A meal deal aisle in Tesco

In the United Kingdom, a meal deal is a sales promotion which consists of three items, a main (often a sandwich), a drink, and a snack (commonly crisps or confectionary). Meal deals are primarily eaten at lunchtime, and more than a third of Britons buy one at least once per week.[1]

Meal deals are sold by a variety of retailers such as supermarkets, convenience stores, cafés and bakery chains. Many retailers offer a selection of types of mains, such as pasta salads, sushi, and wraps which tend to come in a variety of toppings or fillings. Supermarkets generally offer the widest variety of meal deals,[1] with Sainsbury's offering over 500 products in their range,[2] and Tesco offering over 10 million possible combinations.[3] They tend to be served cold in supermarkets, but some cafés such as Costa offer hot options.[4] Snacks offered by many retailers also include sausage rolls,[5] pork pies,[6] and fresh fruit.[7]

Meal deals vary in price depending on retailer, with most costing a set price between £3 and £5.[3] As of 2022, the average price of a meal deal (from retailers across the market) is £4.12, up from £3.91 in 2020.[8] The price saving offered by a meal deal compared to purchasing the three items separately, can be over 50%.[3] In 2019, a court ruled that a "free" bottle of wine included in a Marks & Spencer meal deal costing £12 is not free for the purpose of calculating alcohol duties.[9]

Pharmacy Boots pioneered the meal deal.[10] The meal deal is regarded as a staple in British culture,[11] with them typically being associated with convenience and value for money, comparable to regular meal sets offered at cha chaan tengs in Hong Kong.[12] In the United States, the term "meal deal" is used by fast food chains such as Dairy Queen and Hardee's to market their sales promotions combining a main, a drink and French fries.[13][14]

Sales of shop-bought sandwiches and meal deals declined amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, as more people worked from home resulting in fewer people in city centres. Their sales rebounded in early 2022 after the lifting of lockdown restrictions in England and the easing of travel restrictions.[3] Sales of meal deals have grown amidst the 2021–present United Kingdom cost of living crisis, contributing to bakery chain Greggs reporting a growth in sales of nearly 15% as of October 2022.[15]

On 27 June 2023, the Welsh Government announced plans to introduce legislation that would restrict meal deals in Wales involving meals high in fat, sugar and salt. The legislation, designed to tackle instances of type 2 diabetes and obesity, would be introduced in 2024 and implemented in 2025. Retailers expressed concern in response to the announcement, particularly with high food prices, while charities representing people with eating disorders suggested the plans could have a negative effect on those in recovery.[16]


See also

References

  1. 1 2 Ash O’Mahony (29 November 2019). "Meal deal or no deal? Food to go category report 2019". The Grocer. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021.
  2. ↑ Niamh Leonard-Bedwell (12 May 2021). "Sainsbury's to relaunch meal deals to 'compete with high street coffee chains'". The Grocer. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Rupert Jones (7 February 2022). "Meal deals: which UK shops are the best value for lunch?". The Guardian.
  4. ↑ Rodger, James (1 September 2020). "Costa Coffee announces big changes to its menu - new meal deal, cup size and £1 breakfast menu".
  5. ↑ "Greggs says rising costs have forced it to hike sausage roll prices a third time". ITV News. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  6. ↑ Lemanski, Dominik (4 October 2022). "Costa blasted over tempting £2 meal deal that can actually cost over a fiver". mirror. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  7. ↑ Large, Amber-Louise (12 March 2022). "'I ate Tesco meal deals for breakfast, lunch and dinner and it was a mistake'". MyLondon. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  8. ↑ Rob Brown (10 September 2022). "Six things you need to know about food to go". www.conveniencestore.co.uk.
  9. ↑ "M&S meal deal falls foul of the taxman". Financial Times. 3 May 2019. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  10. ↑ Sam Knight (24 November 2017). "How the sandwich consumed Britain". The Guardian.
  11. ↑ Jason Murugesu (12 April 2019). "The science behind why we always pick the same meal deal". New Statesman.
  12. ↑ "英國都有「常餐」——MEAL DEAL | 輔仁文誌". VJMedia (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  13. ↑ Miller, Bob (4 August 2023). "Dairy Queen Puts Together $7 Meal Deal Featuring 3-Piece Chicken Strips Or Cheeseburger". Chew Boom. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  14. ↑ Miller, Bob (29 December 2021). "Hardee's Launches New $5 Meal Deals". Chew Boom. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  15. ↑ "Greggs reports sales boost off the back of hot food meal deals". the Guardian. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  16. ↑ Price, Ben (27 June 2023). "Meal deals: Unhealthy options will be restricted in Wales". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
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