A SUPERMARKET giant has rolled out a huge change to its loyalty scheme nationwide after a successful trial offering free treats to shoppers.
The new scheme gives customers up to three rewards every month, including free products or money-off vouchers, depending on how much they spend.
The change comes as Waitrose launches its new Little Treats rewards across all stores for members of its MyWaitrose loyalty club.
The new scheme gives customers up to three rewards every month, including free products or money-off vouchers, depending on how much they spend.
Shoppers can track their progress through their Waitrose account online or in the app.
A first reward appears automatically once a shopper spends £50, another unlocks at £100, and a third becomes available after £250.
Each month, the tracker resets to zero, meaning regular customers can earn new freebies and savings throughout the year.
Waitrose said this week’s rollout marks its biggest giveaway since it brought back free coffee for loyalty members earlier this year.
The Little Treats scheme was first tested in 18 southern stores from 1 September before being extended to 74 supermarkets and convenience branches.
According to The Grocer, the response from customers during the trials was “overwhelmingly positive”.
Rewards included a free bunch of Waitrose Foundation pastel roses, a No.1 pizza and vouchers worth up to £5 off a shop.
Waitrose said the addition of Little Treats brings the total number of MyWaitrose benefits to ten, which already include personalised offers, free hot drinks, the Waitrose Food magazine and 20 per cent off selected service counter products.
“The launch of ‘Little Treats’ is a massive moment in strengthening MyWaitrose as a club for food lovers,” said Waitrose head of loyalty Alex Lovell.
“It’s a way for us to say thank you to the growing number of loyal Waitrose customers. Loyalty has been a big focus for Waitrose in 2025, and we hope that each time a shopper claims their ‘Little Treats’, a free Waitrose Food Magazine or personalised offer, it acts as a reminder of just how much we value them.”
It’s not the only innovation Waitrose is testing.
The supermarket is also trialling AI-powered trolleys in Bracknell, Berkshire, which automatically scan products as they’re added.
The smart trolleys, fitted with scanners, cameras and a small screen, show the total spend in real time and allow shoppers to pay directly without visiting a checkout.
If successful, the new technology could be rolled out to more stores later this year
What rewards do other supermarkets offer?
Most UK supermarkets have loyalty schemes so customers can build up points and save money while they shop.
Here’s what you can get at each store…
Sainsbury’s has the Nectar card, which can also be used in Argos, eBay and other shops.
You need 200 Nectar points to save up £1 to spend on your card.
You need to spend at least £1 to get one Nectar point.
Tesco‘s Clubcard has over 17million members in the UK alone.
You use it each time you shop and build up points that can be turned into vouchers – 150 points gets you a £1.50 voucher.
You need to spend £1 in Tesco to get one point.
Iceland has the Bonus Card, but unlike other stores you don’t collect points.
Instead, you load it up with money and Iceland will give you £1 for every £20 you save.
Lidl customers don’t collect points when they shop using the Lidl Plus loyalty scheme.
But they’re rewarded with personalised vouchers that give them money off at the till.
Meanwhile Morrisons has the My Morrisons: Make Good Things Happen loyalty scheme, which replaces the More Card.
It rewards customers with personalised money off vouchers via the app
How to save money on your food shop
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:
Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.
Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.
Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.
Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.
Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.
Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.
Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.
Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.
But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here.
Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.
“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.
The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.
