🕒 What Time Are Tesco Collections?
Most Tesco collections are either:
8:30 PM on weekdays (maybe earlier on weekends)
Between 7–10 AM
You’ll see the exact time on the Volunteer Hub before claiming a slot.
🔄 Can Collection Times Change?
Yes. Collection times can switch:
To evening if Olio holds 5 or more slots
To morning if charities hold the majority
We prefer evening collections as they allow Food Waste Heroes to collect more food, especially use-by items donated near store close. 🎉
⚙️ How Do Time Changes Happen?
Olio has automated systems in place:
When Tesco confirms an evening slot, our system checks if we also hold the morning slot
If yes, we end the morning slot, create an evening slot, and reassign the volunteer
On the first Monday of a time switch, both morning and evening collections may happen if the store has surplus food in the evening
✅ I Got a Confirmation Message—Can the Time Still Change?
No. Once you receive a confirmation message, the time is locked in.
You’ll get a message like:
“(Your name), Tesco has just confirmed that there's something for you to collect from (store name) for your collection at 20:30 on 26 July.”
Always attend at the time listed in this message.
⏰ Why Do I See Both Morning and Evening Slots?
This just means the system is mid-update. Time changes can take up to 7 days to reflect across all slots.
Always attend at the time shown in your confirmation message.
🛠️ Why Can’t Olio Change the Schedule Directly?
Tesco’s collection schedule is managed by a third-party charity, not Olio.
Olio can’t request changes directly
If the store wants a change, they must contact Tesco HQ
Once approved, updates can take up to 7 days