Tesco is planning to launch a standalone clothing store in London’s West End.

The supermarket is hunting for an outlet of around 6,000 sq ft to act as a flagship for its F&F clothing label, formerly known as Florence & Fred. Sites on Oxford Street and in Kensington have reportedly been considered.

The move would pitch Tesco into direct competition with the likes of Top Shop and Primark, the clothes brand owned by Associated British Foods. But the launch will not be the forerunner of a chain of clothes-only outlets.

"We're looking for a store in the West End as a flagship for F&F,” Terry Green, Tesco’s former clothing boss, told Drapers magazine. “It will be a one-off to showcase the brand and complement our online and supermarket offer."

In March Tesco announced the launch of its more upmarket F&F Couture clothing range, featuring items retailing at up to £140. That month Green was replaced as head of clothing by former Sainsbury’s non-food chief Richard Jones, but has continued to do project work for Tesco.

Read more
Tesco plots move into high fashion with F&F Couture (15 March 2010)
Tesco hands clothing role to ex-Sainsbury’s man Jones (12 March 2010)

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