Asda is making a major change to several of its stores after customers complained about having to bring their own bags and containers.
Branches that offer a refill service - including the Toryglen store in Glasgow - will be making it easier for customers to pick up cheaper food with a reusable bag to be sold at 10p.
To use a refill zone, shoppers simply have to fill a bag and weigh their items. Customers can pick up items like cereals, pet food and pasta without packaging.
Alongside the 10p bags, the Big Four supermarket will also be offering a 'refill price promise', which guarantees that each refill product will be cheaper than packaged alternatives. They will be introducing new food items as well, including Cadbury’s Giant Buttons and Maynards Wine Gums.
Susan Thomas, Asda Senior Director of Sustainable commercial activity, said: "We know the cost of living crisis is having a big effect on our customers, so it is important we recognise this in the refill space through our ‘refill price promise’ and ensure customers are getting an even better deal.
"As well as being cheaper, refill allows customers to buy the exact amount they need, helping them stick to budgets, while at the same time reducing food waste at home."
Refill zones were introduced to Asda stores two years ago now, however they are revamping their service in partnership with WRAP and Unilever, and with funding from Innovate UK. They are hoping to find and address customer barriers to participation.
Catherine David, Director of Collaboration and Change, WRAP, “Reuse and refill will have big role to play in changing our ingrained shopping habits and weaning ourselves off single use plastic - essential in the transition to a circular economy for plastics."
She adds: "We know we need to make this an easy and cost-effective process and Asda are showing how this is possible."
Asda was recently named the cheapest place to shop for a trolley's worth of groceries in November by the Consumer experts at Which?. It cost £355.34 on average at Asda for a large shop - £38.03 less than the most expensive option - Waitrose.
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