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2026-07-31 18:20 UTC → 2026-08-04 18:43 UTC ·
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Tesco explores advances sale of Central Europe unit
After opening In late June 2026 Tesco opened two new supermarkets in Slovakia – one in late June 2026, 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 signalled it Online Shopping platform to the Komárno area, covering 85 % of the Slovak population. By early July the company was reported to be evaluating a sale divestment of its Central European business, which operates comprises 561 stores and about 22,000 staff across Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary Republic, Slovakia and employs more than 22,000 people. Hungary. The division generated roughly £4.5‑£4.6 billion in revenue and an adjusted operating profit of £115 million, albeit with after a £75‑£115 million impairment. On 8 July 2026 the retailer was reported to be in talks with financial advisers about a possible divestment. A week later, on 21 July, July Tesco expanded its Tesco Online Nákupy service to the Lipno holiday region in the Czech Republic and noted highlighted a strong summer surge in Slovak online grocery orders in Slovakia, orders, with melons, ice‑cream, chilled drinks and grill supplies among the most popular items. topping demand; Friday emerged as proved the busiest ordering day and click‑and‑collect remained widely used. Further detail emerged on 31 popular. Later in July 2026 when Tesco the retailer hired Citi Citigroup and Goldman Sachs to prepare advise on a potential sale. The Czech and Slovak operations networks – 363 stores employing about 7,000 staff people and generating €1.6 billion in revenue with €75 million EBITDA sales – will would be packaged together, offered as a single package, while the Hungarian unit of 198 roughly 200 stores will and over 8,000 employees would be offered sold separately. Analysts estimate On 4 August Tesco confirmed that the transaction could be valued sale process is underway, valuing the Czech‑Slovak package at over €10 billion, noting competition from Lidl and Kaufland up to 15 billion Czech koruna and naming the complexity of differing store formats. The potential proceeds are seen Schwarz Group and Poland’s Biedronka as a way to give Tesco flexibility to invest in its core UK market, though any divestment would affect thousands of jobs. A Financial Times report in early July first flagged possible bidders for the speculation; Tesco’s share price was unchanged Hungarian operation. The company has not officially commented, and the company declined to comment. The sale move would represent mark a complete exit from continental Europe and a strategic shift toward its home market Europe, freeing capital for investment in the United Kingdom its core UK and Ireland. Irish markets.