Welcome back to the Retail Arbitrage series! In this blog we’re going back into supermarket territory with a deep dive into ASDA. While most people associate ASDA with groceries and basic essentials, it actually presents some unique and unknown opportunities for resellers. It’s not as obvious as B&M or Home Bargains, but there are key sections and methods that when timed right, can offer serious value. Let’s get into it.
How Asda Works
ASDA is one of the UK’s largest supermarket chains, and it’s much more than just groceries. The non-food section is what we care about here for RA. When you walk into a typical ASDA (especially the larger superstores), you’ll find these key departments:
- Electronics: Often near the entrance, featuring brands like Epson, Tefal and LG.
- Homeware: Kitchen appliances, cookware, candles, seasonal home stock.
- Stationery: Great during back-to-school season.
- Toys: Especially worth sourcing during Q4.
- Beauty & Personal Care: Branded cosmetics, gift sets, toothpastes, etc.
ASDA also does a mix of regular promotions like Asda Rewards seasonal sales, and dedicated clearance events. The clearance isn’t always obvious, so knowing when and where to look is the key.
Where to Find Profitable Items
The most consistent profitable categories in ASDA include:
- Toys – especially branded toys during Q4.
- Beauty products – clearance makeup, skincare, and oral care like specialist toothpastes.
- Stationery – during the back-to-school season.
- Home and electronics – reduced electricals, accessories, and home appliances.
Asda Rewards
Keep an eye out for ASDA Rewards-based promotions. For example, last year ASDA ran a LEGO sale where purchases earned ASDA Rewards. You could then use those rewards to offset COG’s for additional sets. Asda Rewards are great for making profitable deals.
Asda Scanning App
One of ASDA’s biggest RA hacks is using the ASDA app to scan items in-store. This often reveals prices lower than what’s listed on the shelf, especially in categories like:
- Video games (PS, Xbox, Switch) – some scanned at 2p last year!
Tip: Scan everything that looks remotely promising, discounts can be exposed using this app.
End of Aisles
ASDA hides a lot of deals in plain sight. Look out for sale islands, end of aisles, and products in the normal shelves that have markdowns on the white stickers.
Also keep an eye on Discord groups, particularly the RA alerts and chats, where pings for pricing errors and new ASDA sales are often shared quickly. A good example: the makeup pricing error in June last year that let resellers clean up nationwide.
How Clearance Works
There are three key places to check:
- Beauty Clearance
A designated area with marked down skincare, razors, cosmetics, and more. - Electronics & Homeware Clearance Area
Look for white labels and markdowns on fans, printers, ink cartridges, and speakers. - Hidden Clearance Cages/Baskets
Occasionally, you’ll find a metal cage full of clearance stock at the back of the store. It may look locked or off limits, but it’s often open and available. Scan everything. These cages can contain some serious gems.
Best Time of Year for ASDA
Clearance happens all year round at ASDA, but two periods stand out:
- August–September: Back to school clearance, ideal for calculators, inks, pens, folders, pencil cases, and school sets.
- October–December: Q4 toy sales, gift sets, and seasonal promotions.
That said, ASDA is worth visiting throughout the year. Using the strategies above (especially with the scanning app and Discord alerts), you’ll uncover deals regardless of season.
ASDA Hacks
- Use the ASDA app to scan products and unlock hidden prices.
- Check the cage at the back of the store for overlooked clearance stock.
- Look for white sticker markdowns on standard shelving.
- Check Discord RA groups for ASDA pings and deal alerts.
- Plan ASDA into your retail park routes to save time.
- Use cashback apps like Jam Doughnut and Cheddar when paying.
Pros & Cons of ASDA
Pros:
- Some of the craziest RA deals you’ll find (2p games, reward stacking).
- Multiple profitable categories: toys, beauty, stationery, home.
- White label reduced stickers in shelves
- Can build into your RA retail park route
- Deals often come with little to no seller competition.
Cons:
- Sparse stock – many deals are isolated to specific stores.
- Inconsistent clearance across stores – harder to replicate.
- Can feel random and chaotic without Discord/community guidance.
- Not beginner-friendly unless you already know what you’re doing.\
Final Thoughts
ASDA is class for RA, for those who stay consistent, it can be a major source of sick deals. You won’t always walk away with stock, but when you do, it’s often heavily discounted, high margin, and low competition.
Include ASDA in your RA route, particularly during Q4 and back-to-school season. Use the app, keep your ear to the ground in Discord groups, and don’t overlook the cage at the back. Sometimes, your best leads will come from the places most people ignore. ASDA is one of those places.
