Supermarket Tesco has unveiled three ‘big ambitions‘ aimed at strengthening its role in society and “using its scale for good”, a report released today reveals.

In the first ‘Tesco and Society Report‘, the grocer outlined plans to create new opportunities for young people, tackling “the global obesity crisis” by helping consumers improve their health and reducing the level of global food waste.

Sir Richard Broadbent, Chairman of Tesco, explained: “We have given considerable thought to the existing business and to the changes taking place in society.

“We have been reflecting on our values and how to use our scale for good.

“What we are doing today is defining more clearly how we want our values to shape our engagement with society, just as they do in the business.”

In order to strengthen its focus on societal issues, the chain is looking to work with charities, campaign groups and experts from a variety of fields and Tesco CEO Philip Clarke emphasised the importance of understanding the challenge we are taking on.

Clarke mentioned the supply chain changes made at the grocer following the horsemeat scandal earlier this year as evidence of its commitment to change, adding: “Our scale also gives us an opportunity to make a positive difference to some of the biggest challenges facing the world.

“Over the coming months, we will set out plans and commitments, including how we expect to track and measure our progress over time.

“We are laying the foundations now for a further significant contribution to society in the years to come.

“This is it. The world is changing and Tesco is changing too.”