Waitrose has increased the price of its main lunchtime meal deal. The upmarket supermarket has hiked the cost of its lunchtime offering from £5 to £5.50, marking a 10% increase. The deal includes a main, snack, and drink.
A Waitrose spokesperson stated: "Our meal deal remains exceptional value for money – offering a wide variety of lunch options prepared with the quality ingredients you’d expect from Waitrose and following the industry-leading welfare standards we insist on."
Tesco increased the price of its meal deal last August. The cost of the lunchtime offering for Clubcard holders rose from £3.60 to £3.85, while the price without a Clubcard went from £4 to £4.25. Meanwhile, the price of the regular Sainsbury’s meal deal remains unchanged at £3.95.
Sainsbury's increased its meal deal price last June, from £3.75 to £3.95. Its premium meal deal also rose from £5 to £5.50 last year.
This price hike follows Waitrose's recent reduction of prices on over 160 own-brand products as part of a new £20 million investment to help shoppers save money. Prices have been cut by an average of 12% from today, with some everyday items reduced by more than 25%.
Items that have been reduced include staples such as free-range eggs, onions, chicken thighs, apples, frozen peas, chickpeas, and chopped tomatoes. Nearly half (47%) of the reductions are on products from the Essential Waitrose range. This marks the ninth round of New Lower Prices since 2023, taking Waitrose’s total investment to £162.5 million across more than 1,000 products.
However, customers are advised to shop around for the best prices, as a reduced price does not guarantee it is the cheapest option available.
Nathan Ansell, Waitrose Chief Customer Officer, commented: "Customers are watching what they spend, but they don’t want to compromise on the food they buy. This investment is about doing the right thing for our customers, helping them save on the products they shop most often, while keeping the quality they expect from Waitrose. We know our customers - the Food Lovers who shop with us - want to feel confident in the food they buy, without compromising on what matters to them."
Savings are available across fresh and frozen food, store cupboard staples, and household products in Waitrose shops and online.
