Tesco, the UK’s leading supermarket, has announced a price increase for its popular meal deal, a move that is likely to upset some of its loyal customers. Starting from Thursday, August 22, the standard meal deal will cost £3.60 for Clubcard holders, up from £3.40. Non-Clubcard holders will face an even steeper increase, with the meal deal now costing £4, compared to the previous £3.90.
Tesco defends the price hike by pointing to improvements made to the meal deal offerings. These include a switch to longer-matured cheddar for a stronger flavor, the introduction of sweeter plum tomatoes, and new seasoning blends in select meals. The supermarket has also expanded its selection with the addition of seven fresh salad options.
Despite these enhancements, the price increase has sparked debate among customers, with many questioning the value proposition of the deal.
To provide context, here’s a comparison of Tesco’s core meal deal prices with other retailers:
*
Asda:
£3.75*
Boots:
£3.60 to £4.99*
Co-op:
£3.50 (loyalty price) or £4 for core; and £5 (loyalty price) or £5.50 for premium*
M&S:
£6*
Morrisons:
£3.50 (loyalty price) or £4 for core; and £5 (loyalty price) or £5.50 for premium*
Poundland:
£3*
Sainsbury’s:
£3.75 for core or £5 for premium*
Waitrose and WHSmiths:
£5.50Tesco’s core meal deal for Clubcard holders is now pricier than meal deals from Boots, Co-op, Morrisons, and Poundland.
It’s worth noting that Tesco introduced a premium meal deal option last February, which costs £5 for Clubcard members and £5.50 for non-members. This option provides a higher-quality selection of items, allowing shoppers to save up to £3.74 when compared to buying the items separately.
Tesco last increased the price of its regular meal deals in October 2022, raising the Clubcard price from £3 to £3.40 and the non-Clubcard price from £3.50 to £3.90.
The latest price increase is likely a reflection of the ongoing inflationary pressures that are impacting the cost of living. It remains to be seen how customers will respond to the changes, with many likely to seek out cheaper alternatives or adjust their shopping habits to mitigate the impact of rising prices.
