Tesco makes huge change at 600 UK stores

The retailer worked with industrial cleaning equipment specialist ICE to introduce the machines, in what the companies say is the first rollout of its size within the UK convenience sector.

The machines have been designed to work as “co-bots” alongside employees rather than replacing them. They have been tasked with routine floor cleaning to free up staff time to serve customers and complete other shop floor tasks.

Tesco will also be able to receive cleaning data and performance reports from the technology, helping employees to track whether cleaning routines have been completed consistently.

To ensure the rollout is done smoothly, ICE is providing training, maintenance and ongoing support across all 600 locations where the robots have been deployed.

Tesco representatives also visited 32 Express stores across Scotland to mark the milestone and gather feedback from employees using the technology.

ICE chief executive Mark Bresnihan said: “Together, we are showing how data-driven automation can work hand-in-hand with retail teams to improve cleaning standards.”

The rollout builds on the companies’ existing relationship. ICE secured responsibility for supplying and servicing cleaning equipment across Tesco’s roughly 2,000 Express stores in 2024, doubling its previous footprint with the supermarket.