Tesco, one of Britain’s leading retailers and a household name for countless individuals who visit its numerous outlets for their regular grocery hauls, has an emblematic logo recognised by its striking red typography that adorns high streets nationwide. Yet, the story behind the Tesco name has remained a mystery to many until now.
Shoppers are expressing their astonishment as they learn about the origins of the Tesco name. The supermarket traces its roots back to its founder, Jack Cohen, who set up the business in 1919.
Cohen, whose parents were Polish Jewish immigrants, started out by peddling various goods from a market stall in Hackney, East London.
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He invested his demobilisation money from his time in the Royal Flying Corp, where he served during World War I, into his market stall’s initial stock.
The brand ‘TESCO’ came into existence in 1923 when Cohen purchased a batch of tea from T. E. Stockwell, reports the Express. He ingeniously merged the initials of the tea supplier with the first two letters of his own surname.
Cohen inaugurated his first physical store in Edgware, North London, in 1929, marking the beginning of the Tesco empire. By 1939, he had expanded his ownership to 100 stores.
(Image: (Image: Bloomberg via Getty Images))
The first Tesco supermarket was launched in 1958 when Cohen opened a shop in Essex.
The evolution of Tesco from simple stores to large supermarkets is chronicled on Tesco’s official website, which describes the early format of the stores: “The new format store included a counter service selling cheese, butter and meats weighed by sales assistants.”
Since the founder’s death in 1979, his influence continues to be felt, with Tesco’s presence being widespread across the UK, boasting more than 4,000 stores.
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