Food critic Harrison Webb has named Marks & Spencer as the best supermarket meal deal in the UK, despite admitting the £6.99 price tag left him 'kind of annoyed'. In a YouTube video, Webb tested meal deals from Tesco, Co-op, Greggs, M&S, Sainsbury's, and Morrisons, rating each on taste, portion size, value for money, and overall experience.
Tesco's Standard Deal Gets Mixed Reviews
Webb started with Tesco, where Clubcard holders pay £3.85 for a meal deal, or £4.25 without the card. A premium option costs £5.50. He chose his 'go to' combination: a chicken caesar wrap, cheese and onion crisps, and a bottle of Pepsi. He noted that Tesco had 'changed things up' with a different filling and tortilla, but the wrap was not 'insanely filled'. After his first bite, he said: 'They're quite heavy on the Caesar dressing. Very garlicky. It does the job.' He squeezed the wrap to show dressing oozing out. Overall, he was 'happy with it' and called the deal 'good value'.
Co-op's Member Price Underwhelms
At Co-op, a meal deal costs £3.75 for members or £4.10 for non-members, with a premium option at £5.50. Webb opted for a cheese and onion sandwich, salted caramel chocolate brownie, and San Pellegrino Limonata. He found the sandwich 'just tastes like coleslaw' and wasn't 'sold on it'. However, he praised the brownie as 'banging' and was happy with the drink. Despite the lower price, he felt the deal was 'just not hitting' the spot, calling the main course a 'let down'.
Greggs' Big Deal Impresses with Sausage Roll Upgrade
At Greggs, the Big Deal costs £6. Webb upgraded his snack to a sausage roll at no extra cost, choosing it over Quavers, alongside a chicken and bacon club baguette and a double espresso (plus 50p for an extra shot). He described the baguette as 'plain and simple', ideal for fussy eaters. The sausage roll won him over, and he exclaimed 'magnifique' after his first bite.
M&S Takes Top Spot Despite Higher Price
Marks & Spencer's £6.99 meal deal impressed Webb the most. He chose a feta and slow-roasted tomato pasta bowl, salted caramel millionaire's shortbread, and diet pink lemonade. He called the pasta 'banging', the lemonade 'banging', and the shortbread 'so good'. However, he noted that M&S meal deals are not sold at standard high street or large Foodhall stores, only at railway stations and airports. He ranked M&S first place, saying: 'Quality was great. Ingredients were great. Tasted great. It was just the most expensive, which is kind of annoying.'
Sainsbury's and Morrisons: Mixed Results
At Sainsbury's, a meal deal costs £3.95, with an upgrade to a premium main for £5.50. Webb selected a BLT sandwich, a sausage roll, and peach iced tea. The BLT had a 'generous' filling but tasted 'very lemony' and wasn't his 'favourite'. The sausage roll was sizeable with 'nice' tasting sausage but 'too much pastry'. Morrisons offered a standard deal at £3.75 and a premium at £5.50. Webb chose a chicken triple sandwich, a sausage roll, and a Lilac Edition Red Bull. He said Morrisons 'came out on top' for value. The sandwich was 'stuffed' and 'does the job' but was 'a bit simple'. The sausage roll had more meat and 'good proportions', rating it above Sainsbury's. He ranked Morrisons third overall and Greggs second, with M&S first.
