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I'd really want to see the moment when management makes these decisions. I'd like to understand their thought process, business rationale and expectations. A fo

by antr 13y ago

I'd really want to see the moment when management makes these decisions. I'd like to understand their thought process, business rationale and expectations. A food retailer going into tech.

ZeroGravitas 13y ago
Tesco is hardly just a food retailer, not only do they sell all kinds of tech they've got their own MVNO (Tesco Mobile), they've been selling rebranded tech (TVs, DVD players etc.) under their Technika brand for years, they've got a bank, credit cards, insurance and so on.
- sudomal 13y ago
  It's for this reason that I wonder why we are even seeing a news item about it. Retailers like Tesco, Argos, Asda and so on, buy hardware from OEMs all the time and put their brand names on them. I wonder why this one is special?
- antr 13y ago
  In a company where management's experience is food retail and their approach towards customers is "food first", developing a conglomerate approach into tech does not inspire a strong sense of direction. Just my view.
  - jon-wood 13y ago
    I don't think there attitude is really "food first", the food gets people in through the front door every week, but given the placement of things other than food (think DVDs, games, books, and mobile phones) in my local store their profit is likely to be far higher on things other than food where they don't have to squeeze the margins quite so hard.
    - antr 13y ago
      I used quotes on food first because this is what Tesco management repeatedly said on the annual general meeting this past june/july... I was quoting them.
      - jon-wood 13y ago
        Ahh, fair enough, I hadn't realised that was a direct quote.
Nursie 13y ago
Have you been into a Tesco lately? Hardly just a food retailer. Hell, here in Southampton they have a dedicated "HomePlus" (home wares, electrical and electronic) store near the city centre.
- rplnt 13y ago
  Lately? Since I first saw a Tesco store it has been a multipurpose all in one store.
- pm90 13y ago
  Also, the second largest retailer in Korea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeplus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeplus
  - Nursie 13y ago
    You know, what happens in Korea continues to surprise me, and I'm not even talking about the crazy North. Last week it was the discovery that they have problems with fundamentalist christians trying to take evolution out of school books (I had no idea Christianity was a major religion over there) and now I find out that Tesco are a major player in their retail market too. How odd!
sbuk 13y ago
It's no different to a paper and rubber manufacturer going into tech (Nokia). Or a wholesale trader moving into insurance securities, construction, textiles, food processing before entering tech (Samsung).

by antr 13y ago

I'd really want to see the moment when management makes these decisions. I'd like to understand their thought process, business rationale and expectations. A food retailer going into tech.

ZeroGravitas 13y ago

Tesco is hardly just a food retailer, not only do they sell all kinds of tech they've got their own MVNO (Tesco Mobile), they've been selling rebranded tech (TVs, DVD players etc.) under their Technika brand for years, they've got a bank, credit cards, insurance and so on.

sudomal 13y ago
It's for this reason that I wonder why we are even seeing a news item about it. Retailers like Tesco, Argos, Asda and so on, buy hardware from OEMs all the time and put their brand names on them. I wonder why this one is special?
antr 13y ago
In a company where management's experience is food retail and their approach towards customers is "food first", developing a conglomerate approach into tech does not inspire a strong sense of direction. Just my view.
- jon-wood 13y ago
  I don't think there attitude is really "food first", the food gets people in through the front door every week, but given the placement of things other than food (think DVDs, games, books, and mobile phones) in my local store their profit is likely to be far higher on things other than food where they don't have to squeeze the margins quite so hard.
  - antr 13y ago
    I used quotes on food first because this is what Tesco management repeatedly said on the annual general meeting this past june/july... I was quoting them.
    - jon-wood 13y ago
      Ahh, fair enough, I hadn't realised that was a direct quote.

Nursie 13y ago

Have you been into a Tesco lately? Hardly just a food retailer. Hell, here in Southampton they have a dedicated "HomePlus" (home wares, electrical and electronic) store near the city centre.

rplnt 13y ago
Lately? Since I first saw a Tesco store it has been a multipurpose all in one store.
pm90 13y ago
Also, the second largest retailer in Korea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeplus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeplus
- Nursie 13y ago
  You know, what happens in Korea continues to surprise me, and I'm not even talking about the crazy North. Last week it was the discovery that they have problems with fundamentalist christians trying to take evolution out of school books (I had no idea Christianity was a major religion over there) and now I find out that Tesco are a major player in their retail market too. How odd!

sbuk 13y ago

It's no different to a paper and rubber manufacturer going into tech (Nokia). Or a wholesale trader moving into insurance securities, construction, textiles, food processing before entering tech (Samsung).