TESCO IRELAND HAS pleaded guilty to failing to comply with consumer protection law in how they displayed the price of products offered to Clubcard holders.

The case follows an investigation by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), the statutory body responsible for enforcing and promoting compliance with consumer protection law in Ireland.

Tesco was found to have broken the law by failing to include unit pricing on Clubcard promotional shelf-edge labels. 

Judge Anthony Halpin ordered the supermarket chain to pay the legal costs of the CCPC and make a donation of €1,000 to the Little Flower Penny Dinners charity.

In a statement, the CCPC said: “Consumers shopping for groceries have to quickly evaluate a wide range of factors when deciding what products offer the best value for their money.

“Supermarkets are legally required to show unit pricing to make that process easier for consumers.”

It said that displaying the price per kilo, litre or metre allows consumers to compare the cost of similar products sold in different sizes.

“It also prevents consumers from being misled by packaging or discounts into paying more for less,” it added.

The CCPC is encouraging consumers to check the unit prices when they shop and make a report to the Commission where they are not provided.

Tesco’s Clubcard allows customers to make savings on select products and has a points collection feature that allows them to get more vouchers and rewards the more money they spend at stores.