What Is Tesco?

If it’s corny to say that Tesco puts the “super” in “supermarket,” then call us Orville Redenbacher in an Iowa tortilla chip factory whose lunch is catered by Jiffy, because we stand by the corniness. Tesco is, at its core, a U.K.-based grocery and general store. But is that all? Let’s head down the rabbit hole that is the grocery giant, Tesco. 

What is Tesco?

Short answer? Tesco is a grocery store. Long answer? Tesco is a super store along the lines of Walmart or Costco. Since its London beginnings in 1919, Tesco has grown to sell not only groceries, but books, clothes, electronics, furniture, toys, software, petrol (that’s gas for you Yanks), financial services, and even internet services. 

Is Tesco cheap?

Tesco is known for affordable offerings, which makes a lot of sense when you consider founder Jack Cohen’s business motto of “pile it high and sell it cheap.” This isn’t to say that they sell bottom-of-the-barrel scraps, though. Aiming to appeal to a range of consumers, they have products from the low-cost “Tesco Value” option to a premium “Tesco Finest” category.

How big is a Tesco?

The size of a Tesco depends on the format of the store. Tesco Hypermarkets are the big kahunas, and offer the full monty of Tesco offerings. Superstores are your standard, large supermarkets and offer groceries, along with a smaller selection of non-food goods. Express Tesco shops are convenience stores that stock food and everyday essentials, but emphasize high-margin products like snacks and sweets. It is where our cardiologist begs us to please stop doing our primary shopping. Tesco also has fuel stations and home shopping online.

What’s the deal with Tesco and sustainability?

From humble beginnings of a London market stall selling war-surplus groceries in 1919, Tesco has maintained an emphasis on sustainability. They boast a six pillar plan to address the relationship between the food system and natural environment, and these pillars outline that they will account for their impact in everything from sourcing to transport to food waste. They offer a variety of resources to inform consumers about general sustainability as well as their specific actions. 

Where is Tesco?

If you’re in the U.K., a Tesco shouldn’t be too hard to find, but they’re also in 11 countries including India and Slovakia. Sadly, if you’re an American with a hankering for Tesco, you’re out of luck unless you get on a plane or build a time machine to go back to 2007 when they opened a line of Fresh & Easy grocery stores in the U.S. (They sold them off in 2013.) Either way, you’ll have to take the trip knowing that you’re really putting a damper on Tesco’s whole sustainability thing.