Tesco has raised the price of its meal deal by 25p, making it £3.85 for Clubcard holders and £4.25 for those without a loyalty card. This is the third increase since 2022, as food prices continue to rise across the UK.
The latest official inflation figures showed that food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 4.9% year on year in July, up from 4.5% in June. Tesco attributed the increase to soaring ingredient costs, exacerbated by heatwaves and droughts in Spain, Italy and Portugal, which have pushed up prices of fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as beef, orange juice, coffee and chocolate.
Some customers expressed frustration on social media, with one user on X calling the increase “truly devastating”. Another questioned whether the offer could still be considered a deal. The meal deal had cost £3 for a decade before rising in October 2022. Sainsbury’s also raised its meal deal price to £3.95 in June, the second increase in under a year.
Despite the price rise, Tesco said the deal still offers significant savings. For example, a combination of a brie and smoked bacon sandwich, vegetable samosa and a smoothie would cost £7.90 individually, but only £3.85 with a Clubcard, a saving of £4.05. Non-Clubcard holders would save £3.65.
On Thursday, more than 60 retail chief executives, including those from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, John Lewis and Boots, wrote to Chancellor Rachel Reeves warning that further taxes in the autumn budget could contradict her plans to improve living standards. They argued that food price inflation could hit 6% this year and that they would pass higher costs on to shoppers.
