Waitrose to make huge loyalty scheme change this week that will leave shoppers divided

The Sun

08-06-2025

WAITROSE is making a huge change to its loyalty scheme as it adds a new perk but shoppers will be divided.
The supermarket is offering shoppers the chance to borrow a reusable coffee cup so they can redeem their free coffee when shopping as part of a new trial.
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Shoppers will have seven days to return the cup to a designated collection point or they will be charged a £3 penalty.
The trial will reduce plastic waste as part of a 'circular' system.
The scheme will be available in nine branches before it can be rolled out more widely.
It is understood that its store in Newark is one of the shops taking part in the trial.
To 'Borrow a Free Cup' shoppers will need to tap their MyWaitrose card.
They can then fill the cup from Waitrose's hot drinks machine as usual.
A Waitrose spokesperson said: 'We're currently conducting a reusable cup trial in nine of our branches - it kicked off this week and is available for MyWaitrose members to use when redeeming their free coffee, or for our cafe customers to use if purchasing one.'
Shoppers who bring their own cup will still be able to claim their free coffee.
The only requirement for the reusable cups is that they fit under the nozzle of the self-service coffee machine.
What other changes has Waitrose made in store?
The move is the latest update to the supermarket's free hot drink offer after it changed its free coffee terms and conditions in January.
Shopper reveals the 'best time' to hit Waitrose for yellow sticker bargains, as she bags strawberries and milk for 69p
Previously the posh supermarket only offered the free drink to shoppers who bought something in store first.
This is the same rule as was initially brought in when the deal was first launched in 2013.
Shoppers still needed to bring a reusable cup in order to bag the freebie.
Waitrose brought back the free coffee perk in October 2022 after it was axed in 2017 to cut costs.
Supermarket loyalty schemes - which has one?
MOST UK supermarkets have loyalty schemes so customers can build up points and save money while they shop.
Here we round up what saving programmes you'll find at the big brands.
Iceland: Unlike other stores, you don't collect points with the Iceland Bonus Card. Instead, you load it up with money and Iceland will give you £1 for every £20 you save.
Lidl Plus: Lidl customers don't collect points when they shop, and are instead rewarded with personalised vouchers that gives them money off at the till.
Morrisons: The My Morrisons: Make Good Things Happen replaces the More Card and rewards customers with personalised money off vouchers via the app.
Sainsbury's: While Sainsbury's doesn't have a personal scheme, it does own the Nectar card which can also be used in Argos, eBay and other shops. You need 200 Nectar points to save up £1 to spend on your card. You need to spend at least £1 to get one Nectar point.
Tesco: Tesco Clubcard has over 17million members in the UK alone. You use it each time you shop and build up points that can be turned into vouchers - 150 points gets you a £1.50 voucher. Here you need to spend £1 in Tesco to get one point.
Waitrose: myWaitrose also doesn't allow you to collect points but instead you'll get access to free hot drinks, and discounts off certain brands in store.
Supermarket staff handed out cups to customers after they had paid for their shopping and there was no minimum spend.
The move left some members fuming while others criticised it and pointed out that you could buy a small item, such as a banana, to get the free drink.
Last August Waitrose trialled recyclable disposable coffee cups in ten of its stores.
It originally removed disposable cups from its stores in 2018 to reduce waste.
The change meant that only shoppers who brought their own cup could claim their free coffee.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [e-mail].