With 40 per cent of Brits buying yellow-sticker products to lower their food shop, consumer experts over at Which? have revealed the best time to visit the UK’s most popular supermarkets
Brits are a nation of bargain lovers, with very few of us able to resist the lure of the yellow-sticker discount. With spiralling food prices hitting cash-strapped households hard, any way to reduce our grocery bill helps amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Buying reduced items that are often close to hitting their sell-by-date is a great way to tighten the purse strings – and also helps prevent food waste. Sites like TikTok are often flooded with lucky Brits showing off what deals they managed to grab before their local supermarket shut – from loaves of bread reduced down to just pennies to ridiculously cheap boxes of veg perfect for a last-minute roast.
Consumer experts over at Which? contacted several major supermarkets to find out when shoppers are likely to find reduced food. It comes after a survey found almost 40 per cent of Brits are buying yellow-sticker products to help save on grocery spending.
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Asda
While the supermarket didn’t give any specific time frames, the retailer says it usually applies stickers twice a day. This tends to be in the morning and again in the evening – so rocking up as the store opens/ is about to shut maximises your chances of spotting a yellow sticker.
Lidl
Similar to Asda, Lidl told Which? its employees make reductions ‘first thing and then a few hours before closing’. However, they may also discount products during the day, depending on expiration dates and stock.
Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose
All of these supermarkets claimed there are no specific times that in-store employees apply yellow-sticker price cuts. However, doing your shop towards the store’s closure time is a safe bet in finding reduced prices.
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Aldi
“Aldi marks down perishable products like bread, meat, fruit and vegetables by either 30 per cent or 75 per cent on their last day of shelf life before stores close, and gives a 30 per cent discount on ambient groceries such as cereal, pasta and tinned food if it deems the packaging imperfect,” Which? states. While this may vary between each store, it’s likely you’ll find reduced prices towards the end of closing.
M&S
Yellow-sticker finds at M&S feel like you’ve hit the jackpot. However, the supermarket says there are no specific times its discount labels will come out to play. Again, shopping in the evening, close to when the store closes, will increase your chances.
What’s the best yellow-sticker deal you’ve ever found? Let us know in the comments section below