Tesco is to give away food for free to shoppers by introducing “yellow sticker” prices of £0 (at present limited to £90pc) for items about to go out of date, in a bid to cut waste and hit net zero targets, the Telegraph has reported.
The trial is being tested in a select few Express stores, allowing shoppers who visit after 9:30pm to access free food.
In an internal memo seen by The Telegraph, Tesco stated that it would continue donating some food to charities, while staff would have priority access to yellow sticker items reduced earlier in the day.
However, under the trial, any remaining “Reduced to Clear” food left in stores before closing time will be available for customers to take home for free.
As a result, the supermarket giant expects stores to throw away less at the end of the day. Tesco has a target to halve its food waste by 2025 as part of its broader net zero initiative.
A Tesco spokesperson told Retail Sector: “We are constantly looking for innovative new ways to reduce food waste. In all our stores we offer unsold surplus food to charities and community groups, donating millions of meals each month.
“This trial, in a small number of our Express stores, will allow customers to take any remaining yellow stickered items for free at the end of the day, after they have first been offered to charities and colleagues.”
