RESIDENTS in some areas of North Yorkshire are paying more for groceries at Tesco-owned convenience stores than shoppers who use Tesco supermarkets, new figures have shown.

Research carried out by a national newspaper has shown shops belonging to the Tesco-owned One Stop chain charged up to 14 per cent more for products than Tesco-branded stores.

There are currently more than 500 One Stop stores across the UK and 52 in the Yorkshire and Humberside area, including shops in Bridlington, Norton and in Walmgate, York.

A spokesman for Tesco said the allegations were misleading and that One Stop runs on a separate pricing system to Tesco stores.

He said: “The important point here is that we bought the One Stop network of stores and converted some of them into the Tesco format.

“One Stop is a separate business within the Tesco Group, with its own supply chain and distribution network. One Stop has a price for One Stop, but that will be different to Tesco Superstores, Extra and Express stores.”

The research compared prices of 120 items between One Stop and Tesco stores, including household brands such as Dove, Kellogg’s and Kraft.

Results showed a bottle of shampoo cost £2.99 at One Stop, but only £2 from a Tesco store.

The One Stop chain was acquired by Tesco in 2003, and about 450 of the larger properties were converted and rebranded to Tesco Express.

The spokesman also refuted the suggestion Britain’s biggest supermarket had used One Stop as a “secret chain”.

He said: “Tesco has a number of businesses within the group, and some of them are of more regular interest to City investors and reporters then others.

“One Stop is a successful part of Tesco, but is not focussed on by the City. The One Stop stores do not appear on the Tesco store finder, as it is a separate business.”

A One Stop spokesperson said: “One Stop was already an established brand and successful business when Tesco acquired it in 2003. It is a separate business within the Tesco Group, with its own supply chain and distribution network.

“One Stop stores offer a different range to Express stores and its operating costs are different.”