Tesco moves on Clubcard changes amid customer backlash

Tesco has announced a grace period on changes to its biggest Clubcard rewards, following an angry response from customers on social media.

Earlier this week, the retailer said that vouchers worth four times their face value would be cut to three times their value, with more than 100 scheme partners as the standard offer. That signalled the end of some of the most popular deals, such as meals at Pizza Express, Prezzo and Zizzi.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: "We've listened to our customers and simplified our Clubcard Reward Partners so that they're more straightforward for everyone. This means that from 15th January, we will offer customers three times the value of their vouchers with over 100 Clubcard Reward Partners including days out, weekend breaks, holidays and more. This builds on the work we did last year to further help customers, when we introduced the new contactless Clubcard and made significant improvements to the Clubcard app."

Tesco has around 16 million active Clubcard customers. One grumbled on Twitter: "We had £89 saved up in vouchers - worth £356. Now they are worth £267. No advance warning, really really poor from @Tesco £tescoclubcard - been loyal Tesco customers for well over 10 years - because of clubcard. And what a load of BS about 'making it easier'."

It is now delaying changes until 10th June to give shoppers more time to adjust, noting that it had "listened to customers' feedback".