By Oscar Woods 
Tesco free food yellow stickers are now appearing in select stores as part of a new trial program aimed at cutting waste and helping shoppers during tight financial times.
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Breaking Down the Free Food Trial
The UK’s largest supermarket chain has rolled out a trial that takes the familiar yellow sticker discount system one step further. Instead of the typical price reductions of up to 90%, certain items are being marked down to £0 at the end of each day.
The trial is running in a small number of Tesco Express locations. Items get the free price tag after 9:30 PM, giving late night shoppers access to products that would otherwise go unsold. Before customers can claim these items, they are first offered to local charities and Tesco staff members.
How the Zero Cost System Works
The process follows a clear hierarchy. Food that reaches its expiration date first goes to charity partners like FareShare and community groups. Next, Tesco employees get access to discounted items through their colleague shop. Only after these steps does remaining food get marked free for regular customers.
The company confirmed this approach in an internal memo, stating the initiative allows them to continue reducing food waste in their operations. Tesco has committed to cutting operational food waste by 50% by the end of 2025, using 2016/17 as their starting point.
Why This Matters for UK Shoppers
Research from Barclays Bank in 2023 revealed that 38% of British shoppers were already buying yellow sticker items to stretch their budgets during the cost of living squeeze. The demand has been so strong that some Tesco stores reportedly had to use barriers while staff applied discount stickers to prevent customer disorder.
The UK wastes roughly 9.52 million tonnes of food each year, with supermarkets contributing around 270,000 tonnes according to the Waste and Resources Action Programme. This waste represents more than £19 billion in lost value annually.
Finding the Free Items
Tesco has not released a public list of which Express stores are participating in the trial. When asked, the company responded that they are testing innovative approaches to reduce food waste and that the trial involves a small number of locations.
The timing remains consistent: items become free after 9:30 PM. Most Tesco Express stores close at 11 PM on weekdays, giving shoppers roughly 90 minutes to claim these products.
What Gets Marked Down
Traditional yellow sticker reductions at Tesco have covered everything from fresh produce and bakery items to ready meals and meat products. The same categories apply to the free food trial. Products receive markdowns when they approach their sell by dates or have minor packaging issues.
According to Tesco’s 2022/23 food waste data, prepared foods accounted for 27% of total store waste, followed by dairy at 21%. These categories are likely candidates for the free yellow stickers.
Part of Bigger Environmental Goals
The free food trial connects to Tesco’s broader sustainability targets. The company redistributed over 25,000 tonnes of surplus food in 2023/24, equivalent to more than 60 million meals, through its network of 1,000+ community partners.
Tesco achieved an 82% redistribution rate for unsold food suitable for human consumption in the latest reporting year. The retailer was the first in the UK to publish its food waste data publicly and continues to push for mandatory industry reporting.
The supermarket is working toward carbon neutrality across operations by 2035 and net zero across its entire value chain by 2050. These targets are validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
Shopping Strategies That Work
Beyond waiting for the 9:30 PM free food drop, shoppers have other options for reduced items throughout the day. Standard yellow sticker markdowns typically start appearing around lunchtime with modest 10 to 20% discounts. The biggest reductions usually happen after 8 PM.
Apps like Olio partner with Tesco and other retailers to help shoppers find reduced items in their area. Users can search for deals, add items to watch lists, and head to stores before someone else claims them.
The Bigger Picture on Food Waste
Nearly 10 million tonnes of food gets wasted in the UK annually. Households account for 6 million tonnes, representing 58% of the total. The UK introduced new waste legislation in March 2025 requiring businesses in England to separate food waste from general rubbish.
An estimated one in seven people in the UK struggle to afford food, according to recent reports. The Trussell Trust documented increased demand at food banks as families face financial pressure.
Tesco joined WRAP and other major retailers in June 2025 to call for urgent global action on food waste. The partnership aims to influence policy and create business commitments ahead of COP30.
What Experts Are Saying
The trial represents a practical approach to multiple problems at once. It addresses environmental concerns about waste while providing tangible help to shoppers dealing with higher food costs.
FareShare and OLIO, two of Tesco’s charity partners, continue working with the retailer to maximize food redistribution. The “Let’s Make a Meal of It” campaign strengthens these partnerships.
Since 2016, Tesco has reduced food waste by 45% across its operations. The company redistributed 88% of unsold food safe for consumption in 2022/23, exceeding its 85% target.
Looking at Similar Programs
Other supermarkets run donation programs with charities, but Tesco’s free yellow sticker trial takes a different approach by putting items directly in customer hands after charity and staff access.
Some retailers have experimented with dynamic pricing through electronic shelf labels that automatically adjust costs as expiration dates approach. These systems aim to reduce labor costs and better match pricing to demand.
The UK government’s push for mandatory food waste reporting could accelerate similar programs across the industry. Tesco has long advocated for transparency in this area.
Tesco free food yellow stickers represent an evolution of the discount system that British shoppers have relied on since at least 1993. The trial balances environmental responsibility with practical support for customers navigating economic uncertainty.