Shoppers stunned over supermarket’s ‘sneaky’ change to popular meal deal (2024)

Supermarket meal deals are a much-loved lunchtime option, with a main such as a sandwich, a snack like a packet of crisps, and a bottle or can of drink, all for a set price.

Back in 2021, most meal deals cost £3, but over the last few years the prices have been slowly rising thanks to inflation, and the most recent increase has occurred at Sainsbury’s with the cost going up by 25p.

The 7% increase took the meal deal from £3.50 to £3.75 this week, which is the first time the price has risen in three years. Before 2021, it had remained firmly at £3 since at least 2014.

A number of shoppers are in disbelief over the new price, claiming the change was ‘sneaky’ and it had made them want to ‘cry’.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Gareth Milner posted: ‘Sainsbury’s meal deal shock price increase to £3.75.’ Similarly, @attentheon wrote: ‘Almost cried bc Sainsbury’s meal deals have gone up by 25p.’

@jordyburrtt was also struggling to wrap his head around the change, saying: ‘Just nearly fully lost it in Sainsbury’s £3.75 for a meal deal?’ As @pixi3_f4iry posted: ‘Can’t believe Sainsbury’s meal deal has gone up 25p. Criminal that is.’

@skittlesluvr420 urged the new Labour government to ‘sort it out’, while @kianthequark commented: ‘Every time Sainsbury’s, Tesco or Greggs up their meal deals prices I become a little bit more radicalised.’

And @jedwagman added: ‘The country is past the point of any repair. The Sainsbury’s meal deal has gone up to £3.75.’

The Sainsbury’s meal deal allows for millions of different combinations for lunch, with more than 100 main options, 300 snacks, and 300 drinks to choose from.

For those that want a fancier lunch, the supermarket also offers a premium version of the deal for £5.This price hasn’t changed since it was launched in 2022.

Despite the price increase, Sainsbury’s meal deal remains cheaper than Tesco’s one, which costs £3.90 if you haven’t got a Clubcard membership — for those with a Clubcard this price is reduced to £3.40.

The new Sainsbury’s price is also lower than Co-op’s meal deal, which is £4 for non-members. Although, those who are signed up to use Co-op Member Prices pay £3.50 instead.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: ‘We want to make good food affordable and accessible to everyone and so we have kept the price of our meal deal the same for over three years.  

‘We continue to offer one of the best value meal deals around, with millions of delicious possible combinations which could mean customers save more than half off the usual price — whether they’re grabbing a hot bacon roll, a fruit pot and a coffee for breakfast, or a lunchtime sarnie with crisps and a smoothie.’

This comes after a few other supermarkets hit the headlines this week, with Tesco being told to ‘behave’ by shoppers after they spotted a rather unexpected item on the shelves.

The retailer has been selling tubs of Quality Street and Celebrations, and many shoppers were stunned, claiming it was too early to buy them.

However, others pointed out that chocolate was for life, not just for Christmas and there was no rule that you couldn’t eat the sweets all year round.

Morrisons has also caused a stir after it launched a new range in its supermarkets set to rival Aldi’sSpecialbuysand the Middle of Lidl.

When It’s Gone It’s Gone, will offer lower prices on any similar items in the market, ideally with a staggering 50% or above saving for customers.

Shoppers can expect to find an extensive range of discounted items, including cookware (including branded items such as Kitchen Aid, Green Pan, Mauviel), toys (including licensed such as Barbie, Peppa Pig, Bluey), homeware and electricals, household, food and drink, health and beauty, outdoor and garden, car care and travel.

The supermarket is also working on themed weeks, such as camping week or back to school.

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