Core UK

Our core UK business is significant within the group, with over 285,000 employees and over 2,200 stores. Around 70% of group sales and profits come from the UK business.
Growth in the UK business comes from new space, extensions to existing stores and a multi-format approach. Sales of non-food, which forms another key part of our strategy, also contribute to the overall UK growth picture.

Store Formats

We have four different store formats, each tailored to our customers' needs and one trial format called Homeplus:

Express (up to 3,000 sq ft)

We have over 960 Express stores offering customers great value, quality and fresh food close to where they live and work. We opened our first Express store in 1994. They sell a range of up to 7,000 products including fresh produce, wines and spirits and in-store bakery.

Metro (approx. 7,000-15,000 sq ft)

We opened our first Metro in 1992, bringing the convenience of Tesco to town and city centre locations, and now have over 170 stores. Metros cater for thousands of busy customers each week and offer a tailored range of mainly food products, including ready-meals and sandwiches.

Superstore (approx. 20,000-50,000 sq ft)

We began opening superstores in the 1970s and during the 1980s and 1990s built a national network, to which we are adding every year, currently totalling around 450. We have an ongoing programme of extending and refreshing our superstores to improve the overall experience for customers. In recent years we have introduced a number of new non-food ranges into superstores such as DVDs and books.

Extra (approx. 60,000 sq ft and above)

Since opening our first Extra in 1997, the one-stop destination store has proved extremely popular and we now have more than 175 Extra stores. Extra stores offer the widest range of food and non-food lines, ranging from electrical equipment to homewares, clothing, health and beauty and seasonal items such as garden furniture.

Homeplus (approx. 35,000 sq ft to 50,000 sq ft)

Our Homeplus stores are dedicated to non food, including clothing. These 10 stores offer our widest range of non food products in store, with more available through their Tesco Direct order and collection points. Our latest, largest stores have our Tesco Direct catalogue ranges on display, with most products available to take home today. Following the early promise of our first seven stores, we’ve committed to opening a further ten as part of the trial.

Broad appeal

In addition to a variety of formats, we ensure we have a broad appeal by continually innovating and investing in new lines to increase choice for our customers. From Value to Finest and lifestyle ranges like Organic, Free From, Healthy Living and Wholefoods, our various own brands enable customers to buy products to compliment their lifestyle. Our nutritional 'signpost labelling' aims to provide customers with the key information they need to help them choose a balanced diet.

This recession has provided a new challenge because although customers tend to shop around more for the best prices when times are hard - it doesn't mean they want to compromise on quality of the shopping trip or on choice. That is why last year we made the biggest change to our range in a decade, launching around 500 new products as part of our 'Discount Brands at Tesco' initiative. The new range means that every customer can have a product to match their budget without compromising on choice or quality. It creates a completely new way to shop for customers who want to spend less.

Understanding our customers

Tesco Clubcard is a world-leading loyalty card scheme, with around 15 million active cardholders. Information provided by Clubcard enables us to better understand our customers and say thank you for shopping with us. There are over eight million unique coupon variations with each Clubcard mailing, making sure that everyone receives the kind of offer that is appropriate for them.

Looking after our people

Tesco is the biggest private sector employer in the UK with over 285,000 employees. We offer a market-leading package of pay and benefits such as childcare vouchers and two share schemes: Save as You Earn - a savings scheme with an option to buy shares at a discounted rate - and Buy as You Earn. In addition, our Shares in Success scheme rewards eligible staff for their hard work and commitment with free Tesco shares and our award-winning defined benefit pension scheme, which has around 160,000 members, allows members to build up a pension based on their earnings and service.