Tesco will give away free food in an effort to crack down on waste and meet its net zero targets. The supermarket giant will put yellow stickers on food about to go out of date, discounts on which are typically limited to 90%. However, a few of its Express stores will be offering produce for £0 to lucky shoppers who arrive after 9:30pm.

Tesco said it will give remaining unsold food to charity, according to The Telegraph. Staff will get priority to take home items that have been reduced earlier on in the day, the outlet added.

Staff have been told the move will enable them to “continue with our drive to reduce food waste within our own operations”.

There is a slight catch, however, as food marked “Reduced to Clear” does not count and will not be available to take home for free at the end of the day.

Tesco said it cut food waste by 18% between 2017 and 2023, a pretty long way off from its target of 45%.

Now, it aims to slash waste by 50% by 2025 – a target that will go towards determining the share-based bonus for CEO Ken Murphy.

A Tesco spokesperson said: “We are constantly looking for innovative new ways to reduce food waste. In all our stores we offer unsold surplus food to charities and community groups, donating millions of meals each month.

“This trial, in a small number of our Express stores, will allow customers to take any remaining yellow stickered items for free at the end of the day, after they have first been offered to charities and colleagues.”