Tesco's pledge: we will double in size

It now has 1,770 stores in Britain, including about 250 in London, and said it would not slow down its relentless expansion despite the recession.

Tesco hopes to add between six and seven per cent more shop floor space every year, roughly equivalent to doubling every 10 to 12 years.

The claim came as Tesco surpassed City forecasts with a 10 per cent rise in annual profits to £3.128 billion and a 15 per cent surge in sales to £59.4 billion, the first time it has taken more than £1 billion a week.

This year, the world's third largest retailer will open a further 15 "Extra" hypermarkets, 10 superstores, four Metro outlets, three Homeplus stores and 200 local Express shops, bringing the total under the Tesco brand in Britain to around 2,000. If other shops that it owns but are not Tesco branded are included, the total will be 2,498.

Campaigners said they were horrified by the pace of Tesco's growth. Helen Rimmer of Friends of the Earth said: "As Tesco tills around the country ring with record takings, we need to ask who pays for Tesco's billions?

"There is growing evidence that the Tesco takeover is harming farmers, consumers and the environment.

"The Government must bring in stronger planning rules to support thriving town centres and local economies, and a supermarket watchdog to ensure a fair deal for farmers."

Andrew Simms, author of "Tescopoly", said: "We're living in a period that has very powerfully demonstrated what can go wrong when a handful of very large, poorly regulated institutions dominate a vital industry.

"We saw it in banking with devastating consequences. The regulators are just are sitting there and hoping that the same disasters don't happen with the supermarket sector."

Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy said: "I am confident Tesco will continue to make good progress even in the current economic environment."

He said he hoped the worst of the downturn was over but added: "I think it's too early to forecast when an upturn will come."