people there.
So when will the Super Walmart come to Q8?
I hate tesco. Waitrose on the other hand …
wow….for the last 4 yrs,i had been a loyal customer at tesco.its one of the things i really miss in kuwait,after leaving london…but wow this is just great great news……yippiiieeee
Gr8 Gr8! …..hope they do follow the Tesco’s pricing scheme. wide variaty of goods, for great(cheap) value. Looking forward to compare their prices from london to kuwait.
In the end, they are all the same. Impersonal aisles of merchandise. You just end up going to the one that is the most convenient in terms of distance from your home and parking space.
They have many own-brand products that are good quality. It will be (a little) different.
Good, more competetion. Now maybe this can shift Sultan Center attitude and stop ripping off customers and selling expired food 🙂
I wouldn’t go Ga Ga over this. It will just be another Sultan center with different decor. They will carry mainly local/regional products (KDD milk, Wafra farms tomatos, Americana foul cans…etc.), not the same stuff they sell in the U.K. And, if they do sell things from the U.K., they will probably match Dean & Deluca prices.
Just my take.
I don’t think so. Just take a look at Carrefour for example. They sell their own French branded Carrefour products are prices that compete with regional ones.
It would be useless to open Tesco if they won’t be gaining from the brand. It wouldn’t make any sense at all. I am sure they will be bringing and selling Tesco products as well as new brands and products that aren’t already available in the market.
Waitrose is quality, tesco is cheap. U probably dont do any grocery shopping cajie.
I was referring to the high-volume supermarkets. Tesco/Geant/Carrefour etc. I don’t know about Waitrose plus it is not the one coming to Kuwait.
I do my grocery shopping at TSC. Staff is friendly, queries and concerns are quickly responded and addressed, and most important..they are the only retail outlet with a useful and practical loyalty program.
way to go i am working in sultan also
Waitrose is high volume too. You said all supermarkets are the same.
It’s ok if you got too carried away, it’s not the end of the world.
Oof wa a5eeran
tesco are popular with their extremly cheap ” value ” products .. the ones that come in white and blue labels .. Are they gonna to be this cheap here ? don’t think so ..
it will be like boots products .. which are the cheapest products in uk stores .. and the most expensive ones here !
you are right
Tesco considered as the cheapest supermarket in UK I used to go there because of their offers and their prices not because of it quality ..
Asda was my favorites in terms of quality if u asked me .. pretty much like sultan center so I guess they cant bring it unless jamil sultan decided to replace his store with them .. !
i am working in sultan center that will be soon hopefully in the coming months
to be honest I have no idea why all of u going bonkers about it … its just a supermarket that has its own brand known as Tesco Finest … other than that they sell local products, for instance in ireland their stores have Irish dairy products, meat, on the other hand in UK they have their local products… in my opinion the best supermarkets in Kuwait are the local Co-ops … some better than other for instance Mishref Co-op is quite good compared to salwa Co-op which has cats wondering around the meat freezers ;p
lol
agreed
I am hani i am working in sultan center i donot know what will happen to it becouse there are alot of retail companyes in kuwait so i do not think it should be in kuwait or unless he makes good offraes and good prises
HANI we get it … you work at TSC … keep up the great job 🙂
Atlast!!
but would they have ‘SunnyD’ like in UK ?
OR
Does anyone know if they sell it here, If yes WHERE??
The refai nuts guy at sultan center souq sharq picks his nose on the job and eats directly from the buckets.
Class.
Could you imagine that even after complaining he was not sacked and no one responded to the complaint!
I heard it will replace Carrefour. Carrefour apparently arent happy at the Avenues.
Carrefour isn’t Alshaya’s franchise, they’ll probably ditch it and get it replaced with Tesco when they have the chance, as they own the Avenues.
Avenues is owned by Mabanee, a publicly owned company with shares on the stock market. Mabanee’s mani shareholder is Mohammed Alshaya but it’s not like the Avenues totally belongs to him – they still pay rent on stores there. You could go buy shares and a piece of the Avenues would belong to you too 😀
About time…
maybe if we can get a decent book store I will be happy. But seeing how kuwaitis hate studying/books/reading and are only glued to their ipads and blackberries, a Borders or Barnes and Noble is a long way off.
Ma 3alaih khajoor.. Tukbereen o tinsain
I was in a book store in the UK, in the basement of one of the big department stores that sell everything. A Kuwaiti woman and her son walked through and her son said “Mama shino hatha” and she the woman replied “Walla shay walla shay bas maktaba” lol Kuwaiti mentality 🙁
At least if you browse sites on your iPad it’s a form of reading, better than TV!
So does this mean we actually get English food items in supermarkets? Or will it be like Geant and Carrefour….. The same items of food as in all supermarkets?
no chance guys this is just speculation tesco dont do green field set ups as they buy someone they need hypermarket space like carrefour so watch this space they would buy or partner with someone first so the back office and logistics would be there i worked for them for yrs in the uk so i should know
if its true it will take yrs to open the first store as they have nothing in the middle east
A very large amount of Alshaya top management are former Tesco as well. Alshaya has the logistics to handle a single supermarket quite easily and are experienced enough in regional retail to have the back office capabilities, don’t see what’s so hard to believe. It’s a massive company.
omg I hope they bring Louise Redknapp for the opening, huh.. consumerism is the worst
It’s about time, although I personally would have preferred Waitrose or Sainsburys. Either way since they have their own product range they should be able to do what other supermarket chains haven’t been able to do for sustained periods of time; maintain the continuity of products.
Everytime I start getting used to a premium imported brand, the supermarket seems to have stocking or import issues which pisses me off. I know for a fact that most UK supermarkets have excellent stock replenishment programs although in Kuwait, lack of stocks could also be municipality or customs related!
All in all though, I am happy that Tescos will be here soon.