Aldi
Near closing timeBranch-dependent
Look for red stickers. Aldi confirms reductions of up to 75% on short-dated fresh food; the near-closing timing comes from its response to Which?.
Supermarket Clearance
Looking for something cheap for dinner? These are useful times to check the reduced shelves. Timings vary by branch and stock, so ask your local shop before making a special trip.
Sources reviewed . Suggested windows, with no guarantee of stock or discounts.
Asda
Around 7pm for later cutsShopper reports
Morning and evening reductions are reported. The 7pm suggestion is from MSE readers, rather than a fixed Asda timetable.
Co-op
Evening, sometimes around 8pmShopper reports
MSE readers report substantial branch differences, with some deeper cuts around 8pm. Ask locally.
Lidl
Opening, or a few hours before closingRetailer response to Which?
Lidl told Which? that staff tend to reduce food first thing and again towards closing, with other reductions possible throughout the day.
M&S Food
Final 30–60 minutes before closingShopper reports
MSE readers report final cuts in this window. Which? also reports that reductions tend to be near closing.
Morrisons
Late morning or lunchtime to startShopper reports
These are reported starting times. Managers decide locally; there is no confirmed chain-wide final reduction time.
Sainsbury’s
Lunchtime; around 7pm for later cutsShopper reports
Both windows appear in MSE reader reports. Sainsbury’s says reductions depend entirely on the store.
Tesco
Early evening for bigger reductionsStaff reports collected by MSE
Earlier reductions can appear too. Tesco says there is no fixed rule, so treat early evening as a starting point.
Waitrose
Around 4pm; from 6pm for later cutsReported guide, lower confidence
Reduced Grub suggests these windows. Waitrose told Which? there is no set schedule, so check with your branch before relying on them.
Make it worth the trip
Ask a member of staff when that particular branch normally does its final reductions. Check today’s closing time, especially on Sundays and bank holidays; an evening suggestion is no use if the shop shuts in the afternoon.
Our advice: work a clearance check into a trip you’re already making. Compare the reduced price with the ordinary own-brand option, and only buy what you’ll use. Waiting for a bigger sticker can also mean missing the item.
Check the date and storage instructions. Use-by dates are about safety; best-before dates are about quality. Eat or freeze suitable food by its use-by date and follow the label’s storage and defrosting instructions. Food date guidance
Where these timings come from
MSE’s guide was updated on 27 July 2026 and combines retailer comments with reader reports. Which? asked supermarkets directly in May 2023; those responses explain the broad approach, but do not verify a branch’s current schedule. The Waitrose timing guide is dated 5 December 2025 and is less authoritative than a retailer policy.
We reviewed the linked sources on 12 September 2026. These are general shopping tips, not individually verified London branch hours or live clearance availability. Smaller convenience stores may follow a different routine from larger shops in the same chain.