Sainsbury’s and Tesco are planning to continue to shun multi-buy promotions – the so-called BOGOF deals – despite the Government introducing a further delay on a ban which was originally due to come into force in October last year.
The move, part of ministers’ clampdown on foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS), will now not be brought in until at least October 2025 following an intervention from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He claims consumers should have “right to choose” what food they eat.
The latest delay has been backed by food industry trade bodies, including the FDF and the BRC, which have been lobbying for the ban to be axed completely.
However, Tesco said it would continue with its voluntary ban, which was introduced when the Government delayed the original plans for a bogof clampdown.
Tesco group chief product officer Ashwin Prasad said: “Our mission is to make Tesco the easiest place to shop for a healthy, more sustainable basket, while keeping the cost of the weekly shop in check.
“We know that customers want to eat a more healthy, sustainable diet, but without having to stretch the weekly shopping budget, and we are really proud to be leading the way in maintaining our commitment.
“Tesco will continue to offer great value on products across the entire store, so customers won’t have to purchase more food than they need to access great value.”
A Sainsbury’s spokesman confirmed the supermarket would follow suit and continue to ban multi-buys; it was the first major food retailer to voluntarily stop them in 2016.
Meanwhile, Waitrose said it would continue to phase them out, with a spokesperson saying: “We’re helping our customers to make healthier choices by reformulating products, growing our healthier ranges and using our Good Health label.
“We’ll be continuing to reduce multibuy promotions on HFSS products over the year ahead. In these tough times, we’ll be listening and responding to our customers, to ensure we offer the promotions that most appeal to them across all of our ranges.”
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