A retailer has already been lined up to replace a Tesco branch when it departs Sittingbourne’s Forum Shopping Centre.

Earlier today the supermarket giant released a statement saying it had reached the “difficult decision” to close the Metro in the new year.

It has since been revealed the vacant store will be filled by discount goods chain Poundstretcher.

It is understood a factor in the decision to close the Tesco branch was that it had been performing below the company’s expectations of a Metro of that size and efforts to make it viable had failed.

A total of 33 people work at the store with Tesco stating it will try to help them find employment at its other stores.

Tesco confirmed it has no plans to sell The Forum, which it owns, and it would be leasing its vacant site to Poundstretcher, which opened a branch on Friday in Sheerness.

Tracey Clements, Tesco’s managing director for convenience said: “We have today announced to colleagues that we have taken the difficult decision to close our Sittingbourne Metro store.

“Our priority now is to explain what this announcement means for our colleagues and wherever possible, offer them alternative roles with Tesco.

“We would like to thank all our customers who have shopped in our store and we will continue to do our best to serve them through our Express stores on Canterbury Road and in Milton Regis.”

A Tesco spokesman said the closure followed a “detailed review”.

The branch is due to shut on Saturday, January 6.