Tesco

Tesco is a grocery retailer which is primarily based in the United Kingdom, although they also operate stores in Ireland, Hungary, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. 
== History ==
Tesco was started in 1919 when Jack Cohen started a grocery stall in London. In 1924, the business was renamed to Tesco, which is named from the initials of his supplier and the first 2 letters from his last name.https://web.archive.org/web/20130208152825/http://www.tescoplc.com/index.asp?pageid=11 
The first proper enclosed Tesco location opened in 1931, soon after, the store became very successful, and more stores opened throughout the Untied Kingdom. 
In 1947, Tesco became a public company on the London Stock Exchange.
In 1950s, Tesco started to purchase other grocery chains to expand quicker. By the end of the 1960s, they were operating over 800 stores. In 1956, Tesco opened their first supermarket location which offered more selection compared to a standard Tesco store. In the 1960s, Tesco started selling products other than groceries at larger locations. 
In 1974, Tesco started operating Tesco gas/petrol stations .
Over the next few decades, Tesco continued to buyout more stores, they eventually operated over 1000 locations. 
In 1994, Tesco entered the Hungarian market after buying a local grocery chain. 
In 1995, Tesco made their own loyalty card called the "Clubcard". Two years later, Tesco introduced "Tesco Direct", which was a website on the internet where you could order groceries and other products.
In 1996, Tesco entered the Czech Republic market by purchasing Kmart's Czech locations since they wanted to leave the European market at the time. 
In 1997, Tesco bought Associated British Foods for £640 million, which made an expansion into Ireland.
In 2002, Tesco bought a Polish grocery chain to expand into the country. In 2020, Tesco sold their Polish stores to Salling Group, by 2021, Tesco had fully left the country. 
In 2007, Tesco launched Fresh & Easy, which was Tesco's attempt to enter the American market, however, these stores ended up failing and the chain ended operations in 2013 because they ended up going bankrupt. 
In 2023, Tesco opened stores on the Isle of Man after buying 9 ShopRite stores. 
==Locations==
Category:Supermarkets
Category:Retailers
Category:UK
Category:Europe
Category:Ireland
Category:Czech Republic
Category:Slovakia
Category:Superstores
Category:Hypermarkets
Category:Hungary
Category:Companies
Category:Franchises
Category:Brands
Category:Companies founded in the United Kingdom