Britain's biggest grocer is divvying up poor and rich customers thanks to information gleaned from customer Clubcards.

So when you go online your Tesco page might flash up smoked salmon or baked beans, according to how wealthy or poor Tesco thinks you are. Is this taking personalisation too far?

Supermarket Sweep - Tips & Advice

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Trouble at Tesco


Every little helps

Certainly Tesco thinks it can make money from it. "Using Clubcard data," it said in a published speech by boss Phil Clarke yesterday, "we would show, for example, offers of our Everyday Value range to price sensitive customers, and offers of our Finest range to more upmarket customers."

Tesco claims it can use Clubcard data to tell it if a customer is more swayed by price or quality. They've already experimented with the technology on mattress sales, seeing sales bounce 10% as a result. However many people like to browse a range of goods. Not just the more expensive - or cheap - products.

Supermarket Sweep - Tips & Advice

Need to know: Savings

Trouble at Tesco



So there's some risk to the strategy. Clarke hints that well-off, big-spending customers will be surprised with special offers. "...it means treating our best customers as we would our friends, by giving our staff more freedom to surprise loyal customers with special offers," he says.

Young Turks

Tesco is also going big on smartphone technology. Interestingly, it cites Turkey as a country that is embracing Clubcard technology. By the end of this year, Tesco will have launched its Clubcard across Turkey on a digital platform and on smartphones by 2013. This will make China and Turkey the first countries in the world to have a digital Clubcard, says Clarke.

"We'll bring together our existing Tesco apps and mobile web (on iPhone and Android) into one app, which will enable users to find their nearest store; add their Clubcard and scan it at most stores' checkouts straight from their phone; order and change their grocery online shop on the go."

This may be the start of the fighting talk Tesco investors want to hear, given the supermarket's dismal performance in the last year. Many supermarkets and retailers already have a vast hinterland of information about their customers at their fingertips. Clarke's plans appear to be building on this. Rich or poor, once you have a Clubcard, Tesco knows who you are - and how much you have.

Save money on shopping

  • 1) Know the price of everything you buy
    <p> </p> <p> This takes time, but once you know the cost of a phone call, putting the dryer on, or a bag of potatoes, it enables you to judge far better how much you can afford to consume.</p>
    1) Know the price of everything you buy
  • 2) Shop around
    <p> </p> <p> Once you know the base price, you are in a position to keep your eyes open for a better offer. If you see a discount you can judge for yourself whether it actually constitutes a bargain. For bigger things like utilities it enables you to do a proper price comparison and see if you can cut your bills.</p>
    2) Shop around
  • 3) Trade down
    <p> </p> <p> Don't just assume that the premium range is better, try the every-day brand, or even the basic version and see if you spot the difference. Likewise, consider trading down your supermarket from one of the big players to local markets or discounters like Aldi.</p>
    3) Trade down
  • 4) Plan
    <p> </p> <p> If you plan what you buy to match what you actually cook and eat then not only will you be able to budget far more effectively, but you'll also waste much less and find your money goes further without you having to try.</p>
    4) Plan
  • 5) Think creatively
    <p> If you can't think of a way to get your meat for less, consider a vegetarian day once a week. If you can't find petrol any cheaper, then work on making your driving as efficient as possible. The more you can think of clever alternatives the less you will have to make painful cuts to make ends meet.</p>
    5) Think creatively


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