Tesco is launching its own range of fresh baguettes, which will be cheaper than those served by rival chain Pret A Manger.
The supermarket chain will introduce a new baguette selection at 170 stores across the UK as part of its ‘premium’ meal deal.
Customers can choose from five different filling options – mozzarella, tomato and basil pesto; chicken and Beechwood bacon caesar; tuna, mayo and cucumber; Wiltshire ham, cheddar and Dijon mustard; and free range egg mayonnaise and rocket.
The sandwiches will be available for £5 to shoppers with a Tesco Clubcard, costing £5.50 if they do not have the discount card, as part of Tesco’s more expensive meal deal offering, which includes a snack and a drink.
It comes as furious Pret A Manger fans have criticised the sandwich chain for charging £7.15 for a baguette – with the price almost doubling if diners opt to add crisps and a smoothie.
Tesco will introduce a new baguette selection at 170 stores across the UK as part of its ‘premium’ meal deal. Pictured: the exterior of a Tesco store (File image)
Tesco’s baguette offerings come as furious Pret A Manger fans have criticised the sandwich chain for charging £7.15 for a baguette – with the price almost doubling if diners opt to add crisps and a smoothie. Pictured: A Pret store in Windsor, Berkshire (File image)
Customers reacted with dismay on social media as the eye-watering ‘dine in’ price for the chain’s ‘posh’ cheese and pickle sandwich was photographed at the chain’s branch in High Street Kensington tube station.
To eat it in store, the chain then levies a £1.20 VAT charge on the sandwich – taking its price up to £7.15, and the total deal to £13.90.
The price of the sub falls by more than 20 per cent to £5.72, including VAT, for those signed up to the £30-a-month Club Pret membership who want to eat in.
The baguette costs £5.95 at transport hub stations to take away – and, when coupled with a £1.75 bag of crisps and a £5 green smoothie for a fully rounded lunch, costs £12.70.
A Pret spokesman said: ‘Prices of our products are typically higher at train stations or transport hubs, due to higher operational costs, and like all food-to-go retailers, dine in prices are subject to 20 per cent VAT, as is the case with the price quoted here for our Posh Cheddar Baguette.
‘The vast majority (87 per cent) of our sales in the UK are for takeaway, so most customers are not subject to the additional 20 per cent VAT.
‘Like all businesses, we are facing intense cost pressures, which we are trying to absorb as much as possible. We continue to offer great value for high-quality, freshly made food and organic coffees, alongside a dedicated value range of sandwiches, Made Simple.
‘We also recently doubled the Club Pret discount to help customers save even more, so subscribers now enjoy 20 per cent off everything in shop and up to five barista prepared drinks per day for £30 per month.’