New research has revealed that Tesco has been reducing the size of its value own-brand range despite rising costs.
Research by The Grocer has shown that the supermarket's own-brand value range has decreased over the last 12 months, while the premium tier sector has grown during the same time period.
However, Tesco said that it is "more committed than ever to providing our customers with great value" and has introduced other ways to offer value prices, including its Clubcard and Aldi Price Match range.
Analysis has found that the value "Exclusively at Tesco" range consists of only 316 lines as of August 4, 2022, compared with 339 items at the same time last year.
According to exclusive Assosia data, there were 422 items in 2019.
This comes amid ONS reports last month that inflation reached a record high of 9.4 per cent.
This is thought to be even worse in the supermarkets with the price of food and drink having risen by 9.8 per cent overall in one year.
Some groceries have increased in price by up to 26.3 per cent.
The soaring prices mean households will see their yearly food shopping bills hiked by £380 this year with many households struggling to make ends meet.
Ben Reynolds, Deputy chief executive of food charity Sustain, said: “With more and more people on the breadline, it beggars belief that a major supermarket would reduce the size of its value range year on year.”
As well as the Exclusively at Tesco range, the retail giant offers the Aldi Price Match and Low Everyday Prices campaigns, as well as the longest standing loyalty card system.
Clubcard Prices were launched in May 2019 and the Aldi Price Match campaign began in March 2020.
The price match means hundreds of basics have been matched with the prices at the budget store, Aldi.
For the Clubcard, Tesco shoppers earn one point for every £1 spent in store or online and one point for every £2 spent on fuel.
These points can then be turned into vouchers for money off food or other partner schemes.
Clubcard holders also get cheaper prices on some items compared to those without the loyalty card.
As of last year, Clubcard Prices also became available across all of its 1,800 Express stores.
While the number of products available on Clubcard Prices change from week to week, there are generally more than 5,000 products included at any one time.
Tesco told The Mirror that when all the products in the Exclusively at Tesco, Aldi Price Match and Low Everyday Prices are added up, the total has increased from 400 in 2019 to 2,500 today.
It said: "Exclusively at Tesco is just one way we’re helping customers with the cost of their weekly shop, and alongside Aldi Price Match and Low Everyday Prices, we have more than 2,500 products in our value ranges.
“We’ve significantly increased the number of value lines we offer - so whether it’s price matching hundreds of basics to Aldi prices, promising Low Everyday Prices on branded favourites, or offering exclusive deals and rewards through thousands of Clubcard Prices, we’re more committed than ever to providing our customers with great value.”
Shore Capital analyst Clive Black has praised Tesco’s strategy.
He argued that initiatives such as Clubcard Prices allow popular brands to be brought into its value line-up.
He said: “Tesco has been absolutely on the money in terms of trying to make its SKUs [Stock Keeping Units] work for the shopper and the business alike,” he said.
The Mirror have contacted Tesco for a comment.
