Tesco's plan to cut levels of food waste gains approval

28 October 2009 | By Rosie Baker

Tesco’s initiative to stagger buy one get one free (bogof) promotions and allow customers to pick up the second item at a later date has the support of the majority of marketers, according to this week’s poll on MarketingWeek.co.uk.

When asked if Tesco’s plan to offer a delayed approach to bogof promotions would help the supermarket reduce food waste, 58% said it would, while 42% said it would not have any effect.

Tesco claims the Bogof Later scheme will help it and consumers reduce food waste and carbon emissions. The sales promotion initiative comes as part of Tesco’s mission to become a carbon zero business by 2050.

The move has generated a lot of public interest and split opinion on the letters pages of newspapers and comments posted on Marketing Week’s website. Some have heralded it as a common sense idea that will appeal to consumers and offer more flexibility, but others criticise the tactic, saying it will see consumers missing out on promotions.

Bogof deals came under fire in the Government’s Food 2030 report earlier this year for encouraging food waste.

But research by the Advertising Association in September found that just one in five consumers think promotions encourage them to buy products they do not want.