UK regulator to review supermarket loyalty scheme prices

Britain’s antitrust regulator said it would launch a review of loyalty scheme pricing by supermarkets, such as Tesco’s (TSCO.L) Clubcard and Sainsbury’s (SBRY.L) Nectar, to consider whether it was fair that cheaper prices were available only to members.

Loyalty schemes have proved hugely successful for the UK’s major supermarkets, offering much lower pricing for members.

The vast majority of customers now use them, and an increasing number of products come under the schemes – over 8,000 at market leader Tesco.