News releases

Thousands of special offers cut the cost of everyday shopping

As the nation gets back to work this week, Tesco today revealed bumper savings for customers of more than £280m as Britain's favourite supermarket launched 12,000 special offers on popular grocery items to help cushion the cost of Christmas. The New Year savings will save the average shopper £7.56 compared to this time last year* on a basket of everyday products including bananas, bread, tea, beer, meat and fish.

The New Year price blitz comes on top of £170m of savings launched last week in the Tesco seasonal sale, £12m of savings to customers from Tesco's decision to freeze VAT at 15 per cent on thousands of lines and a further £50m in Double Clubcard points which Clubcard customers can expect to earn throughout January. In total Tesco will be helping customers start the New Year with more than half a billion pounds of savings across the store.

Popular money saving offers, including 615 half price offers will be available from 4 January such as Princes Tuna Chunks in Brine 4 X185g, was £5.39, now £2.69, Dolmio Original Bolognese Pasta Sauce 750g, was £2.12, now £1.06 and Maryland Choc Chip & Hazelnut Cookies 150g, was 86p, now 43p.

Amazing savings will also be available on non food lines such as an Acer 4GB, 15.6" Laptop, was £497, now £397 and Garmin Sat Nav, 215W, was £149.97, now £99.97.

Tesco’s Commercial and Marketing Director, Richard Brasher said: “The cost of shopping is as important to customers as we move into 2010 as it has ever been. That’s why we are making sure that we continue to lower prices across the store but with a focus on everyday grocery products. Add to this our VAT savings, sale offers and Double Clubcard points and our customers can be confident that Tesco is doing more than ever to help them have a happy and affordable New Year.”

Examples of the New Year promotions include:
• Danepak Maple Cure Back Bacon 220g, was £3.00, now £1.50
• Ripen at Home Nectarines, was £2.99, now £1.49
• Extra Large Pineapple, was £3.00, now £1.50
• Baking Potatoes 2.5kg, was £1.92, now £1
• Dolmio Original Bolognese Pasta Sauce 750g, was £2.12, now £1.06
• Princes Tuna Chunks In Brine 4X185g, was £5.39, now £2.69
• Maryland Choc Chip & Hazelnut Cookies 150g, was 86p, now 43p.
• Kellogg's Special K Oats and Honey 425g, was £2.87, now £1.40
• New Covent Garden Plum Tomato & Sweet Basil Soup 600g, was £1.97, now 98p
• Pampers Baby Wipes Sensitive Refill 63, Buy One Get One Free, £2.29
• Gillette Fusion Sensitive Skin Hydra Gel 200ml, Buy One Get One Free, £3.89
• Technika 24" Full HD TV with Free View & Dvd, was £279.97, now £229.97
• Acer 4GB, 15.6" Laptop, was £497, now £397
• Garmin Sat Nav, 215W, was £149.97, now £99.97

*The average basket was made up as follows:

Notes to editors:

• Tesco is saving customers £12m by freezing the VAT at 15% on thousands of popular non food products such as TVs, iPods, toys and bikes as well as many thousands of promotional food and non food lines (as announced on 29th December 2009)
• Tesco’s Boxing Day sale is saving customers a massive £170m on popular own label products and well known named brands from TVs and laptops to clothing, crockery and bedding (as announced on 24th December 2009)
• Clubcard Double Points were launched in August, 2009. Customers receive 2 points for every £1 they spend with Tesco, excluding products such as tobacco, lottery and infant formula. They continue to earn 1 point for each £1 spent on petrol.
• In November this year Tesco customers received £170m in Clubcard vouchers and in December, customers received £67m vouchers of the February 2010 statement early, just in time for Christmas.
• For more details about Tesco Clubcard offers, please visit the website at: http://www.tesco.com/clubcard

For further inquiries please contact the Tesco press office on 01992 644 645 or out of hours call 01992 644 733 (select option 2 from voicemail).