Britain's Most Admired No. 2: Tesco, Sir Terry Leahy

The irresistible force of nature that is Tesco under Sir Terry Leahy has shown little sign of flagging, even in this toughest of retail climates. A revamp of its hugely successful Clubcard loyalty scheme and the launch of a Tesco bank account by 2011 are Leahy's latest wheezes. Sales growth has dipped slightly but profits remain stable, and continuing innovation has helped keep Tesco on top of the superstore pile - if only just. Expect a full-blown price war for Christmas.