Tesco shoppers learn mind blowing meaning behind supermarket giant's name

Daily Record

05-05-2025

Tesco is a staple of the British high street with its red and white logo a familiar sight for millions of people. But few know the true meaning behind the supermarket's name.
Tesco has long been one of Britain's biggest retailers and is a common sight for the millions who visit its stores for their weekly grocery haul.
The iconic logo, with its striking red lettering, is a fixture on our high streets, but not many have considered how the brand name came to be.
‌
Shoppers are now becoming curious about the history behind Tesco's name. The supermarket traces its roots back to its founder, Jack Cohen, who set up shop in 1919.
‌
Cohen, whose parents were Polish Jewish immigrants, started his business selling various goods from a stall in Hackney, London.
He invested his demobilisation money from the Royal Flying Corp, where he served during The Great War, into his market stall on its opening day.
The name 'TESCO' was conceived in 1923 when Cohen purchased a shipment of tea from a man named Thomas Edward Stockwell. He ingeniously combined the initials of the supplier with the first two letters of his own surname, reports the Express.
Cohen opened his first physical store in Edgware, North London, in 1929.
From these modest beginnings, the Tesco empire grew, and by 1939, Cohen had 100 shops under his control.
‌
The very first Tesco supermarket opened its doors in Essex in 1958.
Tesco's official website recounts the evolution of the brand from small-scale stores to the large supermarkets we know today, saying: "The new format store included a counter service selling cheese, butter and meats weighed by sales assistants."
‌
Since 1973, Tesco has also brough options for motorists, introducing petrol station at some of its major locations.
Since the founder's passing in 1979, his influence lives on, with Tesco's omnipresence across the UK, boasting over 4,000 outlets.
Following Mr Cohen's death, the retail firm's brand name continued to grow, with Sir Dudley Moore appearing in TV adverts in the late 1980s.
‌
The Tesco Value range was then introduced in 1993 and later that same year Tesco introduced its iconic 'Every Little Helps' tagline.
In 2000, Tesco launched its own website.
In addition to it's UK stores, today Tesco has outlets in Czechia, Ireland, Slovakia, and Hungary.