Tesco has increased the price of its popular meal deal by 25p, marking the third rise since 2022. The offer now costs £3.85 for Clubcard holders and £4.25 for customers without a loyalty card.
The supermarket chain had maintained the £3 price for a decade before the first increase in October 2022 during the cost of living crisis. The latest change comes as UK food prices continue to climb, with official inflation figures showing a 4.9% year-on-year rise in July for food and non-alcoholic beverages.
Retailers attribute some of the pressure to heatwaves and droughts in southern Europe, which have pushed up the cost of fresh produce, beef, orange juice, coffee, and chocolate. Tesco is not alone in raising prices; Sainsbury’s increased its meal deal to £3.95 in June, its second rise in under a year.
Despite the increase, the Tesco meal deal still offers substantial savings. For example, a combination of a brie and smoked bacon sandwich, vegetable samosa, and a Naked smoothie would cost £7.90 separately, meaning a Clubcard holder saves £4.05 with the deal.
Some shoppers expressed frustration on social media, questioning whether the offer can still be called a “deal”. Meanwhile, over 60 retail chief executives, including those from Tesco and Sainsbury’s, wrote to Chancellor Rachel Reeves warning that further tax rises could lead to higher prices and contradict the government’s aims to improve living standards.
