Corporate Communications

23rd December, 2013

It’s our turn now: The CEO perspective- Philip Clarke Speech

Philip Clarke, Group Chief Executive, Tesco Speech at Staff Conference, 23rd December 2013 It’s Our Turn Now: the CEO’s perspective (To read Philip Clarke’s blog post on this topic click here) Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you all for coming and more importantly thank you for being so involved in this incredible cause.

Diabetes UK offer care and support for people who live with Diabetes, they have been around for more than 75 years now and are working very hard within communities, campaigns and research to prevent the rising tide of Type 2 Diabetes.

For some of you that don’t already know, Diabetes is classed as a metabolism disorder. Referring to the way our bodies use digested food for energy and growth. This is a life condition in which you cannot take a day off from; it can also lead to other big risks such as heart and kidney failure. Type 2 diabetes is the most common

and approximately 90% of all cases of diabetes worldwide are Type 2.

An estimated 850,000 people who have Type 2 Diabetes don’t even know it, therefore it’s our job to make people aware that it’s OK to go and get tested for it or simply by taking an online risk score on Diabetes UK website; there is plenty of support out there for them.

I am proud to say Diabetes UK is our National Charity Partner, We’ve already achieved a great deal together to create healthier communities and to help support those affected by, and at risk of, diabetes. We’ve run over 10,000 Type 2 diabetes risk assessments in Tesco pharmacies. We’ve distributed information about both Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes through Tesco stores to over a million Tesco customers. And the overwhelming support of both Tesco colleagues and its customers has already helped to raise millions of pounds for Diabetes UK. By doing this we are half way there to meeting one of our main ambitions of ‘Improving Health’ but there’s so much more that can be done.

However, now it’s our turn to make Diabetes known, make our voices be heard and create awareness for not only the charity but also for the non-curable life condition.

There is so much we can do to help, take part in one of our fundraisers for example running, cycling, walking, trekking or even better- create your own fundraiser, you can also volunteer at these fundraisers and of course donate.

Without your help none of this vital work can continue, it’s not only the charity that needs our help, it’s for every single person living every day with Diabetes. If we don’t help now, who else will?

It’s our turn, so come on Tesco. Let’s do our bit for Diabetes!

And by now, you should all already know, every little helps.

Thank you.