5 days ago
Fuming shoppers slam Sainsbury's for hiking the price of its dine-in meal deal
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NO DEAL Fuming shoppers slam Sainsbury's for hiking the price of its dine-in meal deal
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SAINSBURY'S has hiked the cost of its dine-in meal deal by a quarter - enraging fans of the chain's fine dining experience at home.
The deal for two people includes four items - a Taste The Difference main, side, dessert and drink - for the new price of £15 with a Nectar card, up from £12 just a few weeks ago.
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Meal deal prices have jumped at Sainsbury's
Credit: Getty
The move follows similar price hikes on rival supermarkets' dine-in deals, with Tesco, M&S and Waitrose also hiking the cost to £15 in recent months.
But shoppers have protested, with one saying a 25% hike does not mirror inflation.
One customer wrote on "Why are you copying @waitrose and putting up your main meal deal from £12 to £15 without any notice - that's a 25% increase!!!...
'Another supermarket losing my custom."
Another added: 'That's a 25% increase, massively over the current rate of inflation."
A third fumed on the review site "Price of meal deal which includes a main, side, dessert and a bottle of wine has increased by £3 in a week. Last week £12 this week £15!
"They must have seen how inflation had risen and decided to contribute to these figures."
Sainsbury's said this is the first time it has increased the price of the dine-in deal since its launch in August 2021.
In a statement, the supermarket said: 'With thousands of delicious possible combinations to choose from, customers can continue to save on dining out for two by selecting their favourite main, side, dessert and drink from our Taste the Difference range for £15.
'Whether enjoying a British Beef Ranch Steak, or sneaking an extra spoonful of the Lemon, Passion Fruit & Yuzu Possets, customers can create the perfect dining experience from home for great value, without compromising on taste.
'We've also recently introduced two new flavourful main dishes which incorporate the high-quality ingredients customers would expect, with a Slow Cooked Beef Bourguignon and Crackling Pork Belly now available.'
Waitrose, which has also increased the price of its top end meal deal from £12 to £15, said: 'We know customers are increasingly looking to enjoy the quality of a restaurant meal at home.
'Our No.1 dine-in meal deal includes a brilliant range of premium products, and while we're always working hard to keep costs down, we're confident this still provides great value.'
Earlier this year Tesco said it had worked to improve the quality of its Finest Dine In range, investing in the ingredients and recipes, and introducing an updated menu.
Its Clubcard members now pay £15 for two people for its dine-in meal deal, with savings of up to £22.50, for a main, side, dessert and drink.
And last October, ready-meals fans were angry because M&S hiked its popular Gastropub meal offer from £12 to £15, with new creations included by Tom Kerridge.
The store said 95% of the dishes were new or had been improved.
