<P> In April 2017, the company confirmed it would sell its in - store opticians business to Vision Express . </P> <P> In June 2017, Tesco announced a major cost - cutting initiative that would reduce the company's workforce by over 1200 workers . Key reductions include over a quarter of its employees in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield, as well as closing the call centre in Cardiff . The company is hoping to reduce costs by £ 1.5 billion . </P> <P> As of 2017, Tesco's UK store portfolio was as follows: </P> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Format </Th> <Th> Number </Th> <Th> Total area (m2) </Th> <Th> Total area (sq ft) </Th> <Th> Mean area (m2) </Th> <Th> Mean area (sq ft) </Th> <Th> Percentage of space </Th> <Th> + / - Stores 2016 </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tesco Extra </Td> <Td> 252 </Td> <Td> 1,648,842 </Td> <Td> 17,748,000 </Td> <Td> 6,543 </Td> <Td> 70,429 </Td> <Td> 44.53% </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tesco Superstore </Td> <Td> 479 </Td> <Td> 1,307,610 </Td> <Td> 14,075,000 </Td> <Td> 2,730 </Td> <Td> 29,384 </Td> <Td> 35.32% </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tesco Express </Td> <Td> 1,740 </Td> <Td> 376,629 </Td> <Td> 4,054,000 </Td> <Td> 216 </Td> <Td> 2,330 </Td> <Td> 10.17% </Td> <Td> 8 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tesco Metro </Td> <Td> 176 </Td> <Td> 185,156 </Td> <Td> 1,993,000 </Td> <Td> 1,052 </Td> <Td> 11,324 </Td> <Td> 5.00% </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> One Stop </Td> <Td> 780 </Td> <Td> 117,894 </Td> <Td> 1,269,000 </Td> <Td> 151 </Td> <Td> 1,627 </Td> <Td> 3.18% </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Tesco Dotcom only </Td> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> 66,519 </Td> <Td> 716,000 </Td> <Td> 11,086 </Td> <Td> 119,333 </Td> <Td> 1.80% </Td> <Td> </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Dobbies </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 0 </Td> <Td> 0.00% </Td> <Td> 36 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> Total </Td> <Td> 3,433 </Td> <Td> 3,702,649 </Td> <Td> 39,855,000 </Td> <Td> 1,079 </Td> <Td> 11,609 </Td> <Td> 100.00% </Td> <Td> 27 </Td> </Tr> </Table>

How many staff do tesco employ in the uk