Tesco rejoins BRC at ‘important moment for retail’

The UK’s largest retailer told Retail Week that it wants to “play our part” in industry discussions as the sector seeks to rebuild following the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Tesco’s decision to re-join the BRC will provide a huge fillip to the trade body as it seeks to make retail’s voice heard in Westminster in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. 

The BRC has lobbied the government on a number of issues during the health emergency, including business rates, the furlough scheme and the rent moratorium, which it wants to extend beyond the current June 30 deadline. 

The renewed involvement of Tesco will add further clout to those efforts. 

Tesco cancelled its membership of the BRC back in May 2018, a decision it put down to its changing business model following its £4.7bn merger with wholesaler Booker. 

The supermarket giant said at the time: “As we start operating as both a retailer and wholesaler, we are looking at a new set of issues and this decision will help us to lead on those debates that are important to our customers, colleagues and supply partners.”

But that stance has now changed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic and following the arrival of new boss Ken Murphy, who replaced Sir Dave Lewis at the helm in October 2020.

A Tesco spokesman said: “We are pleased to re-join the BRC, at an important moment for retail. The retail sector today faces many challenges, particularly as we look ahead to the longer-term impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, and we want to play our part in that dialogue.”

The BRC confirmed that Tesco had rejoined the association, but declined to comment further.