Tesco urged to give Northern Ireland customers ‘equal footing’ after fuel offer exclusion

Tesco has been urged to include Northern Ireland customers in future fuel promotions after shoppers here were excluded from a 5% offer available across Great Britain.

Ulster Unionist Party leader and North Antrim MLA Jon Burrows has written directly to Tesco’s Chief Executive over the issue, arguing that customers in Northern Ireland should not be left at a disadvantage when major UK retailers launch promotions.

The intervention follows an earlier complaint which resulted in Tesco correcting information that had described the fuel promotion as being available “across the UK”.

While Mr Burrows has welcomed that correction, he says it does not resolve what he regards as the more important issue — why Northern Ireland customers were excluded from the offer in the first place.

Tesco corrects ‘across the UK’ claim

In a statement issued by the Ulster Unionist Party, Mr Burrows said:

“We recently wrote to Tesco after Northern Ireland customers were excluded from a fuel promotion available across Great Britain.

“Tesco has acknowledged that its website incorrectly described the promotion as being available ‘across the UK’ and has now corrected this following our correspondence.

“While the correction is welcome, it doesn’t address the bigger issue.”

The dispute centres on a Tesco fuel promotion which offered a 5% saving but did not extend to Northern Ireland.

Tesco has, according to Mr Burrows, pointed to the competitiveness of its fuel pricing in Northern Ireland in its response to the concerns raised.

‘They should not feel like an afterthought’

Mr Burrows said the issue went beyond the wording used to advertise the promotion and raised a wider question about how Northern Ireland consumers are treated by companies operating throughout the UK.

“Northern Ireland has thousands of loyal Tesco customers and dedicated employees,” he said.

“They should not feel like an afterthought when UK-wide businesses are putting together promotions and offers.

“Tesco has highlighted that its fuel prices in Northern Ireland are among the most competitive across its UK estate, which is welcome. However, I have made clear that Northern Ireland should be included in future fuel promotions.”

The North Antrim MLA added:

“We are an integral part of the United Kingdom, and consumers here deserve to be treated on an equal footing.

“We will continue to challenge businesses when Northern Ireland consumers appear to be getting a lesser deal.”

UUP leader writes to Tesco chief

In a letter dated 28 August, Mr Burrows took the matter directly to Tesco’s Chief Executive, acknowledging the retailer’s correction but pressing for action over future promotions.

He wrote:

“While I welcome that correction, it does not address the substantive issue. Northern Ireland customers were excluded from a promotion that was otherwise available across Great Britain, despite Northern Ireland being an integral part of the United Kingdom.”

Mr Burrows continued:

“Tesco has many loyal customers and dedicated employees in Northern Ireland, and they deserve to be treated on an equal footing.

“I would therefore urge Tesco to ensure that Northern Ireland is included in future fuel promotions wherever possible and to give careful consideration to the impact that such exclusions have on consumer confidence and perceptions of fairness.”

Waiting for response from Tesco chief

The issue is now with Tesco’s Chief Executive, with Mr Burrows saying he will provide a further update when a response to his letter is received.

For Northern Ireland shoppers, the key question is therefore no longer whether Tesco’s description of the previous offer was accurate — that wording has been corrected — but whether the retailer will change its approach when future fuel promotions are planned.

At this stage, no commitment from Tesco to include Northern Ireland in future fuel offers has been confirmed.