Tesco Pledges to 'Seek Out' Army Veterans for Jobs after Supermarket Signs Armed Forces Corporate Covenant

Tesco, the world's second-largest retailer, has promised to "seek out" veterans who have left the armed forces for jobs with the supermarket chain.

The pledge comes as the FTSE 100 firm, which employs around 310,000 people in the UK, became the first supermarket to sign the Ministry of Defence's Armed Forces Corporate Covenant.

The move will mean the employer, among other things, will also support spouses and partners of serving personnel to get jobs at Tesco stores in areas with large armed forces communities.

In addition, the company said it would give extra special consideration to holiday requests from spouses before, during and after their partner's deployment.

Tesco also announced it wants to help customers raise more money than ever for this year's Poppy Appeal to beat previous records by raising £4.5m ($5.4m, €4.3m) in 2014.

The supermarket said it also raised nearly £30m for armed forces charities since 2005.

"We have huge numbers of serving and former service personnel working for us, and they bring an enormous number of benefits to our business," said Robin Terrell, UK managing director for Tesco.

"We are honoured to be the first supermarket to sign the Armed Forces Corporate Covenant, and we will always look to do more for our heroes who regularly put their lives on the line to defend our country."

Tesco said to help boost donations for the Poppy Appeal, a special delivery truck will drive across London emblazoned with details about how to donate, and the supermarket will donate £10 to the Royal British Legion for every picture of the truck that is uploaded by members of the public on social media.

More than 7,000 Tesco delivery vans will also feature specially designed poppies, while signs on 14 large Tesco stores in garrison towns will have the "o" decorated with a poppy throughout the appeal.

"It is great to see one of the UK's major employers recognise the immense benefits that reservists and former service personnel can bring to the private sector and I am delighted that they will be our first supermarket that has signed up to the Corporate Covenant," said Defence Secretary Michael Fallon.

"Tesco now join over 300 companies that have committed to strengthening their support for our armed forces communities, bringing about real change for those that have bravely served their country and their families."