Nectar users will face a major change soon (Picture: Getty)

Supermarket loyalty card schemes such as Sainsbury’s Nectar can be a great way of saving some pennies, especially with food prices currently at such astronomical rates.

However, Nectar has recently announced a major change which will affect the way shoppers collect points.

The loyalty card is closing it’s Nectar Connect scheme in mere weeks, with shoppers warned they may collect less points than before, following the change.

But what exactly is Nectar Connect, when is the change taking place, and what does this mean for shoppers?

What is Nectar Connect?

Nectar Connect allows users to link their bank account to their Nectar account.

After the accounts are linked, every time shoppers make a qualifying purchase using their credit or debit card, points are collected.

Nectar points can be spent in Sainsbury’s (Picture: Getty)

Nectar Connect offers are updated regularly and include hundreds of brands such as National Express.

The amount of points you get with each purchase varies for each brand, with the highest amount on offer being up to 30 points per £1.

There are usually around 10-16 offers on at one time, with offers lasting between 50 and 90 days.

Nectar Connect uses ‘open banking’ and you have to renew its permission to access your bank account every 90 days.

When is Nectar Connect closing and what does this mean for shoppers?

Nectar Connect will close at 11.59pm on October 27.

After this date, your bank card will no longer be linked to your Nectar account.

Nectar has, at present not given a reason for the scheme’s closure.

In an email sent earlier this month, notifying customers of the change, it said: ‘We wanted to let you know that Nectar Connect is coming to an end on October 27 – this is the last date you can collect points on Nectar Connect offers.’

After the scheme ends, shoppers who used Nectar Connect, will likely see the number of points they gain decrease meaning they will earn less money to spend in store and at partner stores.

Nectar Connect closes in October (Picture: Getty)

More: Sainsbury’s

Each Nectar point is worth 0.5p to spend in Sainsbury’s stores, meaning 100 points is worth 50p.

However, you can sometimes spend Nectar points at partner stores for a slight boost.

For example, you can spend 350 points at Caffe Nero (usually worth £1.75) on any hot or cold drink.

Alternatively you can convert your Nectar points to Avios to spend on British Airways flights, with 400 Nectar points currently worth 250 Avios.

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The change is likely to affect the amount of points shopper gain