Lidl shoppers say they'll miss monthly pastries. Can bonus points win them over?
With food prices rising rapidly, do loyalty schemes still have any connection to loyalty?
www.bbc.comHere’s the latest on Lidl Plus loyalty scheme updates.
Overview
- Lidl has shifted from the Coupon Plus system to a points-based Lidl Plus Points program. Shoppers now earn 1 point per £1 spent and can redeem points in a rewards marketplace for discounts or freebies. Existing Coupon Plus targets were required to be completed by a cutoff date around May 4, 2026, with the new system launching shortly after. This marks a move from fixed monthly rewards to a more fluid points-and-rewards approach. [BBC coverage and retailer reports summarize the change and its mechanics.] [BBC: "Lidl's loyalty card becomes less generous, shoppers say" and BBC follow-ups] [Retail Gazette: "Lidl loyalty shake-up" and "rewards marketplace"] [Express coverage: "Lidl announces major change for some customers" and related articles] [Ground News summary of the change] [GB News and GB News coverage]
What changed in practice
- Old benefits tied to monthly spend thresholds (e.g., free pastry at £10, free fruit/veg at £25, 10% off at £250) were replaced by a points system in Lidl Plus Points. The new scheme encourages earning points on every shop, with optional money-off vouchers and a marketplace for rewards. [Retail Gazette] [BBC summary articles] [Express coverage]
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Activation of certain coupons or offers continues to exist in some form, but the emphasis is now on earning and spending points, including extra promotions that can boost point earnings temporarily. [Mirror coverage and other outlets]
shopper sentiment and impact
- Retail press and several outlets note mixed reactions: some shoppers feel the new points system is less generous or less straightforward than the previous monthly coupons, while Lidl emphasizes flexibility and ongoing personalized offers. [Retail Gazette] [Mirror] [BBC commentary]
- For shoppers near the UK/Lidl market, reports indicate that the change rolled out in early May 2026, with ongoing discussions about value compared to the previous scheme. [BBC coverage] [Express]
What this might mean for you
- If you’re a Lidl Plus user, you’ll now accumulate points at 1 per £1 and can redeem via the rewards marketplace; check the app to review current earning promos and the active rewards catalog. [BBC and Retail Gazette coverage]
- If you previously relied on monthly coupons, you may need to adjust expectations and maximize point-earning opportunities during promotions to realize similar savings. [Mirror and BBC analyses]
Would you like a quick comparison table of the old Coupon Plus benefits vs the new Lidl Plus Points system, or a short checklist to optimize earnings in the app? I can tailor it to your typical shopping amounts and products.
Citations
- BBC: Lidl shoppers say the loyalty card became less generous; points-based system now in place [BBC: 2026-05-05] [BBC: related follow-ups]
- Retail Gazette: Lidl loyalty shake-up and customer backlash over new points system [Retail Gazette: 2026-05-07]
- Express: Lidl announces major loyalty change from May 2026 [Express: 2026-05-01]
- Ground News: Summary of Lidl changing to Lidl Plus Points [Ground News: 2026-05-02]
- Mirror: Lidl Plus changes spark shopper complaints over new system [Mirror: 2026-05-08]