THE best time for shoppers to bag a yellow sticker bargain at major supermarkets, including Aldi, Asda, Tesco, and Lidl, this New Year's Eve has been revealed.
Major supermarkets across the country will reduce their opening hours on New Year's Eve, before some, like Lidl, Aldi, and Marks & Spencer (M&S), will be closed completely on New Year's Day.
As a result, supermarkets will be "slashing prices to rock-bottom levels" in a desperate bid to clear out perishables and festive-themed food.
With this in mind, VoucherCodes.co.uk savings expert Zoe Morris has revealed the best times to grab a supermarket Yellow Sticker "steal" this New Year's.
Zoe said: "Timing is everything when it comes to bagging these unbelievable deals.
And while bargain-loving Brits are no stranger to a yellow sticker browse at the supermarket, many don’t realise the actual time to strike gold (or yellow).
"Shop at the right moment, and you can save a fortune, enjoy luxury products for less, and stop good food from going to waste."
Best for yellow sticker "steals" in UK supermarkets
So, when exactly should you head to the nearest supermarket for these festive yellow sticker steals?
Zoe has the answer, revealing the "golden hours" for the best bargains in the UK’s biggest supermarkets:
Lidl
New Year's opening hours
- New Year’s Eve : 8am - 6pm
- New Year’s Day : Closed
Zoe recommends heading to Lidl in the afternoon on New Year's Eve, or early evening (around 5pm) for the biggest deals.
She added: "Staff at Lidl have been known to apply extra reductions between 4pm and 5pm, just before doors close at 6pm."
Aldi
New Year's opening hours
- New Year’s Eve : 8am – 6pm
- New Year’s Day : Closed
New Year’s Eve will be the "prime time" to secure a bargain at Aldi, according to Zoe.
Stores across the UK are set to close at 6pm on New Year's Eve, so the savings expert recommends heading in-store around 5pm for the biggest discounts.
Zoe added: "Red-sticker items are scattered across the store, so keep your eyes peeled.
"From meat to packaged goods, Aldi tends to mark down items by up to 75% on their final day of sale."
Asda
New Year's opening hours
- New Year’s Eve : 7am – 7pm
- New Year’s Day : 9am – 6pm
Reductions at Asda take place three times a day, according to VoucherCodes.co.uk:
- The first in the morning
- A second at midday
- And a final round of markdowns at around 7pm
Because Asda is open both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, discounts won’t be "as heavy" as those that will be closed.
Zoe said: "However, there will still be discounts on seasonal stock available, so it’s worth a trip to stock the cupboards for 2026."
M&S
Opening hours for M&S stores across the UK vary significantly on New Year's Eve, so it is worth checking the store finder page on the retailer's website for local times.
Most M&S stores in the UK will then be closed on New Year's Day.
M&S "keeps it simple but strategic", Zoe says, with stores reducing items about an hour before closing.
On New Year’s Eve, stores will close at around 7pm and won’t open again until January 2.
The VoucherCodes.co.uk expert said: "This means the prime time for last-minute bargains will be 6pm - ideal if you’re on the hunt for NYE party food!"
"Some M&S stores often apply last-minute reductions in the final 30 minutes before closing time.
"If you’re willing to risk it all, here is when you’ll find the mega bargains."
Tesco
New Year's opening hours
-
New Year’s Eve:
- Extra & Superstores : 6am - 7pm
- Express : 6am - 10pm
-
New Year’s Day:
- Extra & Superstores : 9am - 6pm
- Express : 8am - 10pm
Tesco’s yellow stickers roll out in three waves, according to Zoe’s research - at 10am, 2pm, and 7pm.
She added: "For the biggest bargains, head to Tesco an hour before closing."
On New Year’s Eve, most Tesco stores will close at 7pm, before reopening on New Year’s Day.
Morrisons
New Year's opening hours
- New Year’s Eve : 7am – 7pm
- New Year’s Day : 9am – 6pm
"Morrisons usually applies its first reductions as soon as stores open, and saves a final further markdown for the evening," Zoe explained.
Morrisons stores will be open on both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, closing at 7pm on December 31.
The savings expert recommends visiting Morrisons at around 6pm on New Year's Eve to bag any last-minute deals.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- New Year's opening hours at UK supermarkets including Tesco, Aldi, Lidl and Asda
- 'Secret code' to look for in Aldi that tells you if a product is being discontinued
- Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury's 'secret codes' that could save you money
Sainsbury’s
-
New Year’s Eve :
- Supermarkets: 7am – 7pm
- Convenience stores: 7am – 9pm
-
New Year’s Day :
- Supermarkets: 8am – 8pm
- Convenience stores: 9am – 9pm
"At Sainsbury’s, yellow stickers tend to appear around 2pm and again at 6pm," Zoe said.
With Sainsbury’s stores closing at 7pm (convenience stores open until 9pm), 6pm is the best time to drop in to catch the last deals of 2025.
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