Over 20 years of retail transformation

Posted in | 22nd October 2026 | By Georgie Williams-Pitt

For more than 20 years, RMS has worked alongside Tesco to support transformation across its UK estate.

What began as a simple stock replenishment support has developed into a long standing retail transformation partnership, with RMS now operating with full Main Contractor status across the Tesco estate and coordinating multiple specialist services as part of one integrated delivery model.

As Main Contractor, RMS brings together retail construction, project and programme management, specialist installation and logistics, supported by our established retail merchandising expertise.

Today, this model supports activity across multiple Tesco formats and programmes, from complex Extra and Superstore reconfigurations to fast-paced Express refurbishments and major construction programmes.

By bringing these capabilities together under one Main Contractor model, RMS helps Tesco deliver retail change efficiently, safely and at scale.

Our Partnership in Numbers

Main Contractor Delivery Across the Tesco Estate 

As Main Contractor, RMS can coordinate and deliver: 

  • Overall programme coordination and delivery  
  • Retail construction and enabling works
  • Shopfitting and fit-out
  • Coordination of specialist trades 
  • Retail equipment, shelving and fixture installation
  • Store layout reconfiguration
  • Logistics and kit management
  • Merchandising and range implementation

Our hybrid delivery model brings installation and merchandising expertise together within multi-skilled teams, supported by experienced project management. This reduces unnecessary handovers, improves communication and allows teams to respond quickly as requirements change onsite.

Logistics and kit management are integrated into the wider programme, from store-level surveys and kit planning through to equipment reuse and phased deliveries. This helps ensure the right equipment reaches the right location at the right stage, while reducing back-of-house congestion, unnecessary reordering and lost time.

On national Tesco programmes, the RMS hybrid delivery approach has delivered reductions of up to 40% in lost hours.

Together, these capabilities give Tesco one experienced Main Contractor focused on the complete retail delivery outcome, from initial planning through to implementation and handover.

Expanding Our Main Contractor Role 

Building on more than two decades of delivery across the Tesco estate, RMS’s role continues to grow through increasingly significant programmes delivered with Main Contractor responsibility.

During 2026, RMS commenced major new Tesco construction programmes, further strengthening our Main Contractor capability and bringing together construction, project and programme management, specialist installation and logistics, supported by our established merchandising expertise.