‘It’s a shame’ shoppers shout, as the supermarket today abandons the most important service in the branch

SHOPPERS are shouting “It’s a shame” after a supermarket today stopped a key service at a branch with “helpful staff”.

The Tesco store in the Kent town of Tenterden has lost its Tesco Mobile branch.

Locals who use Tesco Mobile will now have to travel over ten miles to the telephone provider’s kiosk in Ashford.

Last month there was a sign that read: ‘This Telephone Shop closes on Sunday March 17th.

‘The nearest phone shop is Ashford Park Farm.’

Local residents shared on Facebook their disappointment upon hearing the news.

One user said: “That’s a shame. I bought my phone there last year.”

“Very helpful and knowledgeable staff.”

“It’s a shame for the staff who work there,” said another.

A third user exclaimed: “Oh no.”

“I often drop by to solve a problem, oh dear,” someone else added.

A fourth user said: “I used it to get a phone last month and found the staff helpful.”

A spokesperson for Tesco Mobile said: “Following an extensive review, we have made the difficult decision to close Tenterden Phone Shop due to low customer demand.”

“We will continue to serve the local community through our Ashford Park Farm Phone Shop, which remains open and ready to help.”

Tesco has already gone through a difficult period in recent months.

The retailer sold its banking business to Barclays for £600m after running it for 27 years.

Barclays will give Tesco an annual income for using its brand.

We’ve also seen quite a few Tesco store closures in recent weeks.

Tesco confirmed the closure of two stores in Chippenham and Armthorpe.

The Chippenham store has been a key part of the Emery Gate shopping center since 2008, when it signed a 15-year lease on the largest premises in the building.

What happens to the main street?

Several other retailers have struggled to make ends meet in recent years, especially since the pandemic.

Energy costs have risen and more consumers than ever are choosing to order online instead of going to the store.

This leaves some retailers struggling with budgets and having no choice but to close stores to cut costs.

Struggling fashion brand Superdry has said it is exploring various “cost-cutting options” as it considers a major restructuring including store closures and job cuts.

Boots revealed it would close 300 stores over the next year as part of plans to develop its brand.

The Body Shop is currently entering administration and has announced plans to close half of its 198 stores, seven of which were closed last week.

WHSmith told The Sun it has no plans to open any more high street stores as it wants to focus on the travel side of its business.

Major banks have also announced the closure of several branches.

Barclays will begin pulling down the shutters at fourteen locations in England, three in Wales and three in Scotland from April.

Even thrift stores are having a hard time Oxfam confirmed last year that it would close eight of its UK stores.