About Tesco
Tesco is the United Kingdom's largest supermarket chain and one of the world's most recognisable grocery retailers. Founded by Jack Cohen in 1919 from a modest market stall in Hackney, East London, Tesco has grown into a retail giant commanding approximately 28.5% of the UK grocery market. The company takes its name from a clever combination: when Cohen bought a shipment of tea from supplier Thomas Edward Stockwell, he created labels using the initials TES from the supplier's name and CO from his own surname, giving birth to the TESCO brand in 1924. British Heritage and Market Leadership Tesco's British roots run extraordinarily deep. The first permanent Tesco store opened in September 1931 at Burnt Oak, Edgware, and the company floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1947. Sir Jack Cohen was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1969 in recognition of his contribution to British retail. Today, Tesco operates approximately 2,965 stores across the United Kingdom, with 86% located in England. London alone hosts 335 Tesco stores, more than any other city. The company employs over 400,000 colleagues across stores, offices, distribution centres, and customer engagement centres in the UK, Europe, and Asia. Headquartered in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, Tesco PLC is listed on the London Stock Exchange and forms part of the FTSE 100 Index. The company's diverse ownership includes institutional investors such as Silchester International Investors, Schroder Investment Management, and The Vanguard Group. In fiscal year 2023/24, Tesco generated revenue of approximately £62.88 billion in the UK and Republic of Ireland alone. Product Ranges and Own-Brand Excellence Tesco's pioneering three-tier own-brand strategy, launched in 1998, revolutionised British supermarket shopping with its "Good, Better, Best" positioning. At the premium end sits Tesco Finest, now the UK's largest grocery brand with annual turnover exceeding £1.4 billion. The Finest range has won over 40 design and brand marketing awards internationally, and in 2025 continues to expand with innovations including the Chef's Collection featuring dishes like Nduja-stuffed porchetta and masala-spiced beef cheeks, plus a premium Wagyu steak range responding to an 87% year-on-year increase in searches for Wagyu on Tesco.com. Tesco Plant Chef represents the supermarket's commitment to plant-based eating, offering over 100 affordable vegan products, many priced under £3. The range focuses on accessible meat alternatives including burgers, sausages, nuggets, and ready meals, supporting Tesco's pledge to increase plant-based protein sales by 300%. All Plant Chef packaging is fully recyclable. Tesco Free From caters to those with dietary requirements, offering gluten-free, dairy-free, and allergen-friendly alternatives. The range earned Tesco the prestigious Free From Retailer of the Year award in 2025, featuring everything from bread and pasta to festive treats like gluten-free black forest brownies. The value tier includes Stockwell & Co for pantry essentials (named after the very T.E. Stockwell whose tea gave Tesco its name), Hearty Food Co for chilled items, Ms Molly's for frozen desserts, Creamfields for dairy, and The Grower's Harvest for fruit and vegetables. Additionally, Tesco Organic taps into the growing organic market, which saw 7.9% value growth in the year to September 2025. Dietary Information and Special Requirements Tesco excels at catering to diverse dietary needs. The Free From range provides comprehensive options for those avoiding gluten, wheat, dairy, or eggs. The Plant Chef range is entirely vegan, with many products also suitable for those following vegetarian or flexitarian diets. Tesco Real Food, the retailer's recipe platform, offers extensive collections of gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan recipes. Products are clearly labelled with allergen information, and the Tesco website allows filtering by dietary requirements. Customers with coeliac disease can find dedicated gluten-free sections in-store, though Tesco advises always checking labels as formulations can change. The supermarket also stocks an extensive range of third-party free-from brands alongside its own products. Quality, Sustainability, and Trust Tesco's commitment to quality has driven a 263 basis points rise in customer satisfaction and earned 28 consecutive weeks of market share gains through 2024-25. CEO Ken Murphy has stated that Tesco Finest quality now rivals Sainsbury's and Waitrose, with aspirations to match Marks & Spencer. Almost a third of new product launches in 2025 came from the Finest range, contributing to a 17% sales boost in premium own-label goods. Sustainability sits at the heart of Tesco's operations. The company has set ambitious targets including net zero emissions by 2050 and carbon neutrality by 2035, having already exceeded its 2025 goal by cutting Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 65%. In 2024, Tesco secured a major deal with the Cleve Hill solar park in Kent to supply up to 10% of its UK electricity demand over 15 years. By December 2025, 99% of Tesco's own-brand packaging is fully recyclable, and the company aims for all growers worldwide to achieve LEAF Marque sustainable farming certification. The supermarket's food redistribution programme, partnering with FareShare and OLIO, has redistributed over 25,000 tonnes of surplus food annually, equivalent to more than 60 million meals. Tesco has a target to cut operational food waste by 50% by end of 2025. Clubcard and Value Proposition The Tesco Clubcard, introduced in 1995, now boasts over 20 million members and won the Best Global Loyalty Launch award in 2025 for its innovative Clubcard Challenges programme. Members earn one point per £1 spent in-store (one point per £2 on fuel), with each point worth 1p. Clubcard Prices offer exclusive discounts, with non-members paying on average £32 more for the same basket. Reward Partners allow members to double their voucher value at selected retailers. Competitive Position In the UK supermarket landscape, Tesco consistently ranks as the largest player, significantly ahead of competitors Sainsbury's (approximately 15.2% market share) and Asda (14.2%). While discounters Aldi and Lidl offer lower base prices, Tesco remains competitive for loyalty card holders. In The Grocer's weekly pricing comparisons, Tesco and Asda frequently vie for the cheapest supermarket position among full-range retailers. For a basket of 196 items with loyalty card, Tesco typically costs around £481-482, competitive with Asda's £474 and significantly cheaper than Sainsbury's £490. Summary From Jack Cohen's East London market stall to Britain's dominant grocery retailer, Tesco has spent over a century building trust with UK shoppers. Whether seeking premium Finest products, affordable value ranges, plant-based alternatives, or free-from essentials, Tesco offers comprehensive choice backed by the UK's most popular loyalty scheme. With industry-leading sustainability commitments and continued investment in quality, Tesco remains the go-to supermarket for millions of British households.