WALKING into the Tesco Extra in Walkden, I realise this will be a supermarket shopping experience like no other.
The store is the UK’s biggest Tesco, occupying a staggering net area of 104,797sq ft, with 63 aisles that are continuously replenished day and night by more than 450 colleagues who work there.
Supermarket shopping can mean different things to different people.
For some, it’s an exciting mini adventure getting to look at new products, stock up on goodies and check out all the latest deals – for others, it’s just a necessary chore squeezed in around work and family commitments.
But this Tesco really goes above and beyond to make it a full experience, with concessions for other retailers to peruse and seating areas to relax in.
Jonathan Carrington, Tesco Walkden Extra’s store manager, said: “We’re really proud of our store and its place within the local community.
“Running a store of this size can be a challenge, and certainly helps me get my steps in.”
The promise of getting my steps in relatively effortlessly while combining it with shopping was a great pull to go and check out the impressive-sounding Tesco.
Before I knew it, I was heading down to the underground car park on a huge escalator to get my trolly before heading back up towards the large, inviting “Welcome to Tesco Extra” sign.
Once inside, I was immediately greeted with the master of the British sausage roll itself – a Greggs concession.
The store had a roomy seating area and exactly the same products as any high street outlet.
It was one of nine concessions inside the Tesco in total, including Vision Express, a Tesco Mobile store, a Tesco pharmacy, Tesco Café, a large F&F clothing section, a Paperchase stationery shop, a Yo Sushi! Counter and a selection of toys in partnership with The Entertainer. Not too shabby.
And, if you’re looking for a bit more exercise than simply wandering the mammoth aisles, you can even hop about thanks to a floor game in the toy section.
I had a lot of fun trying it out, although I ignored the “roar like a dinosaur” instruction – generously leaving that to the kids.
In the bulk buy section, I felt a bit like Alice who had fallen down the rabbit hole and shrunk after drinking a magic potion.
Mammoth 400g Douwe Egberts coffee jars looked super-sized in my hands along with huge Yorkshire Tea bags containing 480 tea bags and similarly giant bags of 600 Tetley tea bags.
There were also huge cases of Kinder Bueno bars, Nutella bars and Walkers crisps and, if you fancy 72 Weetabix, this is the place to stock up on what sounds like a year’s worth of breakfast food.
If you’re fond of a tipple or two, the giant Tesco boasts huge aisles with pretty much every wine and spirit you can find – from £5.50 for a budget sparkling wine to a super swish £64 bottle of Moet.
There are also huge digital advertising boards with the latest promotions and you can have an eye test, pick up a prescription, insure your pet or mend your mobile as part of your shopping experience.
The mammoth clothing section stocked everything from pjs to evening dresses, kidswear, undies and accessories and I found myself getting lost in browsing the dresses and tops.
Customers can also stock up on health products in the generous Holland and Barrett section, which might balance things out if you go a bit overboard in the wine aisle.
There was even a large pet section complete with a fridge of fresh food for pampered pooches and kids could get lost in the toy aisles that stocked everything from Stitch to Star Wars – and is bound to help with Christmas shopping.
THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop.
You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they’ve been reduced.
If the food is fresh, you’ll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.
Making a list should also save you money, as you’ll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.
Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.
This means ditching “finest” or “luxury” products and instead going for “own” or value” type of lines.
Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they’re misshapen or imperfect.
For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.
If you’re on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.
Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
What’s more, new Clubcard Prices deals come into stores regularly, so customers should be able to find great value every time they visit.
Jonathan added: “We have a great team of colleagues who work hard to make sure customers receive great choice, service and value every time they shop with us and it is a fun place to work too.”
I imagine the staff never have to hit a gym either.
A tour of the store certainly got those steps in, and I was very ready for a sit down after I returned the trolley.
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