On Thursday, August 21, 2025, Tesco, the UK’s largest supermarket, raised the price of its iconic lunchtime meal deal, sparking a wave of public frustration, political outcry, and renewed debate over the true cost of convenience in a climate of rising inflation. The price hike—25p for both standard and premium versions—means Clubcard holders now pay £3.85, up from £3.60, while non-Clubcard customers shell out £4.25 instead of £4. Premium meal deals jumped to £5.50 for Clubcard users and £6 for everyone else. This marks the third increase since 2022, a period that has seen food prices soar and household budgets squeezed ever tighter.
For many, the Tesco meal deal isn’t just a quick lunch—it’s a British institution. The offer, which bundles a main, snack, and drink at a discounted price, has been a lunchtime staple for millions. But as prices climb, some shoppers are questioning whether it still lives up to its name. According to BBC, the deal cost just £3 for a decade before the first hike in October 2022, when food prices were rising at their fastest rate in over 40 years. Since then, the increases have come thick and fast, mirroring broader inflationary pressures across the UK economy.
The latest official figures from the Office for National Statistics underline the problem. In July 2025, the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation hit 3.8%, the highest level since January 2024. Food and non-alcoholic drink prices rose 4.9% year on year, with staples like coffee, fresh orange juice, meat, and chocolate seeing the steepest increases. Over the past five years, food prices have surged by around 37%, a stark contrast to the 4.4% rise during the previous five-year stretch.
So what’s driving these relentless price hikes? Retailers point to a perfect storm of factors. Heatwaves and droughts across Spain, Italy, and Portugal—key sources of the UK’s fresh produce—have driven up the cost of fruit and vegetables this summer, just when prices would typically fall. At the same time, global supply chain disruptions and increased labor and packaging costs have added billions in expenses for supermarkets. According to a letter sent by the British Retail Consortium to Chancellor Rachel Reeves, changes to employer National Insurance, a higher minimum wage, and a new packaging tax have collectively added £7 billion in new costs for UK retailers. The Bank of England estimates these factors may have bumped food prices up by as much as 2%.
Against this backdrop, Tesco and more than 60 other retail CEOs warned the government that further tax increases—potentially on the table for the upcoming Autumn Budget—could push prices even higher. The letter, as reported by The Guardian, stated: “As retailers, we have done everything we can to shield our customers from the worst inflationary pressures but as they persist, it is becoming more and more challenging for us to absorb the cost pressures we face.” The signatories argued that if policy decisions lead to rising prices and fewer jobs, commitments to improve UK living standards would be at risk.
For shoppers, the price jump feels personal. Social media lit up with complaints, jokes, and even calls for political intervention. One TikTok video, posted by a Tesco employee, showed her shaking her head in disbelief, captioned: “No longer a deal.” On Reddit, a shopper declared, “I will be boycotting the meal deal from Tesco when this hike occurs.” Kristina, a 19-year-old from Nottingham, posted a photo on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, “One last time…Here’s my last £3.60 meal deal farewell.” She told BBC, “Unless other places whack up their prices heavily, I won’t buy another meal deal from Tesco for a very long time.”
The uproar wasn’t limited to ordinary customers. Liberal Democrat MP Joshua Reynolds waded in, branding the price increase a “national outrage” on social media. One social media user even suggested the issue deserved to be addressed in Prime Minister’s Questions, while another quipped, “Take me back to the days of the £3 Tesco meal deal, what an absolute scam this country has become.”
Despite the backlash, Tesco insists its meal deal “remains great value and the ideal way to grab lunch on-the-go,” as a spokesperson told The Herald. The company points out that the combined price of the most expensive items in the standard meal deal would top £8 if purchased separately. For example, a brie and smoked bacon sandwich with chilli jam (£3.25), a vegetable samosa (£1.75), and a Naked smoothie (£2.90) would cost £7.90 on their own. With a Clubcard, the same combination is just £3.85—a saving of £4.05.
Clubcard loyalty, it turns out, is big business. Around 80% of Tesco shoppers use the scheme, according to Kantar research cited by BBC. The loyalty card not only offers discounted prices but also helps the retailer collect valuable data on customer preferences. Most Britons have loyalty cards for at least three supermarkets, reflecting the fierce competition in the sector. Sainsbury’s, for instance, raised its own meal deal price from £3.75 to £3.95 in June 2025, while Boots, Co-op, Superdrug, and Waitrose have so far resisted similar increases.
Still, the sense of frustration lingers. Many shoppers argue that the meal deal is no longer affordable or competitive, especially for those without a Clubcard. Some have called for a boycott, while others have turned to humor to express their disappointment. One social media user wrote, “Dear Tesco, Please stop increasing the meal deal prices. They’re not meal deals anymore, just meals. Thank you, A broke hamster.”
Even with the price rise, Tesco’s meal deal remains a complex beast. There are more than 20 million possible combinations, with popular picks including the chicken club sandwich, egg protein pot, and a bottle of Coca-Cola. The offer is still, by some measures, a bargain compared to buying items separately. But for many, the psychological impact of crossing the £4 threshold—especially in the context of a cost of living crisis—can’t be overstated.
As inflation continues to bite and retailers warn of more price hikes to come, the humble meal deal has become a symbol of the broader struggle facing British consumers. Whether it remains a “great value” or a relic of more affordable times will depend on how both supermarkets and policymakers respond to the ongoing squeeze on household budgets.
