The BITC Index analysed over 120 companies across a broad range of sectors.

Commenting on the BITC ranking Tim Mason, Tesco Charity Trust Chairman said:

" We have always recognised our responsibility to communities and the environment, wherever we operate. Our high ranking in the BITC report highlights our long-standing commitment in corporate social responsibility and putting CSR at the heart of the company.

" Our CSR strategy covers everything from encouraging customers to recycle more products to helping small good causes in need of a cash injection. Over the last 11 years we have given out £77 million of computer equipment through our Computers for Schools scheme, last year the Tesco Charity Trust made cash grants of over £470,000 to local and national charities, our Community Awards Scheme gave grants totalling £360,000 to local projects. This is in addition to the millions of pounds we raise for our Charity of the Year."

The recognition of the CSR work at Tesco, comes as final preparations are made to a ceremony where the 2002 Charity of the year, Cystic Fibrosis Trust, are to be presented with a cheque for £1.8m raised through staff fundraising and corporate initiatives.

This brings the total amount raised by Tesco for Charities of the Year to £21m since 1987, when Great Ormond Street hospital was the first Charity to benefit.

Public awareness of the issue of Cystic Fibrosis has been greatly increased since actress Britt Eckland launched the Trust as Charity of Year in March last year, which kicked off fundraising activities in Tesco stores and throughout the company.

Tim Mason added,

" Working with the Cystic Fibrosis Trust has been a success on many levels – most notably raising awareness of Cystic Fibrosis, the Trust and its good work in finding a cure, and also raising over £1.8million towards the care of Cystic Fibrosis sufferers.

" The eclectic mix of fundraising activities has been inspirational and has generated a real sense of purpose throughout the company. Thousands of Tesco people and customers have pulled together, and the money raised will make a real difference to the care those with Cystic Fibrosis receive."

" I am pleased to announce that Barnardo's will follow CFT as our charity for 2003/4 and we hope that we van raise over £2.5 million for this very good cause."

The charity celebrations to mark the £2m raised last year for CFT and over 100 other charities, will take place at the Tesco Community Awards lunch Thursday 13 March, where a cheque will be presented to the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Over 100 other charities and good causes which have received financial assistance through Tesco Community Awards will also attend.

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust will give prizes to reward the achievements of Tesco fundraisers. Over 730 stores across the country, 25 distribution depots and 6 administration centres took part in a variety of fun and innovative fundraising activities such as:

• A team of 26 Tesco workers from across the company travelled to New York to run the New York Marathon, raising £50,000;
• Ken Harper A musician working at Tesco in Oldham busked his way up Ben Nevis, Mount Snowdon and Skafell Pike over the summer – he raised £745. Over the years Ken has raised over £4,000 for charity and is embarking on a tour of Tesco stores to raise even more;
• A number of stores produced and sold their own fun calendars, with many staff daring to tastefully bare all in the name of charity. (One store, Cleckheaton raised £1,800 and will be attending the presentation.)

There were also activities that directly related to the symptoms that Cystic Fibrosis suffer from – they need a high fat, high calorie diet, so a promotion on packs of sausages, which raised almost £25,000 was both relevant and profitable for the Trust.

David Stickels, Deputy Chief Executive of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust said:

"We are thrilled that Tesco have raised £1.8 million for us as the Charity of the Year for 2002 and the Trust would like to thank all the Tesco employees who got involved in fundraising. The money will make an enormous difference to CF sufferers across the country, providing more community and mobile nursing as well as support and services.

" We have greatly enjoyed working in partnership with Tesco and whilst the money is great, the chance to raise awareness of this life threatening disease and the funds needed to find the cure has been invaluable."

Over £360,000 has been given to charities this year through our Community Awards scheme. Tesco Community Awards is run by the Tesco Charity Trust and distributes grants of between £1,5000 and £5,000 to local good causes. There are two rounds of awards each year – June and November. Each round makes £180,000 available to local projects, and each application is considered at a local level by store managers.

The Tesco Charity of the Year for 2003-2004 is Barnardo’s.