SHOPPERS are divided over the new Asda meal deal, which means they can no longer buy three sandwiches or pasta pots for multiple cheaper lunches.
This week Asda revealed its first ever fixed price meal deal, which is set to replace the existing three for two at its Food To Go Counters.
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The new deal will include a main, snack and drink for £3.74, making it the cheapest meal deal available without a loyalty card.
But some are rethinking their lunchtime options because they can no longer buy three main options, like sandwiches or pasta pots, for the price of two.
Having this option meant they could save more food for later or the next day, rather than buying a drink and snack.
One Asda customer said on bargain-hunting site hotukdeals.com: “Used to get 3 sandwiches and stick them in the fridge at work.”
Another said they were now considering making his own lunches, adding: “I used to like the 3 for 2 deal because I used to get 3 sandwiches and a multipack of drinks then put them in the fridge at the office.
“Looks like I’ll have to go back to making sandwiches at home.”
Another advantage of the previous deal was being able to buy cheaper sandwiches for a group of people.
On hotukdeals.com, an Asda shopper explained: “Shame it has gone as I’m generally not that interested in the sides or drinks and in a group getting 3 (or 6) sandwiches was often a pretty good deal, especially if they had already been discounted.”
Another added: “What a shame, one of us in work would buy 3 sandwiches and a cheap bottle of pop and that would be the meal deal for 3 of us around £2.20 a head!
“That was my last reason for shopping in Asda at all!.”
Shoppers could also buy “treat” items like Monster energy drinks and chocolate on the three for two offer, sometimes to share with friends or colleagues.
One customer said on Reddit: “I normally get two drinks and a kingsize chocolate to share with my co-worker on our first break, and they do the same on our second break. That’s gonna get expensive now.”
Another added: “I loved it, used to get 3 Monsters (energy drinks) for price of 2 when doing my 12 hour nightshifts there.”
Asda said customers can save more with the new meal deal, with savings of up to 50% on the cost of individual items.
Amy Wotherspoon, the Buyer of Food to Go at the retailer, added: “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.”
Under new Government rules coming in from October 1, multibuy deals such as “buy one get one free” or – in this case three for two – will be banned on products high in fat, salt or sugar.
This is thought to be one reason for Asda pulling its three for two deal and replacing it with the meal deal, which is fully compliant with the new rules.
What else is happening with meal deals?
Sainsbury’s has hiked the cost of its premium meal deal by 50p – just weeks after Tesco made the same move.
The supermarket chain now charges £5.50 for its more upmarket lunchtime offer, up from £5.
Sainsbury’s also hiked the price of its standard meal deal back in June.
The deal went from £3.75 to £3.95, causing upset among its customers and workers.
The Sun revealed last month that Tesco also increased the price of its standard lunchtime meal deal.
The popular offer rose from £3.60 to £3.85 for Clubcard holders.
Its Premium Meal Deal has also risen to £5.50 – or £6 if you don’t have a Clubcard.
And dine-in deals for Tesco and Sainsbury’s have risen from £12 to £15 with loyalty cards.
How to save money on your food shop
Chief Consumer Reporter James Flanders reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:
Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.
Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.
Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.
Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.
Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.
Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.
Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.
Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.
But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here.
Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.
“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.
The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.
