I worked at Tesco for years here’s when you really need to shop for reduced items

A former Tesco worker has shared the best time of day to shop for a bargain and get those yellow reduced items

Having spent four years working at Tesco, I often found myself marking down fresh items to mere pennies as the day drew to a close. But it’s not just Tesco that slashes prices as the hours tick by.

Other supermarket giants like Asda, Sainsbury’s, Aldi, and Morrisons also cut costs on certain items, typically those nearing their best-before date or being phased out. Most supermarkets have a designated clearance section in one of their fresh produce aisles, easily spotted by its yellow-stickered items.

However, this can vary from store to store.

During my stint at Tesco, I frequently saw ready meals, milk, bread, cream doughnuts, salads, sushi, and sandwiches reduced to almost nothing by day’s end. But when exactly is the prime time to snag these deals?

So, when does Tesco start reducing its food items?

The timing of reductions can differ from shop to shop, depending largely on how bustling that particular store is and the number of staff on duty that day, reports the Express.

I’ve experienced both ends of the spectrum, having worked in a seasonal store that was packed in the summer but quiet in the winter, as well as a hectic central London branch where you’re constantly on the go.

While we had target times for starting reductions, during busier periods, these could sometimes be pushed back.

If you’re unsure about when your local store starts discounting, don’t hesitate to ask a member of staff while you’re there.

The majority of products I spotted being slashed were perishable goods like milk, bread, ready-made meals and bagged salads, though occasionally you’d stumble across substantial meat cuts, fish and even premium Tesco Finest items getting marked down.

These products typically faced reductions because their sell-by dates were looming that very day, yet this doesn’t mean you need to wolf them down immediately. Plenty of these goods, particularly bread and milk, freeze brilliantly for later use.

During my stint at Tesco, staff would carry out three separate markdown sessions beginning around 9am/10am, with initial price cuts of roughly 10%.

Products would then see further slashes of 30%, 50%, and occasionally a whopping 90% as closing time approached.

Prime hunting hours fall between 6pm and 8pm, when those final markdowns get applied.

The closer to closing time you venture out, the steeper the discounts you’re likely to encounter. Yet you mustn’t dawdle too long, particularly in bustling branches, as keen shoppers quickly vacuum up the best deals.

Tesco rolled out fresh 7pm markdowns earlier this year as part of their food waste prevention drive.

A Tesco spokesperson previously told Express.co.uk that whilst reductions typically happen around 7pm, timing can differ between branches, explaining: “Markdowns on fresh products continue to be popular and help to prevent good food from going to waste.”