Tesco Clubcard Challenges – who can participate and the way does it work?

A select group of Tesco Clubcard shoppers will be offered the chance to take part in a trial of the supermarket’s new ‘Clubcard Challenges’ scheme. 

Tesco will use artificial intelligence to give eligible Clubcard holders ‘personalised’ challenges.  

Below, we outline who will be eligible to take part in the trial, how it will work and how long it is running for. 

Earlier this year, we took a deep dive into the world of supermarket loyalty schemes, scrutinising what they offer and which ones shoppers prefer best. 

While offers, schemes and ‘challenges’ from supermarkets may be tempting, don’t overspend for the sake of it…  

Who can take part in the trial?

This is just a trial and for the time being, around 3million Tesco Clubcard holders will be invited to test out the scheme. 

Tesco said customers selected will be ones who ‘regularly engage with Tesco digitally’ and have opted in to receive marketing communications from the chain. 

Shoppers invited to take part will be sent an email from Tesco to the email address their Clubcard is linked up to. 

For eligible shoppers, a banner will also appear on the Tesco app until 20 May, informing shoppers they can take part in the Challenges scheme. 

How will Tesco Clubcard Challenges work?

Tesco said it is using AI to give eligible shoppers ‘personalised’ challenges. 

Shoppers who accept the invitation will receive 20 challenges that have been personalised for them. 

Once a shopper completes a challenge, they will be rewarded with additional Clubcard points.

Eligible shoppers can complete up to 10 challenges, with a total of £50 worth of Clubcard points, or 5,000 points, up for grabs during the trial period. 

The potential reward rises to £100 worth of points if they are redeemed at one of Tesco’s reward partners, which include, among others, Cineworld, Pizza Express and Thorpe Park. 

In terms of what the challenges will look like, Tesco said: ‘Challenges will vary for each participant and can range from “spend £20 on our Summer BBQ range over the next 6 weeks” to “spend £10 on plant-based meals”‘. 

Will participants still receive points when they shop?

Whether or not eligible shoppers take part in the trial, they will still get Clubcard points each time they shop as normal. 

Taking part in the trial won’t affect any of the usual benefits of the Tesco Clubcard. 

How long is the trial running for?

Eligible shoppers will be able to take part in the Tesco Clubcard Challenges trial from 20 May and the scheme is initially running for six weeks. 

Lizzie Reynolds, group membership and loyalty director at Tesco, said: ‘We are constantly looking for ways to make Clubcard work harder for our customers. 

‘With Clubcard Prices on around 8,000 products, it is saving customers up to £360 off the annual cost of their groceries.

‘Personalisation is about using what we know about customers to make their experience better and our rewards more helpful and we’re very excited to see how our customers respond to Clubcard Challenges.’

What do other supermarkets offer?

Supermarkets are locked in a ferocious competition to win over and keep hold of customers. 

Most supermarkets have a loyalty scheme and it’s worth shopping around to see which suits your needs best.  

The motto for the Asda Rewards scheme is ‘Get rewarded with pounds, not points.’

Asda shoppers can earn Asda Pounds by buying certain ‘star products’ or completing missions.

Missions usually involve shopping and spending certain amounts in different departments, such as fruit and vegetables or George clothing.

The Asda Pounds can then be spent in the supermarket’s stores or online. Members also get regular 10 per cent discount deals on certain products.

Lidl has a rewards app called Lidl Plus.

If certain spending targets are reached each month, members will get an offer, like a free bakery item or money off their next shop.

A £50 spend would get you a free bakery item. Every £100 spent each month will get you a £2 off coupon.