Lunch meal deals: where’s the best value?

If you are someone who tends to buy their lunch each day in town, and like the idea of a meal deal, then you could save £300 a year depending upon where you are grabbing your food.

One quick lunchtime option for many Islanders is the classic ‘Meal deal’ – a combination of a main (usually a sandwich or salad), snack (usually crips, chocolate or something healthy) and a soft drink. They’re available from supermarkets and other stores.

But if you find you’re buying one of these deals regularly, are you sure you’re definitely getting the best deal?

One of our volunteer Council Members recently went out to survey lunch meal deals in supermarkets and other stores in or close to town – and prices vary more than you might expect, depending on where you shop.

Here’s some of the key findings from our survey:

• Best Value: Boots offers the cheapest meal deal at £3.75 if you have an Advantage Card – a full £1.25 cheaper than some competitors. Even without an Advantage Card, they remain the cheapest option (£4)
• Most expensive: Roberts Garage comes in highest at £5.49, over 45% more expensive than the lowest price option.
• M&S exit: Marks & Spencer no longer offer a meal deal, having discontinued it in 2024.

Why it matters

With food prices continuing to impact household budgets, even small daily differences add up.

A £1.25 daily saving on lunch could mean over £300 saved annually.

We're here to help Islanders make informed choices and find the best value, so, as always, we’ll continue monitoring local prices to help you shop smart.

If you’ve spotted a better priced lunch meal deal, or have suggestions on what everyday products we should check next, get in touch.