Blog: Tesco's digital office needs to deliver true innovation

Tesco’s decision to open an office in London’s trendy Shoreditch in order to be part of the digital scene shows its commitment to become a digital leader.

Anyone who has visited its head office in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, knows that it has never previously worried about having a trendy office in a glamorous location. Tesco Towers in Cheshunt is a lean functional shed which - unlike rival Sainsbury’s with its Holborn HQ - has never been much of an overhead.

But the top talent in digital can have their pick of the jobs in retail and every other sector, and commuting up to Cheshunt is probably not on their wish list. Tesco realised this, and while offices in Shoreditch don’t come cheap, has chosen to invest in order to attract that talent.

Marks & Spencer did a similar thing with its ‘digital hub’ on Silicon Roundabout - again, to try to ensure it attracts only the best.

Tesco boss Phil Clarke has talked about the digital revolution for some time now, and its online grocery arm is certainly gathering pace. What its new digital office needs to deliver though is true innovation. Only that will turn the grocer into a digital leader.