Jack Cohen (businessman)
English grocer, Tesco founder (1898–1979) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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]
Sir Jack Cohen | |
---|---|
Born | Jacob Kohen 6 October 1898 Whitechapel, London, England |
Died | 24 March 1979 (1979-03-25) (aged 80) Westminster, London, England |
Resting place | Willesden Jewish Cemetery |
Occupation | Grocer |
Spouse |
Sarah (Cissie) Fox (m. 1924) |
Children | 2, including Shirley Porter |
Relatives | Hyman Kreitman (son-in-law) |
Military career | |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Years of service | 1917–1919 |
Unit | Royal Flying Corps |
Battles/wars | World War I |
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.