A 200m Merry Christmas and Happy New Year for Tesco Staff

- 25m of Christmas savings and an extra paid day off for Christmas shopping for over 268,000 staff members

- Staff Privilegecard benefits extended to over 240,000 employees

With Christmas just around the corner and the potential for January and February to be tight months for many, Tesco is rewarding its staff with over 200m* worth of benefits this Christmas and in the New Year.

This year, 268,065 Tesco employees, across all of its stores, distribution centres and head offices are receiving 25.4m worth of vouchers and savings. This equates to a maximum of 96 each, which will, help manage the rising cost of a traditional Christmas and offer thanks for their additional effort over the festive period. During the busiest trading period of the year, Tesco is also giving all staff members a days paid leave as their own ëPersonal Dayí; an investment of 10.3 million by the retailer.

The Christmas ëThank Youí vouchers and savings are an extra bonus on top of the benefits staff can already enjoy from the Tesco Staff Privilegecard, which gives a potential annual total of 174.7m savings to employees**. The card allows each member of staff eligible for the benefit a total saving of 712.50 per annum on purchases made in Tesco stores and online. In July this year Tesco decided to award these cards to staff with only six months service, which means 245,147 employees will be able to make use of an additional benefit this Christmas.

Tescoís commitment to year round benefits for staff is also reflected in its Shares in Success scheme. Working with the HMRC, Tesco arranged for an automatic sign in at induction to its free shares scheme in July this year. 2008 saw the scheme award 192,835 employees with 92 million worth of free shares.

Louise Pocock, UK Benefits Manager at Tesco commented; ìFollowing our aim to make Tesco a great place to work, we always strive to increase and enhance benefits offered to all members of staff. We are very aware that this Christmas and next year will be one of the tightest times for finances and for this reason, Tesco is committed to offering savings and discounts to staff throughout the year. Tescoís Staff Privilegecard and Shares in Success scheme represent just two areas where Tesco really rewards its employees.î

* 25.4m value from all vouchers and savings 10.3m holiday investment 174.7m from potential total staff Privilegecard savings = 210.4m

** Number of staff able to use the staff Privilegecard since extension in July = 245,147 x total potential savings from Privilegecard per member of staff (712.50) = 174.7m