Varied Store Formats and Private-Label Brands Access to deep customer insights is key to Tesco’s success in managing different store formats, a skill that analysts say no U.S. retailer has equally mastered. Tesco — now the world’s No. 3 retailer — operates 3,956 stores across five different formats in 13 countries. The smallest in size, known as“Express,” is the model for Fresh & Easy in the U.S. It___________________ Tesco-brand prepared meals and fresh produce.