Tesco plc is one of the world’s largest retailers, employing over 450,000 people and serving millions of customers weekly through its stores and online platforms. Registered in the EU Transparency Register since February 5, 2015, Tesco’s lobbying activities focus on a broad range of issues that impact retail operations, consumer choices, and sustainability within the European Union. The company’s lobbying priorities reflect its core purpose of “serving shoppers a little better every day,” with commitments to diversity and inclusion among colleagues, promoting healthier consumer choices, ensuring the availability of quality sustainable products at affordable prices, and minimizing food waste throughout its supply chain.
Tesco’s engagement with EU policy is driven by its interest in regulatory and legislative matters that affect retail, food safety, sustainability standards, and consumer protection. Given the scale of its operations and its impact on the food retail sector, Tesco’s lobbying efforts aim to influence policies that shape market conditions, supply chain regulations, and environmental standards. Despite its significant presence, Tesco’s registered lobbying footprint in the EU is relatively modest in terms of declared lobbyists and expenditure.
The company’s EU lobbying is managed by a small team, with Mr. Guy Robinson serving as the Head of Government Relations and the primary contact for EU relations. Tesco has declared only one lobbyist with a 50% employment time dedicated to EU lobbying activities, reflecting a focused but limited in-house lobbying capacity. Tesco does not currently have any lobbyists accredited to the European Parliament.
Tesco’s lobbying expenditures reported in the EU Transparency Register fall within a relatively low range compared to other large corporations, indicating a targeted and specific approach to EU engagement rather than broad-based or high-cost lobbying campaigns. The company’s networking and affiliations with other organizations are not detailed in the public register, suggesting that Tesco primarily conducts its lobbying activities independently or through internal resources.
Since registration, Tesco has participated in meetings with EU institutions relevant to its business interests, although the number and details of these meetings are limited in publicly available data. The company’s lobbying activities comply with the EU Transparency Register’s Code of Conduct, ensuring ethical engagement with EU policymakers.
Overall, Tesco plc’s lobbying profile in the EU reflects its status as a major retail player focused on influencing policies that directly affect its operations and customers, with a measured and compliance-oriented approach to transparency and engagement.
