Tesco has confirmed it's revamping how it distributes its coupons to Clubcard holders.
The loyalty scheme sees customers accumulate points by spending at the popular supermarket chain, with paper vouchers usually sent out to people in the post. This is all set to change from next month.
From May, physical coupons and statements will stop being delivered through shoppers' letterboxes - unless customers specifically request to receive paper vouchers. Clubcard holders will instead receive accumulated points via email, with a barcode for customers to scan when checking out in store.
READ MORE: Cadbury fans excited after spotting 'incredible' new bar in Asda stores
Tesco told the Mirror it will make the change for those who regularly shop online, and those users will get an email letting them know about the shake-up. Not all customers will be affected.
If you have received an email and want to keep receiving your quarterly Clubcard statement and vouchers by post, you'll need to actively opt back in. You can do this by signing into your MyClubcard account online, clicking on 'statement preferences' and changing it back to 'by post' by May 5.
If you change your preferences after 5 May, you'll receive your May statement and vouchers by email, but will then receive your August statement and vouchers by post. The shake-up comes amid a store transformation that will see the grocer, the largest in the UK, open 59 new branches over the next 12 months.
It follows the decision to axe its Metro store format under a restructuring last year. Chief executive Ken Murphy said the latest opening programme will take it to a total of more than 2,000 Express stores and 1,001 shops.
Mr Murphy said: "Our priority is to be the most convenient retailer. That means serving customers wherever, whenever and however they want. No matter where our customers live, or how they shop."
Up to 290,000 shop staff, along with call centre and warehouse workers, at Tesco will also get a bonus as a special "thank you" for their efforts over the past year, the retailer added. The group said the payout "recognises the way colleagues really stepped up to the industry challenges of the last year" and came as it reported annual profits that more than trebled to £2.03billion.
But Tesco's chief executive, Ken Murphy, warned retail operating profits are expected to fall this year, to between £2.4billion and £2.6billion. Murphy warned profits this year are likely to be hit by the impact of soaring inflation on customers.
The group said it envisages its own costs to rise and it plans to invest in prices to remain competitive in light of rocketing food inflation. Mr Murphy continued: "Clearly, the external environment has become more challenging in recent months. Against a tough backdrop for our customers and with household budgets under pressure, we are laser-focused on keeping the cost of the weekly shop in check - working in close partnership with our suppliers, as well as doing everything we can to reduce our own costs."
Mr Murphy said the full impact of high inflation was yet to be felt, but that many are "starting to look at how to manage their budgets and the trade-offs they will make". Those include how customers respond to the soaring cost of living and how much Tesco pumps into stabilising prices.
Mr Murphy added: "We can see that customers are already looking at how they manage their budget and are making trade-offs." You can find your nearest Tesco store here.
Get the top stories straight to your inbox by signing up to one of our free newsletters
