TESCO is putting up its lunchtime meal deal by 25p in a move that will infuriate customers.
The popular offer – consisting of a main, snack and a drink – currently costs £3.60, but will rise to £3.85 with a Clubcard from Thursday.
For those without the supermarket’s loyalty card, the price will increase to £4.25, up from £4.
The price of the Premium meal deal will also change to £5.50, up from £5, for those with a Clubcard and £6 for those without.
The news broke after an insider said it was now “hardly a deal”, and posted a picture of shelf labels showing the new price.
Another user responded to the thread on Reddit.com: “Might as well get rid of the meal deal if Tesco keeps upping the price.”
A second added: “I will be boycotting the meal deal from when this hike occurs.”
A third moaned: “£3.60 i could still defend, getting a bit mad now tho.”
Exactly a year ago Tesco put up the price from £3.40 to £3.60, while non-Clubcard holders were charged £4, up from £3.90.
And in October 2022, the deal increased for the first time in a decade from £3 to £3.40 for Clubcard members, and from £3.50 to £3.90 for those without a loyalty card.
Tesco’s lunchtime meal deal is hugely popular for its variety of choices, including sandwiches, wraps and sushi selections for the main options, snacks of crisps, chocolate and fruit, and drinks such as Lucozade and cold coffee.
Other supermarkets offer similar deals, and have also sparked fury over price hikes.
In June, Sainsbury’s raised the cost of its lunchtime meal deal by 20p, from £3.75 to £3.95.
A Tesco spokesperson said: “Our meal deal remains great value and the ideal way to grab lunch on-the-go at just for a main, snack and drink when bought with a Clubcard.
“With more than 20m possible combinations the Tesco meal deal has got something for every taste, from a classic Chicken Club Sandwich to Tesco Korean Style Chicken Dragon Rolls.”
It’s understood new products will be introduced into the Premium meal deal in the coming days, such as a new Finest Salmon Konbini Roll and Finest Gochujang Konbini Roll.
Currently the most popular items in the basic meal deal are the Tesco Chicken Club Sandwich for main, Tesco Egg Protein Pot as the snack, and Coca-Cola 500ml.
These would currently cost £6.50 when purchased separately, giving Clubcard members a saving of £2.65.