At the time of writting, Tesco's success had not yet led to a significant popular backlash although suppliers had been complaining for some time about some of its pricing ang payment practices. While Wal-Mart has come under mounting criticism for the treatment of small suppliers and community retailers, the Tesco brand is still one of the most trusted in the UK. Even so, future success cannot be taken for granted-whether at home or overseas. For example, Tesco may run up against regulatory constraints in the UK. An Office of fair trade ruling on a full competition commission enquiry is imminent and a parliamentary group on the future of high Street Britain warns of the dangers of the continued concentration of grocery market share into the big four retailers. Overseas, Tesco's operations remain small in scale, especially compared with those of rival carrefour. Also, it lack Wal-mart's global purchasing power and there is a perennial threat from hard discounter, which are beginning to become dominant in much of continental Europe. With UK competition authorities on high alert and room for expansion now limited at home, Tesco will now have to decide whether it has the muscle and appetite for a global battle with the super-retailers and the signs are that it has. IN february 2006, it announced plans to spend 250 $ a year to open a chain will be modelled on Tesco's Express format and will be headed up by Tim Mason, Marketing and Board director.