The nation’s favourite Tesco meal deal unwrapped
Britain’s favourite Tesco meal deal combination has been revealed.
The supermarket’s most-loved main, snack and drink – for the second year in a row – was found to be a sausage, bacon and egg sandwich with McCoy’s flame-grilled steak crisps and a Coca-Cola.
Tesco announced the findings as part of its annual Clubcard Unpacked results, which showed shoppers their most popular purchases of 2023.
The top five main lunchtime options were the sausage bacon and egg triple, chicken triple sandwich, smoked ham and mature Cheddar sub, the chicken club sandwich and the hoisin duck wrap.
Hamish Renton, the managing director of the HRA food and drinks consultancy, said: “The retail meal deal is very popular and this sandwich choice shows people want to eat chunky, warming, meaty meals on the go.”
He said that in summer Britons tend to mimic Europe in a preference towards pasta and meze options, but the UK’s cold temperatures lend themselves to a hearty lunch.
Speaking about the sausage, bacon and egg, coupled with crisps and a Coca-Cola, Mr Renton said: “The Coca-Cola has a significant calorie punch and the crisps are certainly not an apple, so the buyer is definitely someone who is relaxed about calories.
“But if you are active and on your feet all day, that heavy comfort food will suit you nicely. It would suit the classic blue-collar worker, but these days it’s more of a spectrum between blue and white.”
When it comes to snacks, the egg protein pot was among the most frequently chosen items.
Steve Gladwell, a consumer insights and snacking markets expert at Food Strategy Associates, said that this speaks to the health-conscious consumer who is increasingly aware of their protein consumption.
Other popular snack options included the Big Hoops BBQ beef grab bag and Walkers Sensations Thai sweet chilli crisps.
On the differing demands between male and female consumers, Mr Gladwell said: “Traditionally a female lunch will be lighter. A Diet Coke and lighter meal option like a wrap, compared with your Coca-Cola and sandwich. Women will also eat ‘better for you’ options like Popchips.”
Mr Gladwell said meal deals have become increasingly popular as cost of living pressures mount and shoppers tend to steer away from specialist sandwich stores.
Tesco noted that during the festive season the appetite for its Christmas turkey and trimmings sandwich made it the most popular choice, which Mr Gladwell said was unsurprising because there will “always be demand for turkey and stuffing” during winter.
Commenting on the regional differences in buying habits revealed in the annual findings, Mr Renton said: “The UK has a big regional food scene and this points to that perky food scene that exists. People eat different things and have different opinions about what’s better.”
