A Tesco worker and viral TikTok star has shared what it’s like working for the supermarket - including how customers sometimes throw away savings.
Hannah Lowther, 23, started working at Tesco during the coronavirus pandemic after the closure of theatres put a pause on her West End career.
But since then, her TikTok videos showing her dancing and singing down the aisles have become a viral hit - racking up millions of videos and national media coverage.
As well as showing off her impressive vocals, Hannah, who works in the Reading store, has also offered a glimpse of what it’s really like working for Tesco.
Her videos explain how some customers waste savings and what really winds supermarket employees up.
Here’s what we’ve learned:
Customers miss out on meal deal savings
In one video, Hannah notes how some customers miss out on meal deal savings by not picking up an extra item.
With the Tesco meal deal, you get one main, one snack and one drink for £3.
But in some cases, Hannah says shoppers don’t want the snack - even though by missing this part out, your main and drink could actually end up costing over £3.
Whereas if you’d picked up the snack too, the £3 meal deal price would apply.
In her video, Hannah said: “But what if you want [the snack] later? Grab a bag of Quavers, save yourself some money and have an afternoon snack.”
Of course, the total saving you get would depend on the combination of food you choose - we recently rounded up the best meal deal savings here.
It may sometimes be cheaper just getting a main and drink - it really does just depend on what you want.
Don’t throw away your bag for life
A bag for life is exactly what the name suggests, says Hannah, as you can swap it for a fresh one in stores for free if yours breaks.
Bags for life from Tesco cost 20p - and with this tip, you should only need to fork out for one once.
Hannah said: “Bring it into the store, we’ll recycle it and we’ll give you a brand new bag for free.”
Alternatively, shoppers can bring in their own bags for free to save even more cash.
Tesco bakery goods come into store frozen
You know those tasty cheese twists and croissants that you get fresh from the Tesco bakery counters? They actually come into stores frozen.
In another video, Hannah is seen putting ready-to-bake chocolate croissants in an industrial oven.
Using the touch screen on the oven, she selects what item she’s cooking and then the appliance preheats to the right temperature.
After 20 minutes, the croissants are then ready to go straight out onto the shop floor. Who knew?
What annoys Tesco workers?
Having the right change - after the employee has already put the amount you’ve given them into the till - can be a right faff for some till staff.
“Maths has never been my strong point - retail workers, can you relate?” said Hannah.
In this video, she re-enacts a customer giving her a £20 note for a shop that costs £18.20.
After putting this amount into the till, the shopper then says they’ve actually got the 20p to round up her change - throwing the till calculation off and requiring some quick-thinking maths from the employee.
