Tesco is set to launch a new scheme allowing customers to snap up free food in Express stores after 9:30pm. The supermarket giant will offer items marked "Reduced to Clear" at no cost as part of a trial aimed at reducing food waste.

While all major supermarket chains partner with food banks and community groups to redistribute surplus food and offer discounts on expiring items, Tesco's initiative appears to be the first direct-to-customer scheme of its kind in the UK.

Tesco is to begin a trial giving expiring food to customers for free at the end of the day as it tries to cut food waste. The supermarket will give away some already discounted "yellow sticker" items after 21:30 in some of its smaller Express stores in coming months.

Tesco will start giving away free food to shoppers at certain stores in a bid to achieve its net zero targets. The supermarket is to introduce £0 yellow sticker prices on food that is about to go out of date,