Tesco is planning to open its first Tesco Express store in China next month, in Shanghai, taking a slice of the convenience market in one of the world’s fastest-growing economies.

The UK's biggest retailer, which formed a joint venture with a local operator in China four years ago, already operates more than 50 hypermarkets on China's east coast and is planning to add a number of stores to its portfolio. Rivals Wal-Mart and Carrefour have a strong hypermarket presence in China.

Tesco has outlined China as one of the markets, alongside Turkey and the US, which will be crucial to its long-term success.