Tesco@5. Today, near enough five years after it opened, Tesco Rhuthun/Ruthin starts a two-week long minor internal refurbishment. Tesco says it will be freshening up the store. As is now standard practice within the retail sector these days, Tesco is using the "You told us what you wanted so we're doing it" excuse, to help soften the inevitable confusion and inconvenience. I wonder whether anyone actually did express an opinion such as this or whether Tesco just feels the time is right for a spring clean. I suspect the latter.In particular, four departments are being improved, including reorganising the grocery department so that shoppers find it more logical. A department set for expansion will be health & beauty. How this will affect the two town chemists is anyone's guess. We already know that, nationally, that Boot's the Chemist is struggling under the weight of supermarket cosmetics sales.
Then there's the extended range of wines, beers & spirits. Tesco's breadth is already bigger than the former Thresher's and the former Oddbins probably put together. Again nationally, we know that supermarket alcohol sales are an area of significant growth. Will any improvements damage the pub trade further?
And, finally, Tesco is promising an expanded flower section. Flowers at Tesco are a little something & nothing at present and any changes are bound to impact on both of the town's two florists.