If you’ve been watching the price of supermarket meal deals climb over the past few years, you’ll know the days of picking up lunch for a simple three quid are long gone.
Shoppers have had to juggle loyalty cards, app memberships and inflated prices just to get a half-decent bargain - and even then, you often have to remember to actually have the card or key fob on you, which proves to be more of a battle than it should.
But now, one supermarket has stepped in to change things up with what’s being called the UK’s cheapest meal deal. What makes it better is that there’s no card or membership required.
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In a recent company news post, Asda has officially launched a new fixed-price deal that will cost shoppers £3.74, making it the lowest-priced option on the high street that doesn’t involve signing up to a loyalty scheme. It’s a straightforward offer: one main, one snack and one drink from the chain’s Food to Go range.
While that might sound familiar, the breadth of choice is what makes this stand out. With a selection meal deal selection of 132 mains, 336 snacks and 222 drinks, this means thousands of possible combinations for you and other Asda shoppers' lunch break.
Classic picks include the Asda Chicken and Bacon Sandwich, a Cheese and Onion Sandwich, Apple Slices with Toffee Dip, Doritos Tangy Cheese Tortilla Crisps and Coca-Cola Zero. The supermarket says taking advantage of the offer could save shoppers up to 50% compared to buying the items separately.
The new deal launched on 17 September and is now available in every Asda supermarket, as well as all 478 Asda Express stores nationwide. It’s also replacing the chain’s previous three-for-two Food to Go promotion. Importantly, Asda has confirmed the offer will be fully compliant with HFSS legislation, which limits multi-buy promotions on products high in fat, sugar or salt.
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Amy Wotherspoon, buyer of Food to Go at Asda, explained: “At Asda, we believe great value should be available to everyone. That’s why we’re launching the new £3.74 Meal Deal that is completely open to all customers – with no app or membership required, and a big range of products to choose from so there’s something for everyone.”
Also laid out in the aforementioned news post, for comparison, here’s how the big supermarket meal deals compare right now: Tesco’s is £3.85 with a Clubcard or £4.25 without. Sainsbury’s costs £3.95. Morrisons charges £3.60 with a More Card and £4 without. Co-op comes in at £3.50 with membership and £4 for non-members.
And Waitrose sits at the top of the list at £5. That puts Asda comfortably ahead for anyone who doesn’t want to faff around with loyalty schemes.
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The announcement follows growing frustration from shoppers as meal deal prices have crept up across the board since 2022. Back then, Tesco’s offer was £3, but in only a few years, that same sandwich-crisps-drink combo has risen by more than a pound. For many, Asda’s new deal will be a welcome return to affordable lunchtimes without strings attached.
Ben Williams