The 76 Tesco stores that will no longer operate for 24-hours
The move marks the latest step by Dave Lewis, Tesco’s chief executive, in turning around the company Reuters

Tesco has announced a change in the trading hours of some of its stores that currently operate round the clock. The UK grocer announced that 76 of its current 400, 24-hour stores will now close at midnight and reopen at 6am because of a lack of shoppers in the early hours.

Tony Hoggett, Tesco's retail director, said: "We're always thinking about how to serve our customers better in each of our stores and with the growth of online grocery shopping, these stores saw very few customers during the night. It makes much more sense for colleagues at those stores to focus on replenishing the shelves instead and making sure they're fully stocked when they open their doors at 6am."

A Tesco spokesman said the move would affect about 400 of its employees and that they "will be supported to find alternative roles, either within the store or at another local store".

The supermarket chain, which began opening its stores for 24 hours in 1996, has seen its profits slide because of factors such as increased competition from discount retailers such as Aldi and Lidl, consumers shifting to online shopping, its accounting scandal and its breach of groceries supply code.

This new move marks the latest step by Dave Lewis, Tesco's chief executive, who took the lead role in September 2014 to change the fortunes of the company by focusing on price cuts and putting more staff in stores.

This move also follows the recent closure of its two "food-to-go" stores in London over a lack of customer interest. These two stores operating at prime locations were believed to be unprofitable because of high rents.

The 76 stores are-

1Mold Superstore39Clitheroe Superstore
2Welshpool Superstore40Halifax Aachen Way Superstore
3Cefn Mawr Superstore41Whitehaven Superstore
4Haverfordwest Extra42Workington 2 Superstore
5Chepstow Superstore43Bridlington Superstore
6Hereford 2 - Hereford Abbotsmead Superstore44Goole Boothferry Road Superstore
7Congleton Superstore45Clowne Superstore
8Derby Mickleover Superstore46Skegness Superstore
9Stoke-on-Trent Superstore, Kidsgrove47Sheffield Infirmary Superstore
10Uttoxeter Superstore48Hemsworth Superstore
11Leicester Extra49Clay Cross Extra
12Nottingham Carlton Superstore50Formby Superstore
13Toton Extra51Cirencester Extra
14South Wigston Superstore, Leicester52Cheltenham Superstore
15Hinckley Superstore53Burnage Superstore
16Coventry Walsgrave Superstore54East Didsbury Superstore
17Hall Green Superstore, Solihull55Glossop Superstore
18Walsall Brownhills Superstore56Gloucester Superstore
19Buckingham Superstore57Stroud Superstore
20Flitwick Superstore58Evesham Worcester Road Superstore
21Leighton Buzzard Superstore59Gloucester Brockworth Extra
22Fulbourn Cherry Hinton Superstore60Addlestone Extra
23Sleaford Superstore61High Wycombe Loudwater Superstore
24March Hostmoor Ave Superstore62Basildon Extra
25Dereham Extra63Hertford Superstore
26Lowestoft Leisure Way Superstore64Orpington Extra
27Bishops Stortford Superstore65Bexhill Superstore
28Harlow Church Langley Superstore66Whitstable Extra
29Maldon Extra67Chichester Extra
30Royston Extra68Littlehampton Superstore
31Sudbuury Superstore69Taunton Superstore
32Dinwall Mart Road Superstore70Barnstaple Superstore
33Inverurie Extra71Exmouth Superstore
34Dunfermline Extra72St Austell 2 Superstore
35Cumbernauld Extra73Truro Superstore
36Catterick Garrison Superstore74Helston Superstore
37Ingleby Barwick Superstore75Lewisham Superstore
38Hexham Extra76Woolwich Extra