Tesco has reportedly introduced a new initiative to give away unsold food for free as part of the supermarket's broader sustainability scheme.
Tesco's Free Yellow Sticker Food Initiative
In select Tesco Express stores, Tesco is trialing a system where food marked with yellow stickers nearing its expiration date will be offered for free after 9:30 PM.
Initially, charities and staff will be offered the free food, but all the additional excess food will be offered for free to the store's shoppers. This move aims to reduce food waste, a significant global issue, by making sure as little food as possible that could be used is binned. In the UK alone, millions of tons of food are wasted annually, which during a cost-of-living crisis, is an absolute waste of food that’s much needed by many.
As part of its net-zero strategy, Tesco has set ambitious targets to reduce food waste by 50% by 2025, and this new trial strategy is undoubtedly likely to impact this goal.
The only downside, if you can call it that, is that, like all yellow sticker offers, these supermarket reductions are always hit and miss and can't be relied on for topping up the fridge on a budget. I suspect there won't be much available for free once the staff and charities have picked through what's available first.
Not that I don't think that supermarket workers shouldn't get first dibs on the food; as a former supermarket worker, who didn't get paid much and was under a lot of pressure due to a lack of staff, due to budget cuts, and increased pressure to get the job done, I think those staff do deserve the opportunity to help feed the family for free, just as much as the other Tesco customers, it’s nice to get some perks, that aren't often many!
That said, I do know that this trial was actually introduced a few months ago in some Tesco Express stores. Some shoppers reported on social media that they had been offered zero-cost food and that there was plenty to choose from, so fingers crossed, this further rolled out scheme means more customers can take advantage of the opportunity for free food.
The 9:30 PM 100% reduction on the food time does mean that certain groups of people, such as those without transport, perhaps the elderly who might not like to go out later in the evening, or parents with children who can't be left, so may not be able to take advantage of the deal as it is too late to go out and bargain hunt.
The food is offered for free at that later time because, at the end of the day, Tesco wants to leave it as late as possible to give the food away, and the later time means it has more time to hopefully sell this excess food for some money, even at a low price, rather than giving it away and not receiving any money at all, so it's understandable!
Other Ways to Access Free or Reduced-Price Food
Food Sharing Apps
The Olio app connects users with surplus food from local businesses and households that they can collect for free. Users can find items like bread, pastries, sandwiches, and sometimes meat and ready meals. Everything on the app is totally free, so it can be a good way to help stretch your food budget.
Too Good To Go offers surplus food from restaurants and cafes at a reduced price, helping to reduce waste. You'll get a random bag of food for your money, known as a 'Magic Bag'. You won't know what’s inside it until you actually collect it, so it can't always be relied on to feed the family, but you can sometimes pick up a bargain; other times, you'll receive less useful/impressive food.
Community Fridges
Community fridges are shared spaces where people can donate and collect surplus food. They operate on a "take what you need, leave what you can" principle. You can contact your local council for information to if there's a community fridge/larder near to you.
Food Banks and Charities
Many supermarkets, including Tesco, donate surplus food to charities and food banks, which distribute it to those in need. Look at organisations such as the Trussell Trust for information on schemes near you and how you'd qualify to be able to use them.