Founded in 1869 by John James Sainsbury with a shop in Drury Lane, London, the company was the largest UK retailer of groceries for most of the 20th century. In 1995, Tesco became the market leader when it overtook Sainsbury's, which has since been ranked second or third: it was overtaken by Asda from 2003 to 2014, and again in 2019. In 2018, a planned merger with Asda was blocked by the Competition and Markets Authority over concerns of increased prices for consumers.
We’ve built a 150-year-old business on bright ideas and bold decisions. And nothing’s changed. As the UK’s second largest retailer, with over 1400 stores and a huge digital presence, we’re offering more online and in store than ever before. Smarter, greener, more affordable choices. And products that bring real joy.
