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Stores urged to scrap 'bogof' deals and sell food half-price
Sri Carmichael, Consumer Affairs Reporter11 Aug 2009
Supermarkets are being encouraged to drop "buy one, get one free" offers and sell goods half-price to reduce waste.
The "bogof" offers, frequently for food near its sell-by date, are blamed for adding to the mountain of uneaten produce discarded by Britons every year.
The Government has indicated its desire to see "bogof" deals phased out alongside campaigns to help consumers make the most of cheap food. The proposals are in a food strategy document which suggested genetically modified crops could help ease concerns about Britain's ability to feed itself at a time of rising prices and unpredictable environmental conditions.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has calculated that eliminating food waste would lead to a dramatic cut in carbon emissions - equivalent to taking a fifth of traffic off Britain's roads.The UK is estimated to throw away 220,000 loaves of bread and 5.1 million potatoes every year.
Reader views (7)
Wonder why bank cash machines never offer BOGOFF deals?
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 13/08/2009 12:06
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For once I applaud the government. BOGOFs benefit single people like me very little, whereas half-price would be a genuine offer. Also, I am always a little dubious about the pricing, since the single-item price sometimes seems artificially high so that the BOGOF 'appears' good value. Basically, my watchword when shopping is: Never trust ANY supermarket to tell the truth and not rip us off. All they want is quick access to our wallets and purses. They are not interested in 'service'.
- Mike Mitchell, Spalding, England, 13/08/2009 08:51
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DEFRA keep your long snout out of bizniz matters.
Keep counting your expenses - and stop spouting spin and waffle.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK, 11/08/2009 17:04
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It's nothing to do with stock control, it's just to encourage 'footfall'. How many people actually go into a supermarket and only come out with what they went in for? It's the shopper who throws stuff away that's getting stock control wrong.
- Paul, London, 11/08/2009 16:20
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I think the government is spot on here. I've frequently picked up two of something perishable when I only needed one, because it didn't cost any more to do so. And then ended up throwing the second one away after it grew fur.
If the supermarkets want to promote something, it should be "half price". If they get their stock control wrong, they should pay for disposing of their waste themselves, not con their customers into carrying it home.
- Nigel, London, 11/08/2009 14:38
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Oh the irony of the wole thing, the Government is lecturing private business about waste.
There's a very old saying "people in glass houses, shouldn't throw stones"
Now if the Government are happy to start taking advice from Tesco, Asda etc about how to cut costs, save money, and keep people happy, then we could be on to a winner.
- Daisy Willetts, London, 11/08/2009 12:27
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Dear oh dear oh dear. Once again the Government speaks without a clue.
Typically a "bogof" deal is subsidised by the supplier/producer. It costs the supermarket very little. The supplier/producer even bears the cost of the promotional material.
They are not going to start reducing pricies just because "bogofs" come to an end.
Reduce food waste? Do away with "Use By" dates and let (force?) people use their own common sense (as well as their olfaction and gustation senses) to decide if something is off or not.
- Escobar-Alop-Lop, Camden County, 11/08/2009 11:12
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