Tesco launches Jack’s to celebrate 100 years of great value

Tesco has today launched a new brand, and stores - Jack’s. Part of the Tesco Family, Jack’s offers great tasting food that is grown, reared or made in Britain at the lowest possible prices to bring customers outstanding value.

In 1919, Tesco’s founder Jack Cohen started selling armed forces surplus stock from his market stall in Well Street, Hackney. With nothing more than £30 demob money and an intuition for what customers needed, Jack built a business famed for making food available to everyone at a time when many families simply couldn’t afford the food sold in shops.

The launch of Jack’s is part of Tesco’s centenary celebrations which will see the business mark 100 years of delivering great value to British shoppers.

Jack’s will proudly support Britain’s food producing communities. 8 out of 10 food and drink products at Jack’s will be grown, reared or made in Britain and stores will stock a unique own brand range, also named Jack’s as a mark of quality and value.

In addition to the Jack’s brand, Jack’s will stock some familiar grocery brands and a range of general merchandise on a “When it’s Gone, It’s Gone” basis.

Jack’s will operate a low-cost business model that is designed to keep costs low and prices down. It’s a no fuss approach with a simplified range of products, no fancy fixtures or fittings, and no added extras, just good quality at low prices.

Dave Lewis, Tesco Group Chief Executive, said:

“Jack Cohen championed value for customers and changed the face of British shopping. He’s an inspiration for all of us and that same spirit still drives Tesco now.

“It’s fitting that today, we mark the beginning of Tesco’s celebration of 100 Years of Great Value by launching a new brand, and stores bearing his name: Jack’s. Great tasting food at the lowest possible prices with 8 out of 10 products grown, reared or made in Britain.”

Over the next six months Tesco will launch 10-15 Jack’s stores in the UK. The first two stores will open on 20th September in Chatteris, Cambridgeshire and Immingham, Lincolnshire, on sites which make use of excess Tesco space. The stores to follow will include a mix of entirely new sites, sites adjacent to existing Tesco stores, and a small number of converted Tesco stores.

ENDS

• In 1919, Tesco’s founder Jack Cohen, fresh from serving in the Royal Flying Corps in World War I, took his £30 demob money and bought armed forces surplus stock to sell on his stall in Well Street, Hackney. From that day, Jack championed value for customers and changed the face of British shopping.
• One of five kids born to working class parents in London’s East End, Jack was a grafter. Part wholesaler, part market trader, he had an eye for a deal and intuition for what his customers needed.
• Jack built a business famed for making food available to everyone, at a time when many families simply couldn’t afford the food sold in shops. At the outbreak of World War II, he even introduced rationing ahead of the Government, so that everyone was treated equally, rich or poor.
• That focus on customers and commitment to deliver great value has driven Tesco throughout its 100-year history. From game changing promotions like Operation Checkout, to the introduction of the industry defining Clubcard, and the launch of Tesco Mobile and Bank.