Press Releases

TESCO PUTS £120 MILLION BACK IN CUSTOMERS’ POCKETS

06 February 2010

Tesco today celebrates the 15th anniversary of Clubcard – the most popular loyalty scheme in the UK – with over £120 million of rewards sent to more than 14 million customers.

And to celebrate, Britain’s favourite supermarket also announced that, due to popular demand, it will continue to give customers Double Points across the store and online*.

Since the launch of Clubcard in 1995 Tesco customers have received billions of pounds in vouchers just for shopping with Tesco, helping millions of families stretch their budgets and treat themselves. More than one million new customers have signed up to Clubcard since its relaunch last year.

Clubcard may be the longest running loyalty scheme around but it’s also bang up to date with the latest technology. In a UK first Tesco has launched an iPhone app which turns the phone into an electronic Clubcard, enabling customers to scan the phone screen without having to search for their card. The new app is expected to encourage younger customers, especially men, who research suggests are less likely to carry a card to sign up to Clubcard.

Tesco’s UK Marketing Director, Carolyn Bradley - one of the team behind the original launch 15 years ago – said:

“Clubcard is as relevant today as it was when we launched it on the back of the last recession in the 90s, only now it’s twice as rewarding. Customers like the simple proposition: the more they shop with Tesco the more they get back from Clubcard. And by adding hundreds of rewards partners we’ve given customers even more flexibility over how they spend their rewards and make their money go further.

“Double Points, launched last summer, was an extra thank you for our most loyal customers. But it has also encouraged more than one million new customers to sign up and receive the benefits of Clubcard. I’m delighted to announce today that Double Points will continue so that our customers – whether long time Clubcard devotees or more recent points collectors – can carry on making double the savings every time they shop.”

As well as including over £120 million of Clubcard vouchers,  the mailing due to land with customers from this weekend, will also include a range of special birthday offers* including:

• Cut price deals at Hilton hotels
• Free entry into theme parks and other Merlin attractions
• Half price on popular magazine subscriptions
• Hundreds of pounds off Virgin Holidays

And five lucky Clubcard customers will become ‘Clubcard millionaires’ as every Clubcard customer has the chance to enter into a draw to win 1 million Clubcard points – worth £10,000 in shopping or up to £40,000 if used for one of hundreds of rewards from holidays to restaurants.

There are now more than 400 Clubcard partners working with Tesco to bring fantastic deals to customers. New partners joining Clubcard this month include Barcelo Hotels, the Eden Project, top West End shows – Hairspray and Jersey Boys, and the Smith & Jones pub chain.

* Terms and conditions apply

Notes for Editors:

1. Clubcard was launched on 13 February 1995.

2. Since August last year Clubcard customers have received 2 points for every £1 they spend with Tesco.  Some exemptions apply – see terms and conditions.

3. There are now over 15m active Clubcard members – over 13m will receive vouchers in their February statement.

4. Vouchers are mailed to customers every 3 months along with other relevant coupons and special offers.
 
5. Last year Tesco returned £529 million to customers in the form of Clubcard vouchers. There are 9 million variations of the Clubcard statement to ensure that customers get extra rewards that are relevant to them. No three customers get the same statement.

6. Tesco has national loyalty card schemes based on Clubcard in Ireland, Poland, Malaysia, South Korea and China and pilot schemes in Slovakia, Thailand and Turkey.

7. Tesco Mobile recently launched the iPhone with the shortest and cheapest tariffs in the market.  Customers can choose Pay as you go or Pay monthly with a £20 a month 12 month contract or a £60 a month 24 month contract with a free iPhone.  Tesco Mobile iPhone customers also benefit from double Clubcard points on handset purchase and triple Clubcard points on top up or with their monthly bill. 

8. The Clubcard iPhone app is the third to be released by Tesco. The first, named Tesco Finder, uses GPS to help customers find their nearest Tesco and can provide the exact aisle and shelf location of any product in a given store. The second app, named Tesco Wine Finder, uses advanced technology to recognise the labels on bottles of wine. Customers can take a photo of a bottle, and if Tesco stock it, they will be provided with tasting notes and the opportunity to buy it from Tesco online. 

9. Case studies of Clubcard customers are available from the Tesco Press Office.

For further information, please contact the Tesco Press Office on 01992 644645. To contact the Duty Press Officer out of hours, please call the Security Support on 01992 644733 (option 2 from voicemail menu).