[colloydi]

The '666' portion doesn't inspire confidence either.

We love apostrophes so much we have them on our supermarkets. If they're not there we add them.

e.g. I'm going to Sainbury's

e.g. I'm going to Tesco's

...despite the fact that it's real name is plain old Tesco.

[swores]

That's because you're not going to Tesco the registered company, you're going to (one of) Tesco's (shops). It's just traditional and logical grammar, not misnaming.

[arrowsmith]

This is not true. We don't apply this "rule" to any other establishment, e.g. people don't say "I'm going to Burger King's" or "I'm going to Costa's".

There's nothing to analyze: "Tesco's" is just wrong. It's not the name of the business.

[colloydi]

Thank you, I'll remember that next time I pay a visit to Sainbury's's!

[bitwize]

Up in the northeastern USA there was a discount retail (department store) chain called Caldor:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caldor

My mom used to buy small appliances and Christmas gifts there -- and she always called it Caldor's.

Clothes, she usually bought at Marshalls -- which hasn't had an apostrophe since 1974.

[jasonm23]

Fun fact, Lotus (Tesco's Thailand stores) have an erroneous apostrophe: "Lotus's" ...

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8b/Lotus%27...

[Digit-Al]

I say Sainsbury's because the name is exactly that. I don't say Tesco's because the name, as you say, is Tesco. I would guess those who say Tesco's (and maybe Asda's) are just getting confused because of Sainsbury's.

[b112]

Sounds like this Sainsbury person is responsible for spreading an apostrophe infection to Tesco.