Tesco was founded in 1919 by Jack Cohen. He began by selling surplus groceries at the Well Street Market on the east side of London.
In 1929, the first Tesco store opened in Middlesex. In 1956, the first self service store opened in St Albans.
The company grew to over 800 stores by the end of the 1960s.
In 1987, the company completed a hostile takeover of Hilliards. In 1994, William Low chain was acquired and in 1997, Associated British Foods was purchased.
In 1995, Clubcard, a loyalty program, was introduced.
More acquisitions followed in the 2000s, including HIT Hypermarkets in Poland, T & S convenience stores and Adminstore.
Today, Tesco is the third largest retailer in the world and has over 6300 stores in 14 countries.
TescoTesco was founded in 1919 by Jack Cohen. He began by selling surplus groceries at the Well Street Market on the east side of London.
In 1929, the first Tesco store opened in Middlesex. In 1956, the first self service store opened in St Albans.
The company grew to over 800 stores by the end of the 1960s.
History
In 1987, the company completed a hostile takeover of Hilliards. In 1994, William Low chain was acquired and in 1997, Associated British Foods was purchased.
In 1995, Clubcard, a loyalty program, was introduced.
More acquisitions followed in the 2000s, including HIT Hypermarkets in Poland, T & S convenience stores and Adminstore.
Today, Tesco is the third largest retailer in the world and has over 6300 stores in 14 countries.
Having read today that Tescos are going to pay out 900 million in dividends to share holders, I wish to register my disgust at Tescos even contemplating such a move in this very worrying time for most of their customers. After receiving 585 million in rates relief of public money ,which could of been put to better use.Dont forget customers have long memories .In a time when we are all being told we are in this together,i think this is very poor judgement and I think you will regret this in the future.Greed is a terrible thing and customers have long memories.
I was unfortunately taken ill in the tescos in st.stephens in hull I know the store number is 5456 I wish to express my gratitude to the members of staff and security guard who came to my aid there care couldn’t be faulted they brought screens to preserve my dignity and totally gave me care beyond reproach even the hospital said my initial care must have been good I don’t know there names as I felt very poorly I am out of hospital now awaiting tests but my daughter who was with me said they were wonderful and couldn’t have done more I have rang the store to say thank you but it seems so little you should shout from the rooftops what good staff you have I am forever in their debt thank you a million times doreen
I feel very unhappy and let down with the closure of our Tesco metro store, apart from the loyal workers losing their jobs we the locals are losing the only decent shop in town, we do not have the choice of the other supermarkets near by we have Iceland but they do not stock the foods Tesco do I know there is online shopping but what about people who cannot do it?Our nearest big Tesco is a few miles outside town and not that easy to get to and there are major stores nearer than it so the chances are customers will go elsewhere to shop. Its a shame the customers were not taken into account when the decision to close the shop was taken,your the bossed in charge so you can revoke the decision and leave the shop open for the good of the town and your customers who cant get their shopping easily anywhere else.
I was lead to bleive that supermarkets including TESCOs were to reduce the use of plastic. Yet my local TESCO store is wrapping more fruit and veg in plastic WHY?
I needed a single Sweet Potato for a recipe I was preparing. But I found Tesco only sell them in PLASTIC wrapped packs. I enquired if the store had any loose ones the reply from the young man was ‘No sorry we dont, also added he also required loose potato but they only have pre-packed. WHY…so we have to buy more which results in more wastage
I also needed some Cooked meats. But found that the store now only opens the Deli (and Fish Mongers) half of the week so I would have to buy pre-pack meats in PLASTIC wrapping again. WHY…to cut down on staff
I decide to go to Sainsburies store about 5 miles drive, where I bought Sweet Potato, and cooked meat without the Plastic Packaging. Plus all other groceries I needed. So as we are lucky to have Aldi, Asda and Sainsbury and Morrisons stores nearby Guess who will be loosing custom.
Thank you for reading my rant and Think about as your future customers if you not thinking of the enviroment.
I completely agree with you, it’s just disgraceful. Not just the fact that they won’t do anything to address the issue, but also not to highlight the danger that so many of their (and so many other supermarkets) are causing danger to the environment.
