TESCO shoppers are being warned to watch out for prices in store which experts claim are "misleading".
Consumer group Which? has reported the supermarket giant to the UK competition watchdog for what they say is "confusing" pricing.
Which? said the grocery chain has failed to provide unit pricing – such as price per 100g – on products with Clubcard Prices.
These are cheaper prices highlighted in store and online for anyone who has a Clubcard.
Unit prices are meant to make it easier for shoppers to compare similar items of different sizes and choose the best deal.
You can usually see the unit cost of the product where its price is shown – it may be in small print.
Read more on Money
People are only just realising they can get Prime in a supermarket meal deal
Martin Lewis issues urgent warning about car insurance mistake to all drivers
Shoppers can then compare this with the unit cost of a similar item – for example the cost per 100ml and choose the item with the lowest unit cost overall.
Which? claims that Tesco's decision not to display this unit pricing on some offers could be a "misleading practice" under the Consumer Protection From Unfair Trading Regulations 2008.
Tesco said in response that its price labelling has been "formally endorsed" by Trading Standards after it asked the organisation to review its Clubcard price promotions.
It added that it is "disappointed" by the "ill founded" claims" by Which?.
Most read in Money
Major fashion chain set to RETURN to high street after closing all 170 branches
Tesco is making a major change to 700 stores – and cake fans will love it
Fears of popular fizzy drink shortage as unions threaten crippling strikes
Greggs’ most closely guarded secrets revealed – including special ingredient
Sue Davies, Which? head of food policy said: "Tesco’s unclear Clubcard pricing is at best confusing for shoppers struggling with soaring food inflation and at worst, could be breaking the law."
The consumer group said it is urging Tesco to act now and introduce unit pricing on Clubcard prices as soon as possible to help shoppers find the best deals.
Which? added that it has nevertheless found issues with unit pricing across all supermarkets.
In one example, it said it found Heinz tomato ketchup in Tesco where the label showed the standard price for a 700g bottle is £3.90 (or 55.7p per 100g).
Meanwhile, a Clubcard label showed the bottle on offer, at £3.50 for the same 700g bottle, but there is no explanation of the unit price, which would be 50p per 100g.
However, a 910g bottle of exactly the same ketchup on the shelf below is £3.99 for everyone, or 43.8p per 100g.
Ms Davies added: "At this time of crisis, supermarkets cannot cut corners; they have a duty to ensure pricing is clear so that customers can get the best value.
"We also need to see these retailers support consumers in the face of high inflation by stocking a range of essential budget lines in smaller stores, particularly in areas where people are struggling most."
A spokesman for Tesco said: “Providing great value and clear pricing is really important to us.
“We always take care to ensure we are compliant which is why we asked Trading Standards to review our approach on Clubcard Prices.
“They formally endorsed our labelling, confirming it meets the current legal requirements and guidelines.
“We are supportive of calls for greater clarity on the regulations in this area, in the interests of both businesses and consumers, and are actively looking at how we can make the way we display pricing even clearer for our customers.
“However, given that we are complying with all the current rules, we are disappointed that Which? has chosen to make these ill-founded claims against our Clubcard Prices scheme, which helps millions of households get great value week-in, week-out, and could save shoppers up to £351 per year.”
A CMA spokeswoman said: “Our current review of unit pricing is considering the issue of how supermarkets provide unit price information for products on promotions, including loyalty promotions. We will set out our findings in July”.
How does the Tesco Clubcard scheme work?
Tesco’s Clubcard was launched in 1995, allowing shoppers to earn points as they shop which can then be turned into vouchers for money off food or other partner schemes.
Each time you spend £1 in store and online, you get one point when you scan your card or app.
You also get one point for every £2 spent on fuel.
One point equals 1p, so 150 points gets you £1.50, for example.
You'll need a minimum of 150 points to request a voucher.
Once you have enough points, you can turn them into vouchers worth the face value to spend in store at Tesco, or you can spend them at reward partners, including restaurants, and on days out.
Clubcard holders also get cheaper prices on some items compared to those without the loyalty card.
Currently, customers can get triple the value when they exchange their points for vouchers with reward partners, but that is soon to change.
From June 14, Clubcard vouchers will only be worth double their value if exchanged at any of Tesco's 100 reward partners.
The move will mean that their value won't go as far as it used to on things like family days out at Alton Towers Resort, meals at PizzaExpress, sunny getaways with Hotels.com and much more.
Read more on The Sun
I’m a Primark superfan – my top ten summer buys & what’s a waste of money
Huge noughties TV show set for reboot 17 years after it was cancelled
Customers wishing to avoid the points devaluation for as long as possible can do so by ordering partner codes before June 14.
Rewards ordered up to and including June 13 will still be valid one year from the date of issue – so if you ordered them on June 10, they'll expire June 10 2024.
Source: Read Full Article