Jack Cohen (businessman)

Jack Cohen
Born
Jacob Kohen

6 October 1898
Died24 March 1979 (1979-03-25) (aged 80)
Westminster, London, England
Resting placeWillesden Jewish Cemetery
OccupationGrocer
Spouse
Sarah (Cissie) Fox
(m. 1924)
Children2, including Shirley Porter
RelativesHyman Kreitman (son-in-law)
Military career
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
Years of service1917–1919
UnitRoyal Flying Corps
Battles / warsWorld War I

Sir John Edward Cohen (born Jacob Kohen; 6 October 1898 – 24 March 1979) was an English businessman who founded the Tesco supermarket chain. His company is the market leader of groceries in the UK, and the third-largest retailer in the world measured by gross revenues in 2011.[1]

After serving in the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War, Cohen opened a market stall in Hackney, London in 1919. The first Tesco store opened in Edgware, north London, and by 1939 he had more than 100 stores, including the first stores outside London. He then floated the company onto the London Stock Exchange in 1947. As chairman of Tesco Stores (Holdings) Ltd. Cohen was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1969.

  1. ^ Potter, Mark (16 February 2011). "Tesco to outpace growth at global rivals – study". Reuters. Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2011.