Today's figures give out a very strong and simple message about our increased commitment to our Scottish customers in the coming months

Scottish marketing manager Shaun Edgeley

The new store in Forfar will create 100 jobs, the Inverurie supermarket will see an extra 215 jobs, and 215 posts will come from the South Queensferry development.

A store opened in April at Inshes in Inverness, which replaces a Co-op, will create 170 jobs.

This follows recent major refits of Inverness and Aberdeen stores to become Scotland's first new format Tesco Extras.

Tesco's said the announcement is especially good news for the north and north-east of Scotland - areas traditionally under serviced by large-scale supermarket provision.

Tesco is second to Safeway in Scotland

Scottish marketing manager Shaun Edgeley said: "We are committed to building and developing new stores to provide an unsurpassable service for all customers, from the Scottish Highlands to the Borders.

"And we are committed to expanding innovative services like Tesco.com so that we can reach even the most inaccessible of areas, ensuring everyone can benefit from the quality of service and products that have continued to make Tesco number one in the UK."

Tesco currently has 73 stores employing 17,000 people in Scotland.

Analysts say it has 17.4% of the market share to Safeway's 20.6% and Asda's 16.5%.

Registered customers

The expansion of its internet shopping service, which will be extended to a further seven stores across Scotland this year, will create up to 175 jobs.

Scotland currently has 19 stores live on the internet, employing about 620 staff.

New Tesco.com stores for 2001 include Dumfries, Musselburgh, Irvine Riverway, Inverurie, Coatbridge, Pollok, and Fraserburgh.

There are 60,000 registered customers in Scotland with order levels at 10,000 a week, worth around �500,000 each year.

National listings

The company also said it plans to increase its annual investment in Scottish food companies, currently standing at �600m.

A number of Scottish companies have recently received national Tesco listings including Clydebank-based Well-Pickled, Dundee-based MacKay's, Lanark-based Border Biscuits, Perth-based Inveralmond Brewery and Gleneagles Spring Water.

"Today's figures give out a very strong and simple message about our increased commitment to our Scottish customers in the coming months," said Mr Edgeley.