Supermarket giant Tesco has today (October 16) unveiled plans to tackle food waste by replacing all ‘Buy One Get One Free' offers on perishable goods with ‘Buy One Get One Free - Later'.

Customers will be able to get that other salad or vegetable or yoghurt when they want it and when it will be used

 
Sir Terry Leahy, chief executive, Tesco

Speaking at the Sustainable Consumption Institute (SCI) conference in London, Tesco chief executive Sir Terry Leahy outlined the plan as part of measure to reduce waste created by the store and claimed that the move represented a "small step" towards helping consumers waste less.

Under the measure, customers will be able to pick up the second item in the BOGOF deal when it is needed rather than at the same time and having it potentially going to waste.

The move is expected to be welcomed by councils which have been very critical of BOGOF deals in the past because they have caused residents to ‘over-shop' and led to peaks in waste arisings.

Sir Terry said: "As one small, new, step, we will adapt our ‘buy one get one free' offers in perishable foods to give our customers a new opportunity - ‘buy one and get one free - later'.

"So customers will be able to get that other salad or vegetable or yoghurt when they want it and when it will be used, not all together when it may - in the end - go to waste."

The chief executive said that the plan to change the BOGOF format came alongside plans to reduce packaging, reduce carrier bag usage and increase recycling.

Looking at the wider sustainability of the company, Sir Terry said this was all part of a wider goal to turn Tesco into a zero-carbon business by 2050 and increase customer's access to clear, low-carbon choices.

Sir Terry added: "We will set out to encourage competition between our stores in selling low carbon products and helping customers cut their carbon emissions. As another, small contribution, our first electric car charging points will open to customers in three London stores before the end of November."