Sky News: Tesco to open Clubcard to under-18s this year after consumer campaign prompts review

Tesco has said it intends to make its Clubcard available to under-18s this year, a change noted in a sky news consumer roundup that may broaden access to supermarket loyalty discounts for younger shoppers. The announcement follows sustained campaigning over age-based restrictions on loyalty schemes and comes as regulators and consumer groups urge retailers to widen eligibility.

What happened and what’s new

, the supermarket said it is actively reviewing its Clubcard scheme with the intention of making Clubcard available to customers under 18 this year. The company added that customers who do not have a Clubcard can still find value from its existing Aldi Price Match and Everyday Low Prices initiatives.

The planned change was presented as a response to years of public pressure from consumer advocates calling for loyalty schemes to be accessible to younger shoppers. A consumer campaign group has previously withheld a recommended-provider accolade from the supermarket over the Clubcard’s eligibility rules, a step taken twice as part of that pressure.

The move sits alongside wider scrutiny from the competition regulator, which has said that while eligibility rules are unlikely to breach consumer law, some retailers could do more to broaden access to loyalty benefits. Loyalty schemes are commonly used to offer discounts and to collect purchasing data so retailers can tailor offers and compete on price.

The pattern of age thresholds across major supermarkets varies: many require customers to be 18 or over, one national chain allows 16-year-olds to join, and some high-street retailers permit sign-up from the early teens or a parent or guardian’s account. Industry research also shows the average shopper holds loyalty cards for multiple supermarkets.

Sky News context: behind the headline

Context: The supermarket’s decision is a response to long-running criticism that loyalty discounts are effectively unavailable to significant groups of shoppers because of age, address or digital access requirements. Campaigning emphasised the potential savings from loyalty prices, particularly for households under pressure from rising living costs.

Incentives and constraints: Retailers use loyalty programmes both to offer targeted price reductions and to gather customer data that helps them compete. Expanding eligibility can increase footfall and customer goodwill, but firms must balance commercial benefits with concerns over young people’s data and legal obligations when extending schemes.

Stakeholders: Younger shoppers and their families stand to gain direct price benefits if the change is implemented. The supermarket gains potential new customers and reputational uplift. Consumer groups and regulators have leverage through public pressure and formal reviews. Competing supermarkets may face pressure to align their policies if the change is implemented by a market leader.

What we still don’t know

• Exact timeline: the supermarket said the intention is to make Clubcard available this year, but offered no precise rollout schedule.
• Eligibility mechanics: whether under-18s will need parental consent, a guardian-linked account, or a different verification method has not been specified.
• Scope of benefits: it is unclear if new under-18 accounts will receive full parity with adult Clubcard discounts and points-into-vouchers arrangements.
• Data and privacy arrangements: details on how any data collected from under-18s would be handled and what safeguards will be in place were not set out.
• Whether competing retailers will follow and on what timetable remains unconfirmed.

What happens next

• Phased rollout: the supermarket implements eligibility changes with a staged timetable; trigger — publication of implementation guidance or registration portal updates.
• Policy with parental controls: the company allows under-18s to join but requires parental consent or guardian-linked accounts; trigger — announcement of verification and consent processes.
• Full parity from launch: under-18 accounts receive the same discounts and point accrual as adults; trigger — explicit confirmation that benefits are identical.
• Regulatory follow-up: competition authorities or consumer bodies monitor the change and press other retailers to respond; trigger — public statements from regulators or comparative reviews of access.
• Limited implementation: the retailer narrows eligibility or limits which discounts apply to under-18 accounts; trigger — a published terms update setting restrictions.

Why it matters

For households on tight budgets, broader access to loyalty prices can deliver measurable savings on everyday groceries. Allowing under-18s to hold loyalty cards could reduce barriers to discounts for young people who shop independently or contribute to household spending. It could also shift competitive dynamics in grocery retail: if a large supermarket widens access, rivals may face pressure to follow, potentially expanding consumer choice on price and access.

Near-term implications include practical questions for parents and guardians about account setup and safeguards for young customers. In the medium term, market behaviour may change if more retailers adjust eligibility rules; consumer groups and regulators will likely continue to watch implementation closely. The story has already featured in broader consumer coverage, including in sky news summaries, and will remain one to monitor for details on rollout and data protections.