Tesco has announced plans to recruit over 28,500 jobs during the Christmas period to make the festive season easier for its customers. Most of these roles will be based in the supermarket's Superstores and Extra stores, offering flexible shift options including early mornings, daytime, and evenings.

The recruitment affecting over 700 Tesco stores aims to help manage increased customer demand and ensure smooth service throughout the festive period. The temporary roles at Tesco cover a variety of tasks, including helping customers at checkout, restocking shelves, and preparing online orders for home delivery. The supermarket said it is looking for candidates "who can bring warmth, enthusiasm and a helpful service to every shopping trip", reports The Grocer.

Ela Golab, Tesco Group people services director said: "We're excited to be recruiting festive colleagues to help make it a season to remember for our customers.

"No day is ever the same, and festive colleagues will be able to feel the impact they make on every shift, as they send customers home with a smile. What's more, no experience is necessary - just the right attitude."

Several major UK retailers have launched large-scale festive recruitment drives to prepare for the busy Christmas season. Earlier this month, Sainsbury's and Argos began hiring for 19,000 seasonal roles, offering perks like free food during shifts and staff discounts of up to 15% to attract applicants.

Aldi was one of the first to start its campaign, aiming to fill 4,500 positions across its stores, including roles for assistants, cleaners, and managers to support operations through the holidays and into 2026.

Meanwhile, the John Lewis Partnership kicked off its biggest-ever recruitment effort in September, with 13,700 roles available-3,000 in John Lewis stores, 8,500 in Waitrose branches, and 2,200 in distribution centres and supply chain facilities.