GROCERIES can be expensive – but a slight tweak to your shopping times can save you a fortune.
But unless you arrive at exactly the right time it can be easy to miss out on the cut-price bargains.
Richard Price, grocery expert at Britsuperstore, has revealed the exact time that yellow stickers appear at Britain’s biggest supermarkets.
He said: “January can be a tough month financially, especially after the excesses of Christmas and the long wait for the next payday.
“That’s why yellow sticker deals are such a game-changer.
“Most major supermarkets, including Morrisons, Aldi, and Asda, follow a two-round reduction strategy, with the first wave of discounts typically occurring in the morning.
“The second – and often larger – reduction happens in the evening or just before closing.
“These reductions vary from store to store but can range from 10% to 25% in the morning to up to 90% in the evening, especially for perishable items nearing their expiry date.
“The reason supermarkets offer these discounts in two stages is purely strategic: they don’t want to take a loss on high-demand items right away, but they also need to clear excess stock before it goes to waste.
“For example, fresh meat, dairy, ready meals, and bakery products are often discounted by 90% in the evening, which helps prevent food waste while allowing shoppers to score huge savings.”
In Morrisons, Aldi, and Asda the best time for deals is therefore early evening (around 5 pm) for up to 90% off, with some items marked down in the morning too.
At the Co-op, Sainsbury’s and Tesco yellow stickers are usually spread out throughout the day as as discounts depend on stock levels and shelf life.
However, at Lidl and Marks & Spencer the best deals are usually first thing in the morning and a few hours before closing time.
