Sainsbury’s changes lunchtime meal deal in response to sugar tax

Sainsbury's has dropped Coca-Cola from its meal deal in response to the sugar tax. Here's what's left

Sainsbury’s has cut Classic Coca-Cola from its lunchtime meal deal in response to the sugar tax.

Since early April, the 500ml bottle is no longer available as part of Sainsbury’s £3 lunchtime meal deal.

Instead, consumers will have to buy it separately, at the cost of £1.44, or opt for a 250ml can at 77p. However, the can is not part of the meal deal.

Hi there, following the introduction of the sugar levy the price of Coca-Cola has gone up and we’re no longer able to offer it as part of our Meal Deal Coke Zero and Diet Coke are still available in the Meal Deal. Aisha

— Sainsbury's (@sainsburys) 15 April 2018

Tesco has taken a different approach, downsizing the bottles of Coca-Cola in their £3 meal deal offer to 375ml.

With 10.6g of sugar per 100ml, classic Coca-Cola has been hit by a levy of 12p on each 500ml bottle.

500ml bottles of Diet Coke, Coke Zero and Pepsi Max are still available at both supermarkets.

So, will the latest change put you off the Sainsbury's £3 meal deal? To help you decide, we've taken a look at what you can get and see how it compares to rival supermarkets' lunchtime offers.

Read more about the sugar tax and what's affected here.

Sainsbury’s lunchtime meal deal

Sainsbury’s lunchtime meal deal lets you choose a sandwich or pasta dish, snack and drink for £3.

You could save almost 50% using the meal deal instead of buying items individually.

It’s amongst the cheapest lunchtime supermarket meal deals currently available.

You can spot a meal deal item by its red shelf ticket.

What's available

Sainsbury’s cut the range of products available in its meal deal substantially in 2016, generating considerable anger.

@sainsburys What have you done to the meal deal!? Why? About to lose a customer of 4 years. Would cost me double to get my normal lunch...

— Samuel Dawkins (@DawkinsSam) 5 September 2016

With just over 70 items, the meal deal selection is far more limited than at Tesco, where you can choose from 298 items, also for £3.

You won’t find salads, sushi or any sweet treats included in Sainsbury’s meal deal.

The best-value meal deal combination is a pasta salad (up to £2 on its own), Naked Coconut Water 500ml (£2) and Walkers Max Crisps (£0.90), saving £2.90 overall.

In April, the introduction of the sugar tax led Sainsbury’s to remove 500ml bottles of classic Coca-Cola from the meal deal.

Instead, you can get a 250ml can of Coca-Cola within the meal deal or opt for 500ml bottles of Diet Coke and Coke.

Drinks

• Diet Coke 500ml
• Pepsi Max 600ml
• Coca-Cola Zero 500ml
• Irn-Bru 500ml
• Sprite Sparkling Lemon & Lime Drink 500ml
• Ribena 500ml - Blackcurrant / Blackcurrant Light / Strawberry

• Highland Spring Still Water Sports Cap 750ml
• San Pellegrino Sparkling Mineral Water 500ml
• Innocent Smoothies 250ml - Strawberry & Banana / Mango & Passion Fruit 
• Innocent Bubbles 330ml - Lemon, Lime & Apple 330ml / Sparkling Apple & Berry
• Juicy Water 420ml - Oranges & Lemons 420ml / Lemons & Limes / Raspberries & Blackcurrants
• Tropicana Juice 300ml - Orange / Multivitamins / Orange & Raspberry Juice
• Copella Cloudy Apple Juice 300ml
• Naked Coconut Water 500ml

Sandwiches and pasta

• Cheese & Tomato Pasta Salad 300g
• Spicy Chicken Pasta Salad 300g
• Tuna & Sweetcorn Pasta Salad 300g
• Oakwood Smoked Ham & Cheddar Sandwich
• Chicken Mayo Sandwich
• Chicken With Pork, Sage & Onion Stuffing Sandwich
• Smoked Ham & Mustard Sandwich
• Bacon Sandwich, No Mayo
• Ham Sandwich, No Mayo
• Chicken & Sweetcorn Sandwich
• Tuna Mayo Sandwich
• Seafood Cocktail Sandwich
• Tuna & Sweetcorn Sandwich
• Egg & Cress Sandwich
• Cheese & Onion Sandwich
• Red Leicester Ploughmans Sandwich
• Cheese Sandwich, No Mayo

Snacks

• Pink Lady Apple Snack Pack 80g
• Pink Lady Apple & Grape Snack Pack 80g
• Grape Bag 80g
• Carrot Batons 80g
• Walkers crisps (32.5g) - Ready Salted /Cheese & Onion / Salt & Vinegar / Prawn Cocktail / Roast Chicken / Smoky Bacon
• Walkers Max Crisps (50g) - Paprika / Cheese & Onion / Flame Grilled Steak
• Walkers Smoky Bacon Crisps 32.5g
• Walkers Baked Cheese & Onion Crisps 37.5g
• Walkers Wotsits Really Cheesy Crisp Snacks 36g
• Walkers Quavers Cheese Crisp Snacks 34g
• Walkers French Fries Salt & Vinegar Snacks 21g

• McCoy's Flame Grilled Steak Crisps 47.5g
• Pringles (40g) Original / Sour Cream & Onion
• Hula Hoops Big Hoops (50g) Original Potato / BBQ
• Mega Monster Munch Pickled Onion Snacks 40g
• Doritos (55g) - Cool Original / Tangy Cheese
• Skips Prawn Cocktail 40g
• Popchips Barbeque Potato Chip Crisps 23g
• Kettle Chips Sea Salt & Balsamic Vinegar 40g
• Sensations Thai Sweet Chilli Crisps 40g
• Jacob's Original Mini Cheddars 50g
• Snack a Jacks Rice and Corn Cakes (26g) Salt & Vinegar / Sweet Chilli 26g

Save even more money at Sainsbury’s

If you’re a regular at Sainsbury’s, there are several ways you can save on your next shop.

Sainsbury’s is part of Nectar, one of the UK’s largest loyalty schemes and you can earn and spend points. 

Major changes are being trialled in the way you earn points at Sainsbury's, with fears that loyal shoppers could lose out. 

You can earn bonus Nectar points with a Sainsbury’s credit card.