Tesco is a large international grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in the UK. It operates over 5380 stores across 14 countries, with the largest presence in the UK, Ireland, Malaysia, and Thailand. Tesco began as a small grocery stall in London in 1919 and has expanded significantly over the decades through acquisitions and new store openings, becoming a global retail leader and pioneering strategies like loyalty programs and online shopping. The document provides an overview of Tesco's history, operations, formats, competitors, and strategies.
2. ABOUT
Tesco is a global grocery and general
merchandise retailer headquartered in
Cheshunt, United Kingdom.
It is the third-largest retailer in the
world measured by revenues (after
Wal-Mart and Carrefour) and the
second-largest measured by profits Tesco House, head office in
Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.
(after Wal-Mart).
It has stores in 14 countries across
Asia, Europe and North America and
is the grocery market leader in the UK
(where it has a market share of
around 30%),Malaysia, the Republic
of Ireland and Thailand.
3. Originally specialising in food and drink, it
has diversified into areas such as clothing,
electronics, financial services, telecoms,
home, healthcare, dental and pet insurance,
retailing and renting DVDs, CDs, music
downloads, Internet services and software.
Tesco also operates a grocery home-
shopping service, as well as providing
consumer goods, telecommunications and
financial services online.
4. Company profile
Type Public Limited Company
Traded as LSE:TESCO
Industry Retailing
Founded 1920 (East London)
Founder Jack Cohen
Headquarter Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, U.K.
Number of locations 5380 stores (as at Feb. 2010)
Key people David Reid (chairman)
Philip Clarke (CEO)
Products Groceries, consumer goods,
financial services, telecoms etc
Revenue £60.93 billion (2010/11)
Operating Income £3.81 billion (2010/11)
Net Income £2.67 billion (2010/11)
Employees 472,000 (2010)
Website Tesco.com
5. FROM HISTORY…
Jack Cohen founded Tesco in 1920 when he began
to sell surplus groceries from a stall at Well Street
Market, Hackney, in the East End of London.
The first Tesco store was opened in 1929 in Burnt
Oak, Edgware, Middlesex.
The first self-service store opened in St Albans in
1956 (which remained operational until 2010, with a
period as a Tesco Metro), and the first supermarket
in Maldon in 1956.
6. In 1994, the company took over the supermarket chain
William Low, successfully fighting off Sainsbury's for
control of the Dundee-based firm, which operated 57
stores.
Tesco introduced a loyalty card, branded 'Clubcard', in
1995 and later an Internet shopping service.
In July 2001 Tesco became involved in internet grocery
retailing in the USA when it obtained a 35% stake in
Grocery Works.
7. In October 2003 the company launched a UK telecoms
division, comprising mobile and home phone services, to
complement its existing Internet service provider
business and in June 2003 Tesco purchased the C Two-
Network in Japan.
In 2007, Tesco took part in a joint venture with O2 to form
the Tesco Mobile mobile virtual network operator.
9. KEY PERSONS BEHIND TESCO PLC
Philip Clarke David Reid Terry Leahy
CEO Chairman Former CEO
10. MISSION STATEMENT OF TESCO
Creating value for customers, to earn their lifetime loyalty.
11. VISION STATEMENT
Our vision is for Tesco to be most highly valued by
the customers we serve, the communities in which
we operate, our loyal and committed staff and our
shareholders; to be a growth company; a modern
and innovative company and winning locally,
applying our skills globally.
12. CORPORATE STRATEGY
Beginning in 1997 when Terry Leahy took
over as CEO, Tesco began marketing itself
using the phrase "The Tesco Way" to
describe the company's core purposes,
values, principles, and goals.
Tesco expanded domestically and
internationally under Leahy's leadership,
implying a shift by the company to focus on
people, both customers and employees.
A core part of the Tesco expansion strategy
has been its innovative use of technology.
13. INTERNET OPERATIONS OF TESCO
Tesco operates a grocery home shopping
service, as well as providing consumer
goods, telecommunications and financial
services online.
Tesco has operated on the internet since
1994 and was the first retailer in the world to
offer a robust home shopping service in
1996.
Tesco offers an internet-based DVD rental
service, which is operated by LOVE-FiLM
and a music download service.
14. U.K. OPERATIONS (STORES)
Tesco's UK stores are divided into six formats, differentiated
by size and the range of products sold.
Tesco Extra
Tesco Superstores
Tesco Metro
Tesco Express
One-stop
Tesco Homeplus
22. SWOT ANALYSIS
Strength-
Largest supermarket chain in UK.
Strong brand name and financial power.
Third largest retailer after Wal-Mart and Carrefour.
International presence in 13 countries.
Better usage of technology in marketing and distribution.
23. WEAKNESS-
Increasing geographical spread makes focus on specific
markets difficult.
Lack of experience in phone and insurance markets.
More dependency on UK market.
High transport costs.
24. OPPORTUNITIES-
Strategic alliance with other companies.
Online arena for selling and marketing of products and
services.
Opening of new stores.
Enter new Asian markets.
25. THREATS-
Tough competition from giants Wal-Mart and Carrefour.
Fluctuation in taxes may impact the Tesco financials.
Innovation by other super markets.
Rising raw material cost.