How to get FREE groceries from Tesco using food-waste app Olio
SAVVY shoppers can bag free groceries from Tesco using a food-waste app.
Tesco has partnered with Olio to hand out free food that would otherwise go to waste.
The supermarket initially trialled the scheme in 250 stores, but since last year it has been rolled out to all of its sites across the UK.
The free food is close to its expiry date but Olio is registered with the Food Standards Agency to make sure it is still safe to eat when its collected.
While the groceries are completely free, there is often limited availability and no guarantee what will be on offer.
This is because Tesco hands out surplus food to charities before any spare groceries are given to Olio.
Tesco runs surplus food donations programme, like the Community Food Connection scheme with Fare Share.
All Tesco stores that don't have daily charity collections now have scheduled Olio pick-ups.
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The app said that if a charity is able to take on collection days currently assigned to Olio, the charity will take priority.
Volunteers sign up to be Olio food waste heroes, and are assigned a slot to collect surplus food from their local Tesco store.
They then bring it home and list it on the Olio app for their neighbours to collect for free.
Morrisons has been running a similar scheme with the Too Good To Go app, with one mum bagging £25 worth of food for just £3.
How to use the Olio app to get free Tesco groceries
First of all, you'll need to from either the Apple or
Then you should sign up - you'll need to share details including your email address and location so the app can find your nearest available free food.
Once you've made an account you will be able to find Tesco groceries using the search bar in the app.
This will bring up all the Tesco food being given away in your local area.
You then have to press the "request this" button, and message the volunteer to arrange a time and place to collect your freebies.
This student managed to save £70 on her weekly food shop with clever hacks, including food-sharing apps.
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Another Olio fan was able to get an entire picnic for free using the app, and this mum revealed her huge food-sharing haul.
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