So I went and bought some kiwis in a netted multipack, which means when I got home I shredded the netting packaging, the same with the plastic of a 4 pack of drink. Because I’ve seen first hand what – whether it be plastic netting, or the most horrific a plastic 4 pack of drink had suffocated and killed a mother turtle, and she was pregnant, so all her babies were lost.
Could not agree with you more.
I am an eleven year old girl and would like to speak to you about the use of plastic that you are covering your items in. Although people are aware about single use plastic and how bad it is for the sea, world and even people in some cases, I don’t think you are doing enough to help.You should cut down the cost of single items with no plastic (like six individual apples) and make the packaged items with single used plastic (like a bag of six apples) more expensive so it enables people to buy the NO PLASTIC items. I look forward to hearing from you.
I feel the same. They and like the rest of the supermarkets say they will change their packaging, but it’s actually more costly to the consumer?!! So last week I weighed out loose potatoes and got the price on a ticket, then compared it to the same packaged potatoes, the same weight, and the packaged ones worked out considerably less!!
I know Tesco have set up a recycling scheme at their stores of plastics and some other items that the local council won’t take, like cat food pouches, plastic bread wrapping, other hard plastics etc, which in many ways is good, if you can get to a store with all your recyclables.
They just need to find a way to help the environment. They may lose some money in the short term, but once people see what they are doing they will gain in the long term.
I am a frequent customer to Tesco’s and am conscious of the amount of plastic used on goods around the store. Today I made sure that I purchased my fresh vegetables without using the plastic bags provided. But, many fruit and vegetables were still wrapped unnecessarily in not only one layer of plastic but in some cases two. In the summer months I have foreign students staying with us and I use a lot of instore cakes, such as muffins etc, the amount of plastic waste is hideous. There surely must be a much better environmentally friendly alternative.
I know of people who have groceries delivered from Tesco and they arrive in the plastic Tesco carrier bags and on average there are three items in each bag, one reason why I don’t have my goods delivered!
It is time to change the way we live so what is Tesco doing to help reduce the impact it has on the environment.
As one of the leading and largest supermarkets in the U.K. , Tesco has enormous power to help end the factory farming cruelty persisting in the U.K. How ? by only supporting free-range farmers and refusing to buy wholesale from factory farms which only exist because of the demand from supermarkets generally. In turn, the demand is created by shoppers who are looking for the cheapest meat products, often in ignorance of the cruelty that is essential for producing vast quantities of cheap meat. If the major supermarkets in the U.K. federated on this issue and made it clear to farmers that they would only be buying in free-range meat products in future, then the welfare of farm animals would improve dramatically very quickly. By “free-range” I am referring to animals free to move and roam as they were in the days of traditional farming practices that have now mostly disappeared in Britain. The first supermarket to take a lead on this issue would, I believe,
Win the hearts minds and custom of the the majority of the food buying public.
I urge Tesco to think on this and think about the untold misery suffered day-in and day-out by millions of tormented animals in the U.K, as a result of their meat-purchasing decisions and obsessive adherence to profit over ethics.
I am a longtime loyal and regular customer. I am also a shareholder of over 10 years, again out of loyalty. I have decided to stop buying any product you sell that contains palm oil ( I long ago gave up Nutella, and now have to give up McVitie’s Ginger Nuts, which I love ) because I can no longer be party to the destruction of the rainforest and the murder of orang utans. What will Tesco do to divest from palm oil ? Iceland is stealing a march on you – don’t fall behind. Many of us out there are awake to the environmental crisis facing the planet – it is urgent, and all of us must act ! I must add, by the way, having just received my report from you of shareholders’ dividend, I realise my loyalty in buying your shares was a bad financial mistake. They have dropped considerably in value and the dividend was derisory. I write from Swansea, Wales.
The other week I bought, amongst many other wines, two bottles of Tesco Finest Pinotage. My wife and I opened one a few nights ago. This wine is NOT pinotage.
I have the feeling that your buyers have been royally ‘stitched up’. This wine is little more than a cheap table wine. We used the rest in cooking. By the way. We DO know our Pinotage as we have spent many happy years drinking the stuff in S.Africa.
