Previously there was no charge for securing a click and collect slot at Asda, so long as shoppers spent at least £25. If you spent less than this, then you would face a £4 surcharge. Click and collect slots can be booked for collection the next day.

However, Asda is now charging shoppers a 50p fee for its normal click and collect service, a move which it has argued will mean it can offer an increased capacity of click and collect slots across its stores.

The supermarket continues to offer same-day click and collect slots, costing £1.50, and slots for collection within four hours, which cost £3.50.

How it compares

Click and collect slots have proven extremely popular with shoppers since the pandemic, as they allow you to pick up your weekly shopping without having to venture inside the store, and serve as a useful alternative to traditional deliveries.

As a result, a host of the nation’s supermarkets have introduced the service, or expanded it, over the last year. However the cost of slots ‒ and what you are expected to spend – can vary significantly.

At Tesco for example, there is a £1.50 ‘pick and pack charge’. However you will need to spend at least £25 on your shop, otherwise you’ll face an additional £4 fee.

There’s an even bigger minimum spend to be aware of at Sainsbury’s, with shoppers expected to spend at least £40 or else pay a £4 charge. However, the actual click and collect slot itself is free.

Morrisons is one store which has dramatically scaled up its click and collect offering, from just 14 stores a year ago to more than 440 today. The slots are free but you have to spend more than £25.

If you’re heading to upmarket Waitrose, then click and collect is also an option. Again slots are free, but this time you’ll have to spend £40 to secure a spot.

And finally, if you prefer to pick up your groceries from a deep discounter, Aldi has recently launched its own click and collect facility. All slots cost £4.99, but there is no minimum spend to worry about.

The supermarket battle

The battle between supermarkets for our custom is heating up of late, with some of the bigger names recognising the challenge they face in beating the likes of Aldi and Lidl. Over the last year, both Sainsbury’s and Tesco have launched their own price match promises, linking the costs of certain items with what you would pay in Aldi.

However, there is clearly still some way to go. Not only are both Lidl and Aldi cheaper for the typical shopper, but they also deliver a more satisfying experience in-store according to recent surveys.