Despite consumer perceptions that buy one, get one free grocery offers cause food waste, only 4% of U.K. consumers reported throwing away food that they had purchased as part of a BOGOF promotion, finds study

Allison Oesterle

LOS ANGELES , December 19, 2011 (Industry Intelligence) – According to a survey by the Waste, Resources and Action Programme, while 44% of shoppers feel that “buy one, get one free” promotional offers generate a large amount of food waste, only 4% of people actually threw away food that they had purchased as part of a buy one, get one free promotion, the British Retail Consortium reported on Dec. 17.

The survey also revealed that a majority of promotions are straight price reductions, with BOGOF promotional offers accounting for less than 2% of the total number of products purchased.

WRAP also published a series of figures showing that, over the past three years, there has been a 13% reduction in food waste.

Bob Gordon, the British Retail Consortium’s Head of Environment,said, “This research is extremely helpful. It clearly shows that, while people assume other shoppers are wasting food they buy on promotion, over 90 per cent are not wasting it themselves. Households throw away 30 per cent of the food they buy. This new evidence demonstrates BOGOFs are not to blame.

"The amount of food waste produced by households has been coming down – with the help of retailers – but there's more to do. Our critics should join us in addressing the real reasons for food waste. We need to educate people to shop smarter and do better at managing the storage and use of food in their homes rather than blaming promotions.

"Price competition between the supermarkets is keeping costs down for hard-pressed consumers at a time when fuel and utility bills are sky-high. There are loads of promotions on the shelves because they're highly valued by customers. Let's stop wasting time talking about promotions causing food waste when it's clearly not the issue."

The primary source of this article is British Retail Consortium, London, England, on Dec. 17, 2011.

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