To test the quality of your wine, please compare with a Beyerskloof pinotage
Thanks
Mike
Hello
I am trying to connect with the marketing side of Tesco. I am Jennifer from Jack Nadel International. We are a very innovative promotional products company with many longevity clients such as Facebook, Tesla, Monster, Blue Cross, ( and many more ). Anytime you apply branding/logos to anything – we can help with the most creative approach. We have been in business over 50 years and well respected in the industry.
Thanks so much
I am trying to locate the charitable giving arm of Tesco as we are having a fundraiser to keep providing coffee mornings and information for families/carers supporting their relatives with Autism. our website is voicesforautism.com.
we are looking for donations and or gift vouchers
Many thanks
Glenice Lake
At Brighton and Hove Libraries we are looking to purchase several daily papers from Tesco. This would amount to 76 newspapers per week.
We would like to use the store on Church Road, Hove
We would have to pay weekly in arrears by credit card and we would also need an itemised bill. Would this be at all possible?
Many Thanks
Brighton and Hove City Libraries
Can you please inform me why you have discontinued value cat litter priced £1.55 from your stores? I was very disappointed when I visited your Stalybridge Store this week to be told by a manager it is no longer available. It is a popular product and I’m aware you have received lots of complaints. I won’t be buying you more expensive product, starting price around $3.50 but will start shopping elsewhere.
I fail to understand why you discontinue popular products, not good marketing sense.
Bridget McGowan
Having a 24 hr Tesco less than 50 meters from my home is a nightmare work on the store always gets carried out in the early hours in the morning shoppers tieing their dogs up outside the store at all hours in the morning and barking lost count the number of times I have complained but just get fobbed of they just do not care about anyone but themselves as long as thay get money in the till
if we leave how many 1,000 of staff will be laid off
your corporate h q is uk
but not your h q
so new agreements and trading law will have tobe renegioated which will take 2 yrs
I would like to inquire about having my product placed in the Tesco Stores. How do I go about this process?
Randall Margraf
I purchase a large roasting pan with a trivet which was on promotional offer.
I had not used this pan until a couple of weeks ago and after the first use we found the non stick coating was coming away from the base of the pan.
I took the pan to my local store and asked the young lady at the customer services desk to deal with it. she began by saying it was not Tesco’s responsibility and that I should contact the suppler (Thomas) I stated I though it was the retailers responsibility to deal with the supplier. This young lady shouting at me said there was nothing she could do but leave the pan with her. After a very short time she telephoned to say she had written down an a sheet of paper what I should do. And that she could do no more as this was a promotional product.
I collected the pan and the note which said :- Take a photo of the damage and email the company Thomas. What would happen if I did not have a camera? I did do as she said but still think I was right returning to the retailer who was I think less than helpful and bordering on being rude by shouting at me for all other customers to hear.
Not a good helpful retailer. ? Should I purchase my goods from another High Street Retailer in future? If I buy a leg of Lamb and it is not very good do I need to contact the farmer that supplied Tesco’s with the Lamb ?? From another a very unhappy customer.
Tell us what you think ?
i don,t know if tesco management will get this, but i have just complained about not being able to double up my loyalty vouchers in as the cashier said they had already been used.i phoned the clubcard helpline and asked how this could be as i have my vouchers with me and i know i have not used them .they checked their system and said i doubled them up last august,i replied ,when i double them up the cashier always gives me a receipt for them and puts the original voucher in the till.Helpline replied ,sorry it says on system you have used them,i know i haven,t done so,to which the helpline said tesco don,t always take the original voucher off you,to which i replied they have always taken mine, but tesco didn,t seem to want to know,perhaps they don,t want to admit they can make mistakes ,and just bother about making profits.Well thank you tesco for your help,NOT!
I took out a 12 months Sim – Only contract for 2 lines with Tesco Mobile in May 2013. After the completion of the contract I tried to get an upgrade and eventually got a 24 month’s contract from the 7th of this month November 2014. The two phones were sent to me a bit late, both arriving on different days apart. I also noticed that both handsets (Motorola E) one white and the other black in colour had had no Charger with them and some accessories were missing. Again, the black Motorola E had a fault as the ringer or speaker is not functioning. I spoke to the mobile team who eventually sent me a prepaid envelope to post it to them. Today they have acknowledged the receipt of the handset.
