Tesco and Sainsbury’s ‘secret codes’ revealed and they could help you save cash on your weekly shop

SECRET codes at Tesco and Sainsbury's have been revealed that could help millions of shoppers save money on their weekly shops.

Consumer Watchdog, Which? took to social media to help users decipher the often overlooked numbers in the fine print of supermarket labels.

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The nifty trick could lead to shoppers pocketing massive savings.

Which? revealed that these codes actually tell you when a promotional offer is set to expire, allowing shoppers to stock up on discounts or deals.

You may or may not have noticed that in 2023, a number of supermarkets removed the use and sell by dates on fresh produce in a widespread effort to reduce food waste. 

While there are now no dates on packaged fruit and veg, some supermarkets have one of these "secret codes" on the labels of these produce, which helps staff to rotate stock. 

By purchasing items in bulk while they're on sale, you might spend more upfront, but you could save money over time as the cost per unit is lower.

A Which? spokesperson said: "There is a secret code which tells you when something is going to end on promotion at Tesco. They put it backwards so it can be a little bit tricky to spot.

"The first digit means the year, the middle is the month, and the last two are the date.

"That means you can see something cheap, buy one to try, and know how long you've got to stock up in bulk if you like it."

They shared that other supermarkets such as Waitrose are more apparent with the day and month, but retailers like Sainsbury's only show the date the promotion started.

They added: "Sainsbury's typically ends its deals on a Tuesday, so that can give you a pretty good estimate of the end date."

Shoppers were amazed at the post, with many pointing out that they'd "never even noticed".

One user commented: "Will have to keep an eye out for this."

Whilst another said: "This is so useful."

Others were quick to point out that buying the reduced items does mean that they will have a shorter use by date.

One user said: "Only downside is it's harder to stock up as you have to use them quickly".

But another savvy shopper responded saying: "I usually keep an eye out for these and then stick them in the freezer."

Meanwhile, one Tesco shopper took to social media to share her discovery of the "secret code", which left her "mind blown".

Jess, a savvy mum, gave her followers a close-up look at a bag of Maris Piper potatoes and a cucumber, which she bought from her local Tesco.

Pointing to the labels, which read A11 and A12, Jess questioned: “Did anyone else not know this or am I just late to the party?”

She said: “I just thought that veg didn't have sell by dates, I just go off how it feels and what it looks like.

“But this is the sell by date. So the letter is the month and then the number is obviously the date.”

Jess then explained that her potatoes, which had A12 on the label, have a sell by date of January 12th.

She added: “So this is January. If it was B it would be February, C it would be March.”

She said: “It’s blown my mind.” 

How to save money on your supermarket shop

There are plenty of ways shoppers can save money on their grocery shops.

You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they've been reduced.

If the food is fresh, you'll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time.

Making a list should also save you money, as you'll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket.

Going own-brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too.

This means ditching "finest" or "luxury" products and instead going for "own" or value" type of lines.

Some supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they're misshapen or imperfect.

For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50.

If you're on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too.

Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.