MP calls for investigation of Tesco price promotion

by Miranda Fitzgerald, marketingmagazine.co.uk 07-Jan-09, 10:20

LONDON - Tesco is facing two separate investigations over claims by a Labour MP that it has broken 'bait advertising' rules by running special offers on alcohol without ensuring that it had enough stock to fulfil demand.

Both the Advertising Standards Authority and Liverpool Trading Standards Office are investigating allegations by MP Rosie Cooper, who said she was unable to find a bottle of Baileys in three Tesco stores, which was advertised at the sale price of £8.

Cooper was told by Tesco's customer service department that all stores would get ‘some stock, but not a lot, granted'. She also claimed that Tesco had refused to remove advertising for the offer from the outside of its stores.

The Unfair Consumer Practice Directive, which was introduced in May last year, bans retailers from advertising goods that they can foresee having insufficient stock of.

A Tesco spokesperson denied that it had deliberately understocked the product and claimed that the promotion had simply exceeded expectations.

Last year the ASA investigated and rejected two complaints about Tesco running misleading promotions.