UK Giant Tesco To Colorado?

The introduction of Tesco to Colorado markets would be welcome, especially if they bring some of the unique UK-style food offerings (sandwiches, chips) that they carry across the pond:

British retail giant Tesco's invasion of the U.S. might be more ambitious than the company has so far let on, Fortune has learned. A search of public documents reveals that Tesco - which plans to open hundreds of small grocery stores on the West Coast beginning later this year - has designs on the Colorado market as well.

In May of 2006, the name "Tesco Stores West," a Tesco subsidiary, was registered with the Colorado Secretary of State. The name was also registered in California, Nevada and Arizona. (Earlier this month, Tesco changed the subsidiary's name to Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market, a moniker it had reserved, but not registered, in October 2006.)

A Tesco spokesman denied that the company had any immediate plans for the Rocky Mountain region, but left open the possibility that something could happen sometime down the road. "We have confirmed that we will be focusing on Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Phoenix," says Tesco spokesperson Greg Sage. "We do not plan to open any stores in Colorado in the near future, but we never say never."

With the departure of Albertson's and Grocery Warehouse, and the merger of Whole Foods and Wild Oats, Colorado's supermarket segment might benefit from another entry, if for no other reason than increasing variety.