Yellow sticker bargains, also known as 'whoopsie deals', offer shoppers significant discounts on items nearing their expiry date or with superficial damage. According to Marco Farnararo, CEO and co-founder at BravoVoucher.co.uk, each supermarket has a strict schedule for marking down products. Knowing the optimal times to visit can lead to savings of up to 90% on fresh food.
Tesco begins with small markdowns from 8am, but the biggest reductions of up to 90% occur around 7pm at larger stores and 4pm at Express branches. Sainsbury's first price cuts appear at 1pm, with the best deals after 7pm when prices can drop by 75%. Asda does one big round of reductions at 7pm, offering 50-70% off. Morrisons starts marking down at midday, with final reductions between 5pm and 7pm, particularly at fresh food counters.
Discount chains Aldi and Lidl break the pattern, putting out red-sticker reductions first thing in the morning – Aldi at 8am and Lidl at 7am. Waitrose begins markdowns around 2pm, with final yellow stickers appearing from 6pm offering up to 80% off. Co-op stores vary, but most make final reductions in the hour before closing.
Marco advises that Sunday evenings are prime time for bargain hunters due to shorter trading hours and no deliveries the next day. He urges shoppers to be patient and polite with staff when seeking reduced items. The biggest saving comes from avoiding food waste, so only buy yellow sticker items you will definitely eat or can freeze before they expire.
