I compared yellow sticker deals from M&S, Tesco and Sainsbury’s — there was a clear winner

I’ve been on the hunt for yellow sticker deals, and supermarket reduced food bargains across the UK – and one retailer consistently stands out from the rest

Yellow sticker bargains have become an increasingly sought-after method for shoppers to reduce spending while addressing food waste. As the cost of groceries continues to rise, more and more consumers are hunting down discounted products to stretch their budgets further.

Each supermarket has its own strategy for reducing prices on food approaching its use-by date, though the shopping experience can differ from one retailer to another.

In recent months, I have explored a variety of supermarkets to find and evaluate their yellow-sticker selections. Following extensive bargain hunting, one retailer has repeatedly stood out as the clear winner for truly outstanding deals.

While I have uncovered some exceptional bargains at different supermarkets, M&S remains my top choice time after time.

A major factor in its appeal is how the upmarket chain displays its reduced items at my local branch.

Instead of clustering everything together at the far end of an aisle, M&S typically leaves yellow-stickered goods within their usual sections.

Discounted chicken, for example, stays beside fresh chicken; ready meals remain with similar products; and bakery goods are positioned within the bakery section.

This strategy makes the entire experience feel considerably more natural, allowing you to search for discounts while getting on with the rest of your shopping. It also means I am much more likely to purchase discounted items that truly fit with my meal plans, rather than simply taking whatever happens to be left on the shelf.

Finding reduced-price food at its regular location can also make it easier to accurately compare quality and cost with other products on display.

In supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s, I found that yellow-sticker items are usually positioned in one or two specific areas, often at the end of an aisle.

While this may at first seem practical, I found sifting through a crowded shelf quite time-consuming, especially when chilled meat, ready meals, and sandwiches are all mixed together.

I also found that Tesco and Sainsbury’s appeared to have a substantial number of ready meals on offer, rather than fresh produce such as meat.

While M&S may not be the cheapest choice for food shopping, even with yellow-sticker discounts, I did find some excellent deals.

These included a yoghurt reduced to £1, a pizza marked down to just under £3, and some sushi also cut to under £3.