Tesco launches marketplace with products from brands not found in stores

TESCO has launched an online marketplace where shoppers can purchase thousands of items from other brands at the same time as their groceries.

The supermarket giant said the marketplace will make Tesco.com “a one-stop shop for everything customers need” once it reaches full scale.

Following the initial launch on June 4, around 9,000 products have been listed already in categories including garden, DIY, homeware, toys and pet care.

More products will be added in the coming months as Tesco’s marketplace expands, the supermarket said.

While the products from so-called third parties are listed next to Tesco groceries online and on the app, orders will be fulfilled directly by the supplier.

But Tesco customers will be able to earn Clubcard points on their marketplace purchases – not just on their groceries.

Tesco said the launch of its marketplace aims to make the shopping experience even more convenient for customers, who will have access to many products in one place.

Around 17 sellers currently feature on the marketplace, including Tefal, Silentnight, Tommee Tippee, and Charles Bentley.

For example, you can buy a pack of six LAV Bodega Whisky 240ml glasses for £10 – which is sold at the same price on Rinkit, even though the products are currently on sale at £5.20.

In the home section, you can get a pack of 10 wooden children’s hangers for £12 – which is £2 cheaper than on Rinkit, where it is sold for £14.

However, it’s always worth checking multiple websites when you are buying something, as Rinkit now has a promotion on this product and is selling it for £7 – a saving of £5 on the Tesco deal.

Another useful product available on Tesco marketplace is a free standing linen storage cabinet with five tier shelves from Teamson, which is discounted from £184.99 to £149.99 until December 2024.

The same discount is currently available on the official Teamson website.

And a Silentnight Restore Cooling Throw is available on Tesco marketplace for £44.99, just 1p cheaper than the official website which sells it for £45.

Peter Filcek, marketplace director at Tesco, said: “This is a really exciting moment as we expand our online offer – making it even more convenient for customers to shop at Tesco and even more rewarding with customers able to collect Clubcard points on all purchases.

“We’re constantly looking at ways to improve the shopping experience for our customers, and our new Marketplace offers them the same great quality and value they have come to expect from Tesco across an even bigger range of products, from our specially-selected partners. 

“We look forward to expanding the range of products and brands even more over the coming months.”

In a chat with The Grocer, Mr Filcek said the marketplace’s range and number of suppliers “should be increasing quickly over the summer” and would scale up “as quickly as we’re comfortable with”.

He explained: “We want to go big enough that we are a destination – that you have critical mass and credibility in each of those categories.

“But not so big that [shoppers] end up tripping over irrelevant stuff and it becomes a problem and gets in [their] way.

“Equally, we don’t want to chase a number if it means bringing on sellers that can’t fulfil the promises we make our customers, or that let us down on ongoing compliance, or have problems further down the line.”

Mr Filcek added: “So it’s definitely going to get bigger, but it’ll get bigger at a pace we are comfortable with, that we’re confident is the right thing for our customers.”

The marketplace model is not a new one for the supermarket giant, which launched Tesco Direct – a service offering non-food items on its website – in 2006.

It was up and running until 2018 when it ceased trading as Tesco was unable to find a way to make it profitable.

But Mr Filcek told the industry publication “things have moved on” since Tesco Direct, adding that the supermarket’s online business is now “significantly different”.

He also pointed out that Tesco Direct was a separate website, with its own login, fulfilled by Tesco – but in comparison, the new marketplace is “fully integrated” into the shopping experience despite being shipped by the seller.

This means that compared to Tesco Direct, the marketplace is “much more organic and easier to discover” while also being “a much more scalable business” as everything comes from the seller, Mr Filcek added.

After being asked whether Tesco.com would compete with Amazon, Mr Filcek said the marketplace aims to focus on products they think Tesco shoppers are interested in, adding: “Our launch is nowhere near Amazon’s scale.”

He also said Tesco doesn’t have “an ambition to copy anybody else” but wants to do “something a little bit unique” for its customers.

At the weekend, we reported that bargain hunters were filling their baskets at Tesco with reduced to clear Persil scanning at less than half price.

Shoppers who managed to nab the bargains took to the Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains to share details. 

A photograph showed bottles of Persil non bio on sale at just £5.18 at the Tesco in Seven Sisters.

One user posted : “Such a great buy” and another said: “OMG got to get some.”

The triple XXL size bottles can do 72 washes (1.944ml) and usually are priced at £11.50.

Currently the same bottle is full price online, unless you have a Tesco Clubcard, in which case you can pick it up for £5.75.

You should always shop around to find the best deals and websites like trolley.co.uk can help when shopping online.

Using a price comparison tool before heading to the shop can also help you find the best deals and discounts.

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