Tesco bans cash transactions across UK in huge store shake-up

Tesco has put a stop to cash payments at 40 of its cafes. The supermarket giant said the move will reduce customer waiting times and enhance the shopping experience.

However, critics have dubbed the move as 'bonkers', arguing it will push away some Tesco customers. Martin Quinn from the Campaign for Cash labelled the move a 'mad decision', suggesting that elderly customers or retirees would prefer to order in person rather than through a computer screen.

While only 40 cafes have implemented the cashless system so far, it is thought that more could follow suit. Cafes in Oldham, Sheerness, Newmarket and Ashford are among those that have gone cashless.

This follows a pilot last year between tech company Givex and Tesco to refurbish the sites, as reported by the Daily Telegraph. A Tesco spokesperson said new digital boards for food ordering have cut down queue times, reports Birmingham Live.

Mr Quinn stated: "As the vast majority of cafe-goers will be cash users, what they're essentially saying is that they don't want your business."

He added: "People will rightly vote with their wallets and take their custom elsewhere. It's an utterly soulless experience."

But Sarah Gayton from the National Federation of the Blind of the UK charity criticised the move, describing it as 'absolutely bonkers' and 'not the right approach', according to Express reports. She said: "It's absolutely bonkers and a totally backwards step."

"Elderly people go to these places for chit-chat, to talk about the weather and about what's happening in their lives. It might only be a few minutes of the day, but that is a very valuable conversation."

"Why should they be confused over croissants and coffee? Yes, businesses need to make a profit to sustain themselves, but transforming your customers into self-service automatons is not the right approach."

"How are those with visual impairments supposed to manage? " The move has sparked outrage among some patrons who have voiced their discontent on social media.

One individual commented on X, previously known as Twitter: "At a Tesco cafe and you can't order and talk to someone anymore, you have to use a machine. There's been many confused elderly people."

Following a visit to a Tesco cafe in Broadstairs, Kent, another customer remarked: "This has just been renovated and I came here to do shopping but first wanted to sit down with a coffee. I couldn't do that because they don't accept cash or Tesco gift cards as payment."

A similar initiative was undertaken by Marks and Spencer last year, where some cafes saw the introduction of touchscreen ordering systems. Morrisons, on the other hand, has scaled back the number of self-service checkouts in certain stores, acknowledging that they may have gone 'a bit too far'.

Tesco has offered reassurances to its clientele, affirming that staff will always be on hand to help anyone struggling with the new payment methods. The company has confirmed that no jobs have been lost as a result of these updates.