History of Tesco
Tesco, one of the world's largest and most renowned retail chains, traces its roots back to 1919 when
Jack Cohen began selling surplus groceries from a stall in the East End of London. The name 'Tesco'
itself originated from the initials of TE Stockwell, a partner in the firm of tea suppliers, and
Cohen's own surname. By 1924, Cohen had expanded operations to a number of market stalls, and in
1929, he opened the first Tesco store in Burnt Oak, Middlesex. Despite facing challenges during
World War II, Tesco persevered and continued to grow steadily.
In the 1950s, Tesco embraced
self-service supermarkets, a pioneering concept in the UK retail industry. This move revolutionized
the shopping experience for customers, allowing them to browse and select products themselves,
leading to increased convenience and efficiency. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century,
Tesco continued to innovate and expand, introducing new services such as the Tesco Clubcard loyalty
program in 1995, which became instrumental in building customer loyalty and gathering data for
targeted marketing strategies. By the early 2000s, Tesco had solidified its position as a dominant
force in the British retail sector, and it embarked on ambitious international expansion,
establishing a presence in multiple countries across Europe and Asia.