# Tesco advances sale of Central Europe unit > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/tesco-central-europe-operations > Updated: 2026-08-04T11:08:54.000Z. Sources: 25. Developments: 5. In late June 2026 Tesco opened two new supermarkets in Slovakia – one in Chorvátsky Grob and another in Zákamenné – adding 14 jobs and pledging €1 per qualifying purchase to local primary schools. At the same time the retailer modernised a Turzovka outlet and extended its Tesco Online Shopping platform to the Komárno area, covering 85 % of the Slovak population. By early July the company was reported to be evaluating a divestment of its Central European business, which comprises 561 stores and about 22,000 staff across the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. The division generated roughly £4.5‑£4.6 billion in revenue and an adjusted operating profit of £115 million, after a £75‑£115 million impairment. On 21 July Tesco expanded its Tesco Online Nákupy service to the Lipno holiday region in the Czech Republic and highlighted a summer surge in Slovak online orders, with melons, ice‑cream, chilled drinks and grill supplies topping demand; Friday proved the busiest ordering day and click‑and‑collect remained popular. Later in July the retailer hired Citigroup and Goldman Sachs to advise on a potential sale. The Czech and Slovak networks – 363 stores employing about 7,000 people and generating €1.6 billion in sales – would be offered as a single package, while the Hungarian unit of roughly 200 stores and over 8,000 employees would be sold separately. On 4 August Tesco confirmed that the sale process is underway, valuing the Czech‑Slovak package at up to 15 billion Czech koruna and naming the Schwarz Group and Poland’s Biedronka as possible bidders for the Hungarian operation. The company has not officially commented, and the move would mark a complete exit from continental Europe, freeing capital for investment in its core UK and Irish markets. ## Claims - Tesco is exploring the sale of its Central European operations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. (corroborated by 4 sources) - The Central European division operates 561 stores and employs over 22,000 people. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Tesco's Central European operations generated about £4.5 billion in revenue in FY 2025/2026. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Tesco has hired Citigroup and Goldman Sachs to advise on the potential sale. (single source) - The Czech business employs roughly 7,000 people and earned €1.6 billion last year, expected to rise by €200 million this year. (single source) - The Slovak operation generated €1.7 billion in revenue, with operating profit projected to fall to €100 million from €120 million. (single source) - Tesco's share price did not move after the Financial Times article about the possible sale. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-04: Tesco to sell Czech, Slovak and Hungarian supermarket operations Tesco has hired Citigroup and Goldman Sachs to sell its Czech‑Slovak supermarket network as one package and its Hungarian stores separately, affecting thousands of jobs. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tesco-to-sell-czech-slovak-and-hungarian-supermarket-operations ### 2026-07-31: Tesco explores sale of Central European stores, hires banks Tesco is weighing a sale of its Czech, Slovak and Hungarian stores, hiring Citigroup and Goldman Sachs to advise. The region employs 22,000 staff, runs 561 stores and earned about £4.5 bn in 2025/26. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tesco-hires-citi-and-goldman-sachs-to-explore-sale-of-czech-slovak-and-hungarian-stores ### 2026-07-21: Tesco expands online grocery delivery to Czech holiday region and reports summer surge in Slovakia Tesco now delivers full grocery orders to holiday homes in the Czech Lipno region and sees a summer spike in online sales of melons, ice‑cream and grill supplies in Slovakia, with Friday the top ordering day. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tesco-expands-online-grocery-delivery-to-czech-holiday-region-and-reports-summer-surge-in-slovakia ### 2026-07-08: Tesco weighs sale of Central European operations, risking exit from Slovakia, Czech Republic and Hungary Tesco is exploring a sale of its Central European division (Czech, Slovak, Hungarian stores) employing about 22,000 staff; the company declined to comment. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tesco-considers-exiting-central-european-markets-including-slovakia-czech-republic-and-hungary ### 2026-06-26: Tesco expands with two new stores and wider online service in Slovakia Tesco opened two new Slovak supermarkets on 25 June 2026, modernised another, and expanded online shopping to cover 85 % of Slovaks, bringing its total to 185 stores and pledging €1 per €10 spent to local sch‑​ 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tesco-expands-with-two-new-stores-and-wider-online-service-in-slovakia --- Cite as: Tesco advances sale of Central Europe unit. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/tesco-central-europe-operations