Why I am writing is: (I) I am left without a handset after commencing my contract. The contract had include a functioning handset. I had requested that a new handset be sent to me with immediate effect as other mobile network will do. Again the contract had stated that if a fault arises from the handset within 28 days, a new handset will be provided. As it is now, the Mobile team will be trying to repair a faulty handset and sending it out to me again. Please note, the contract is for 24 months, if I start with a faulty handset as it is there will be serious disruption with my contract. I request that Tesco Mobile sends me a new handset with immediate effect in the fastest currier service. Again, all mobile phones comes with a charger which is part of a mandatory accessory of the phone in order to function. Please send me chargers for these handsets immediately as you are defaulting and are in breach of the terms and condition of the contract we have. I do not expect you to charge me during this period as you remain at fault and are in breach of the terms and conditions of the contract.
Tesco are requesting a new outlet by developing Zen site at Flamstead End and there is objection as it is less than half a mile from Brookfield. We have Hammond Street, Cheshunt Old Pond, Cuffley so just how many do we need especially as Brookfield often struggle to keep their shelves stocked. OPPORTUNITY Tesco. You are big on community projects so sponsor the Zen site for development of a Youth and Community Center. This initiative would be unique and caring and believe me would increase your dwindling sale profile far better than BOGOF for example. Be brave and go for it.
innovative food processingsystems.
Can someone please contact me on 07903179202 regarding my recent grocery delivery
order as i’m very disappointed with the way the whole order was handled. Firstly i booked a slot back at the begining of Dec for the 20th as i knew i would be in hospital having an operation,so i wouldn’t be able to go shopping. On the 19th my son confirmed my shopping order for the next day coming between 3&4 and the staff discount was deducted. But when my shopping hadn’t arrived by 4.30 i rang from my mobile to ask where abouts it was and this is where the problems started..Firstly i was told that there was a problem with my card and they had been trying to get hold of me but when i informed them that no-one had tried as i was unable to go out as i had just come out of hospital and that i’ve had both phones with me all day. They told me they hadn’t got my mobile number when clearly on the confirmation e-mail it states all my numbers, and one of the customer service advisers informed me that they must of lied to me as she clearly could see my numbers and she read them out to me. ( which i find absolutely apalling) and i’m glad all calls are recorded. After finally getting through to the driver he wasn’t being very helpful and between him and another customer adviser they really had no idea what they were doing and also couldn’t promise me when my shopping could be re-delivered even though i had booked a slot and only live 2 minutes away from Brookfield. (again i’m pleased these calls are recorded). Ater all this i then found out that the staff discount hadn’t been deducted
from the mastercard i had used even though on the system you have all the club card details as the day before when my original order was confirmed the staff discount was deducted. When i mentioned this i was informed that it should of come off but there was nothing they could do about it now as it was my problem to sort out.
Unfortunately i find this sort of reply apalling as it wasn’t my mistake to begin with and as yet i haven’t had any luck in getting it back, as no-one knows about a form i’m meant to fill in even though we’ve tried. And when my shopping finally arrived i had over £54 worth of shopping missing, i find this absolutely disgusting especially after all the problems i had in getting it delivered in the first place.
Tesco it seems as simply turned it’s back on me as a customer and the problems i face in trying to get it sorted. I ordered from you in good faith and all i’ve got back is problem after problem..lying about phone numbers to customers,missing shopping,staff discount not being deducted , promises of phone calls being returned but ended up with me chasing it up.. I asked Tesco to come and pick the shopping back up as i was so disgusted with the service i had received but no one got back to me and then someone promised me vouchers for the inconvience but as yet along with everything else it’s just false promises. And it seems it’s me that’s out of pocket all round. The hospital advised me to not get stressed or upset as my pulse is dangerously fast but i find that in 2 days Tesco has done just that to me.
And to top it all my son was given a turkey and a tin of chocolates as he works for tesco but forgot to take them home but now finds that both have gone so ends up with nothing.
Which again if all staff have been allocated these items then surely they should still be able to have them but unfortunately it obviously doesn’t work like that
For a big company like yourselves i don’t think this is a good advert for your customers shopping at Tesco. So i truly hope you can help me with this matter as i find myself in a situation which i will take further and higher .
My customer number is 24650082
Sarah Green