Tesco drops its ‘bogof ’ offers despite ministers delaying ban

TESCO will ban “buy one, get one free” (bogof) offers on unhealthy food and drinks this autumn despite a government decision to delay a crackdown on junk food deals for another year.

The supermarket said it would remove promotions on food and drink that have a high fat, salt or sugar content from October this year.

The decision comes despite an aboutturn by ministers this month which pushed back a ban on bogof or threefor-two offers for unhealthy foods until October 2023 because of the “unprecedented” squeeze on living standards.

Television advertisements on junk food will also be forbidden before 9am from January 2024 as part of the Government’s attempts to crackdown on obesity.

Officials at the Department of Health and Social Care said that they wanted to assess the impact of the ban on families’ finances amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Tesco said it has been cutting back on promotions for several years and there would not be a need for shoppers to hunt for multibuys as it already offers “reliable low prices”.

Jason Tarry, Tesco’s UK and Republic of Ireland chief, 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.”

Industry experts have welcomed the delay to the ban saying it would give the sector more time to prepare for a change in the law.

Steve Dresser, a director at Grocery Insight, described Tesco’s move as “another check-mate, just like when they handed business rates back”. Dur- ing the pandemic, the grocer in effect bounced competitors into paying back the rates relief, worth more than £2bn in total, after it became the first chain to return the money because it was staying open during lockdowns.

Mr Dresser added it could also be more difficult logistically to add the promotions back into the system rather than just press ahead with the proposed changes.

However, health campaigners have attacked the Government over the delay, accusing Boris Johnson of “playing politics” with children’s health. The chef Jamie Oliver called the delay a “wasted opportunity” that “erode[s] the whole obesity strategy”.

Last month, Kellogg’s took the Government to court over the new laws. The Crunchy Nut corn flakes maker claimed the sugar content of its cereals should be measured after milk is added and said it was fighting to get some of the criteria changed.

‘Our mission is to make Tesco the easiest place to shop for a healthy, more sustainable basket’