NOTHING makes a supermarket shop more exciting than when it’s covered in yellow stickers.
But unless you arrive at exactly the right time it can be easy to miss out on the cut-price bargains.
Experts have revealed when to head to the supermarket for yellow sticker deals[/caption]
Fear not because David Holmes, CEO of WhatPrice.co.uk, reveals when the coveted yellow stickers appear at Britain’s biggest supermarkets.
He explained each store has its own strict schedule for marking down items near their sell-by dates. The biggest reductions happen during specific windows when managers need to clear stock fast, usually late afternoon or early evening.
“Most people spot yellow stickers while shopping, but hardly anyone knows there’s a science to when they appear,” he says.
“Knowing exactly when to visit each supermarket could save families hundreds of pounds on their grocery bills.”
Tesco starts with small markdowns from 8am. The real savings of up to 90% don’t happen until around 7pm at larger stores and 4pm at Express branches.
“Tesco uses a step-by-step system throughout trading hours,” Holmes commented. “Morning discounts might only be 20-30% off, but evening reductions can reach 90% on fresh items that would otherwise be thrown away.”
Sainsbury’s yellow sticker routine looks completely different. Their first price cuts appear around 1pm but don’t expect much of a discount then. The best deals arrive after 7pm when prices can drop by up to 75%.
Asda shoppers should aim for 7pm. “Asda does one big round of reductions in the evening instead of smaller markdowns throughout the day,” said Holmes. “You can find fresh food suddenly cut by 50-70% if you turn up at the right time.”
Morrisons beats most rivals to the punch, with the first yellow stickers appearing around midday. Shoppers get the biggest price cuts between 5pm and 7pm when staff make final reductions.
David commented that: “The fresh food counters at Morrisons are gold mines for yellow stickers. The fish, meat, and deli sections can see huge reductions in the evening.”
Aldi and Lidl break all the rules compared to traditional supermarkets. These discount chains put out their red-sticker reductions (their version of yellow stickers) first thing in the morning, with Aldi starting at 8am and Lidl even earlier at 7am.
“The discount supermarkets work completely differently,” David pointed out. “Their products already sell quickly because of the low prices, so they reduce items at the start of the day rather than the end.”
Waitrose begins markdowns around 2pm, with final yellow stickers appearing from 6pm onwards with discounts up to 80%.
Co-op stores vary widely depending on location, but most make their final reductions in the hour before closing.
When to bag yellow sticker bargains
Aldi: Look for red stickers near closing time, offering up to 75% off perishable items and 30% off damaged packaging goods.
Asda: Discounts happen twice daily, in the morning and evening. Early risers can find fresh produce for as low as 10p.
Lidl: Price cuts occur first thing in the morning and before closing. Use the Lidl Plus app for additional weekly promotions.
Marks and Spencer: Reductions often occur near closing time. Monthly in-store offers and combo deals, like the £12 Dine In for Two, provide extra savings.
Morrisons: Yellow sticker discounts appear throughout the day. Register for a More Card to get specific day-based discounts, like 20% off fish on Fridays.
Sainsbury’s: No set discount times; look for yellow ‘reduced’ stickers. Register for Nectar prices for nearly 50% off weekly offers.
Tesco: No fixed discount times. Check the “mark-down section” in 300 stores for reduced-price items like salads, bread, and meat.