The end of the £3 meal deal? Supermarkets may be forced to raise prices for popular bargain lunch

SUPERMARKETS may be forced to raise meal deal prices, pushing the popular lunchtime option for busy workers above £3.

Higher raw material costs and soaring wage bills on the back of the new living wage have sent sandwich prices soaring.

At present Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons charge £3 for their meal deal, whereas Boots charges £3.29 and Marks & Spencers, which doesn't permanently run an offer, costs £4.

Shoppers pick from a range of sandwiches, snacks and soft drinks - but prices may be about to rise.

Raw materials are set to increase 10 per cent by Spring due to the impact of the weak pound, the British Sandwich & Food to Go Association said.

Sarnie makers are also being hit by higher wage wills and uncertainty around recruiting staff.

Jim Winship, director of the British Sandwich and Food to Go Association, said: “Meal Deals have seemingly been fixed at £3 for a long time despite all the market forces of the last few years - it has remained a constant.

“The industry has adapted well, working with suppliers to ensure this has remained but with fluctuations in the pound, rising commodity prices (particularly cheese) and having resisted years of inflationary pressures, perhaps we will now see a step to £3.10 or so.

“Breaking the £3 barrier would also give retailers more scope to offer more premium sandwiches as part of their range.”

Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Tesco told the Sun Online that there were “no plans to increase prices”. 

In September, Sainsbury’s caused outrage after it altered its £3 meal deal to cut premium items by excluding Taste the Difference sandwiches and food-long subs.

Thousands of shoppers were left unhappy, with many venting their frustrations on social media and one even claiming the change had “ruined their life”.

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