Tesco is a global retailer second only to Wal-Mart in terms of profit. Today, it is the largest British retailer in terms of global sales and domestic market profits, posting annual profits exceeding £3 billion.

As a corporate citizen, Tesco has sustained its philanthropic commitments due to what it considers an ethical obligation to help the poor and marginalized sectors of society. Its giving extends beyond the UK, assisting local hospitals, launching food drives to pupils in South Africa, Kenya, and India.

Locally, its support for communities in the UK has intensified. In its most successful charity campaign ever, dubbed ‘Charity of the Year’, the company raised £4.4 million for the British Red Cross, of which it is a big supporter. Aside from Tesco’s £100,000 donation last summer to the British Red Cross flood appeal, its employees took part in the distribution of disaster kits containing products for hygiene, food items, and bottled water.

It has actively participated in generating support for cancer care and treatment, donating £6 million to the Marie Curie Cancer Institute. It also engaged in various public awareness events for cancer such as the Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life which drew a crowd of 665,000 who did 5km runs.

In preparation for the 2012 London Olympics, Tesco intends to get 2 million people become active through a new partnership with the Football Association (FA). It also actively supports sports among children, launching a program called the FA Tesco Skills Programme which encourages football, providing free coaching among children aged between 5 and 11 years in local communities. It also sponsors the Tesco Cup, an annual football competition for young players throughout the UK.