- Business
- Tesco PLC operates as a multinational grocery and general merchandise retailer primarily in the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. The company offers a comprehensive range of products and services including grocery retail; fresh food; clothing; non-food items such as electronics and household goods; pharmacy; and financial services through Tesco Insurance and Money Services. It also operates Booker, a food and drink wholesaler serving retail and catering customers, alongside providing travel money, ATMs, and gift cards. Tesco's operations are segmented into UK & ROI, which covers the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, and Central Europe, which includes the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia. The company was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom.
Recent major changes at Tesco include the strategic sale of its banking business, classified as discontinued in early 2024, signaling a refocus on core retail activities. Tesco continues its expansion and store refreshment strategy, having opened 90 stores in 2024 across the UK, Ireland, and Central Europe, and refurbished 463 stores across its network. The company has heavily invested in digital transformation with nearly $2 billion allocated for cloud, big data, artificial intelligence, robotics, and in-store technology to enhance its omnichannel retail integration. These efforts underpin Tesco’s commitment to providing affordable, healthy, and sustainable food and shopping experiences. Tesco remains focused on technological innovation, customer-centric retailing, and operational efficiency as strategic priorities.
Services and brands under Tesco include supermarket and hypermarket retailing, wholesale supply through Booker, Tesco Insurance and Money Services delivering insurance products and financial services, and Dunnhumby, its customer data science and analytics arm. Tesco’s target markets include everyday consumers across its geographic operations in Europe, catering to both retail and wholesale clientele. The company employs over 340,000 staff worldwide and reported revenue of approximately £71 billion with a net income over £1.5 billion for the trailing twelve months as of 2025.
Overall, Tesco PLC functions as a leading grocery and general merchandise retailer with a diversified product and service portfolio, a clear focus on retail technology and customer experience, recent divestment of its banking arm, and ongoing expansion and store modernization programs designed to sustain its market leadership in Europe.