Tesco is expected to report its slowest quarter of domestic sales growth since 2000 this week.
The interim results are expected to show that UK non-petrol sales in the second quarter of the year rose by around 2.5 per cent, compared with 4.7 per cent in the first quarter, and 6.6 per cent at this time last year.
But the results will confirm that the retailer’s move into markets abroad is continuing to offset slowing sales growth in the UK.
The drop in UK sales growth in the second quarter will be in line with a slowdown seen by rivals, but figures from the retailer’s international operations are expected to be up by around 24 per cent.
The retailer is to open its first US stores next month as part its overseas expansion.
The £250 million-a-year investment will see Tesco open two new stores in the US every week in the coming months.
This is its first attempt to make its mark where UK retailers including Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s have failed.
The first stores, which will be modelled on the Tesco Express format, will open in Arizona, followed by Los Angeles and San Diego.
Analysts forecast double-digit growth in underlying pre-tax first half profits to close to £1.2 billion.
The US move is part of a huge international expansion to countries including Thailand, South Korea, the Czech Republic, Turkey and Poland.
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