Still miss all that stuff from the UK that you just can’t find here? Still miss those own brand big supermarket prices? A store in Larnaca has just come to your rescue. ELENI ANTONIOU spends some cash
Supermarket own brands are gaining popularity thanks to the tightening of purse strings around the island but a familiar brand that has recently been introduced will bring a smile to many people’s faces for a different reason. A selection of Tesco products and Tesco Value Products are currently stocked at a mini market in Larnaca and yes, they’re the real thing.
We heard about Tesco Express and drove to Larnaca in search of what some were assuming was a myth. Just off the main road leading towards the beachfront, Andy Toumbas has opened a mini market where customers can find local products as well as Tesco’s goods such as cat and dog food, baking ingredients, canned goods, cleaning and hygiene products. “We opened the store last December,” said Andy. “We wanted to give people better quality products for low prices and we know how much Brits love Tesco.”
Tesco Express is a small store, the equivalent of a small village supermarket, however unlike most mini markets it does not stock fruit and vegetables. Instead it boasts an array of incredibly low priced everyday house products. Here you will find product for 99 cents and brand names you never dreamed you’d see in Cyprus. We bought a packet of ten vegetable stock cubes, 100 tea bags, hair spray, bourbon biscuits, antibacterial hand wash and a bag of nine packs of Hula Hoop crisps, which totaled a mere €5.79. Not a single product, including the tea bags and hairspray, cost over one euro; in fact the only product that exceeded the one euro mark was the bag of Hula Hoops, which set us back €1.44.
All own-brand products came in Tesco famous blue and white packaging and more or less maintain the UK prices still on view on the packets. Tony explains that the aim of the store is to keep prices low no matter what; he adds anything from five to ten to twenty per cent on the original pricing. “Of course we factor in transport, exchange rates and overheads but we’re still much cheaper than anywhere else.”
Even though Tesco frozen foods are nowhere to be found – “we’re waiting on the freezers,” Tony explained – local products and UK favourites make up most of the mini market’s stock. “We’re avid about supporting local produce,” said the owner. Asked why he has opened an express store instead of the ‘big thing’, Tony wonders why anyone would. “The food and drink turnover in Cyprus is around €800 million, I think; that’s nowhere near the UK’s three billion profit so just the expenditure wouldn’t be worth it even if Tesco had 50 per cent of the market.”
Instead Tony has decided to keep his business small yet friendly. “A bigger place would mean higher expenses and therefore higher prices and I don’t want to do that, so we’re keeping it an express store for now.” He will, however, be expanding online with a website for home shopping. “People will be able to order whatever they want online and it will be delivered straight to them.”
Tesco Express: Thessalonikis 9, Larnaca. Tel: 70009055 www.homeshopping.com
