Tesco plans to give under-18s Clubcard access this year

Tesco intends to make its Clubcard available to under-18s this year, the supermarket said.

Its loyalty scheme allows shoppers to get discounts on thousands of products, including its popular meal deals, and collect points which can be turned into vouchers.

The supermarket did not say why it has decided to widen eligibility to younger customers, or elaborate on how this might work.

It follows campaigning from Which? urging supermarkets to lift what it called "unfair restrictions" on who can access loyalty schemes.

The UK's competition regulator has said that, while supermarkets' eligibility requirements are unlikely to breach consumer law, some could do more to broaden access, including allowing under-18s to benefit from schemes.

Loyalty cards are a way for retailers to collect data on what customers are buying and offer them more at lower prices. It allows them to compete for customers as rising food prices squeeze margins.

The average person has loyalty cards for three supermarkets, data from research firm Kantar suggests.

Most of the biggest UK supermarkets require shoppers to be 18 or over to sign up for their rewards schemes.

Some, such as Morrisons, allow younger customers to log into their parent or guardian's account to access discounted prices.

The Co-op says those aged 16 and over can sign up for its loyalty scheme, while younger customers can become a junior member if their parent or guardian purchases and registers a temporary card for them.

A Tesco spokesperson said: "We are actively reviewing Tesco Clubcard with the intention of making Clubcard available to under-18s this year.

"Those customers who do not have a Clubcard can still get great value from Tesco due to our combination of Aldi Price Match and Everyday Low Prices."

Which? said millions of customers are excluded from getting discounts at big retailers because of age, address and digital access requirements.

The consumer outlet, which has just released its annual customer satisfaction survey, said Tesco had twice missed out on being awarded "Recommended Provider" status because its Clubcard discounts were not available to everyone.

Reena Sewraz, Which? retail editor, said Tesco's Clubcard savings can be "really significant, which is why access to them matters so much for shoppers trying to make ends meet".

She added: 'We're glad Tesco has listened – this is a big step in the right direction, provided it moves quickly to fully implement these changes."

Adam Leyland, editor-in-chief of the Grocer, told the BBC he expects other supermarkets to take similar steps.

"When Tesco moves others follow. It's not the first loyalty card to become available to younger people but it's the biggest, and if it's okay by Tesco others will find a way," he said.

Asked why most big UK supermarkets don't already allow under-18s to sign up to these schemes, he said there had been concerns about data protection for minors.

But he added that if people younger than this can hold bank accounts, access social media and the internet, drive a car and get married, "they should also be able to buy food for themselves and those they may care for, at the most competitive prices".