Tesco has hiked the price of its popular lunchtime "meal deal" for the first time in over ten years as it is forced to respond to rampant cost inflation.
The supermarket chain said the price of the deal, which typically includes a sandwich, a packet of crisps and a soft drink, will from October 24 go up from £3 to £3.40 for members of its Clubcard loyalty scheme.
Tesco said over 70 percent of its customers currently use a Clubcard when buying a lunchtime meal deal.
Tesco is raising the price of its meal deal
Andrew Milligan
The price of a meal deal will rise from £3 to £3.40 for members of its Clubcard loyalty scheme
WikiCommons
The price of the deal for those without a Clubcard will go up from £3.50 to £3.90, the supermarket confirmed.
Shoppers have been hammered by rising food inflation, which hit a record 13.9 percent in September, according to industry data.
Tesco, which is facing extreme cost headwinds, particularly energy, labour and currency, says it is "inflating a little bit less and a little bit later" than competitors.
Earlier this month it forecast full-year profit at the lower end of its previous guidance, blaming uncertainty over how consumer spending will evolve amid a worsening cost-of-living squeeze.
Tesco said a number of meal combinations would cost more than 6 pounds if purchased separately.
In July, McDonald's hiked the price of its cheeseburger for the first time in 14 years.