“UK RETAIL SECTOR”
A study on Tesco Plc.
Prepared by: Sadia Riasat
Submitted to: Dr.Parvez Dabir Elahi
Date: 30th Nov, 2007
RESEARCH PROPOSAL
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
The retail industry is a business at the sharp end. Fast moving and complex, high profile and constantly changing, it is an environment where only the best managed and most innovative organizations can succeed and thrive.
Strong competition, changes in consumer lifestyles and extended opening hours are all helping to change the face of retailing. Retail must be innovative in control of the retail environment, making sure it is appropriate to their customer profile, and taking the initiative in local marketing activity.
Such organizations are responsible for ensuring the delivery of the very highest standards of customer service by recruiting, training and developing their staff. Good retailers are flexible and have the mental agility to switch between day - to - day decisions and strategic issues such as competitor analysis and market research.
Tesco was founded by Jack Cohen in London's East End. From a modest background, the son of a Polish tailor, he began selling groceries in Well Street market, Hackney in 1919 after World War I. At this time rations and supplies were low, so he would buy damaged goods from other businesses, reselling them at reasonable prices.
The Tesco brand first appeared in 1924. The name came about after Cohen bought a shipment of tea from T.E. Stockwell. He made new labels using the first three letters of the supplier's name (TES), and the first two letters of his surname (CO), forming the word "TESCO".
The first Tesco store was opened in 1929 in Burnt Oak, Edgware, Middlesex. Tesco floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1947 as Tesco Stores (Holdings) Limited. The first self service store opened in St Albans in 1947 (still operational in 2007 as a Metro), and the first supermarket in Maldon in 1956.
Tesco plc is a