Private company

Tesco

Logo: Tesco Stores ČR a.s., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons3

British multinational retail groceries company

Tesco PLC is a British multinational groceries and general merchandise retailer headquartered in the United Kingdom at its head offices in Welwyn Garden City, England. The company was founded by Sir Jack Cohen in Hackney, London, in 1919.2 From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 16, 2026.

Overview

1919Founded1
  • Tickeron London Stock Exchange1
  • Industryretail chain1
  • HeadquartersWelwyn Garden City1
  • Websitewww.tescoplc.com
  • Legal formpublic limited company1
  • Listed onLondon Stock Exchange (TSCO)1
  • Slogan“Every little helps”1

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Tesco Express, Wavertree
Photo: Rodhullandemu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons4

Tesco PLC is a British multinational groceries and general merchandise retailer headquartered in the United Kingdom at its head offices in Welwyn Garden City, England. The company was founded by Sir Jack Cohen in Hackney, London, in 1919. In 2023, it was the 15th largest retailer in the world by revenue. It is the market leader of groceries in the UK (where it has a market share of around 28.4%). Tesco also has stores in the Czech Republic, Ireland, Slovakia, the Isle of Man and Hungary.2

The story

Founded by Jack Cohen in 1919.1

Leadership

Who has led Tesco, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Chief executive

  1. Ken Murphy2020–now

Chair

  1. Leslie Porter1973–1985
  2. John Allan2019–now
197019801990200020102020

Subsidiaries and ownership

Owners

Subsidiaries

  • Booker Group
  • Dobbies Garden Centres
  • Dunnhumby
  • Dunnhumby USA
  • Jack's
  • One Stop
  • Stewarts Supermarket Limited
  • Tesco Bank
  • Tesco Europe
  • Tesco Express
  • Tesco Extra
  • Tesco Franchise Stores ČR
  • Tesco Ireland
  • Tesco Metro
  • Tesco Mobile
  • Tesco Mobile ČR
  • Tesco Overseas Investments Limited
  • Tesco Stores SR
  • Tesco Stores ČR
  • Tesco Superstore
  • Tesco-Global Zrt.

Also owns

  • Lotus's 25%
  • Lazada Group 21%

From Wikidata.1

Acquisitions

  1. 2018Booker Group became a subsidiary1
  2. 2006Acquired Carrefour Česká republika1
  3. 1996Acquired Tesco Stores ČR1

Employees over time

  • 2020423,0921
  • 2016482,1521

Revenue over time

As stated on Wikidata, in the currency reported.

Revenue

Tesco revenue by year154.4B GBP in 2016−4% since 2015
020.0B GBP40.0B GBP60.0B GBP2015: 56.9B GBP56.9B GBP20152016: 54.4B GBP54.4B GBP2016−4%
  • 201654.4B GBP1
  • 201556.9B GBP1

Net income

Tesco net income by year1129.0M GBP in 2016
-6.0B GBP-4.0B GBP-2.0B GBP02.0B GBP2015: -5.8B GBP-5.8B GBP20152016: 129.0M GBP129.0M GBP2016
  • 2016129.0M GBP1
  • 2015-5.8B GBP1

Timeline

  1. Oct 1, 2020New chief executive Ken Murphy becomes CEO1
  2. 1919Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

  1. 1
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