The big retailers are battling over prices to attract romantic Britons into shops for Valentine’s Day.
It is a key period for supermarkets – behind only Christmas and Easter – so they are keen to get as many customers through the door as they can.
But which store’s chilled section has your perfect chilled night in? We have compared prices from each for a classic combination – a dozen red roses and a meal deal for two.
But it’s not all about the numbers. Depending on your partner’s palate, you might be best off shopping around.
Just be sure to sign up to stores’ rewards schemes before you reach the till so that you get maximum savings.
Which store’s chilled section has your perfect chilled night in?
TESCO – £17 – Best for meat-lovers and beer drinkers… but not great for vegans or lactose-intolerant
Tesco is the only supermarket that does not include a starter with your meal deal – but 12 red roses are just £5.
And with main courses such as beef bourguignon pies, steaks or lasagne paired with sides including truffle mac and cheese or potato dauphinoise, you are probably better off without a starter.
If your sweetheart is vegan or lactose-intolerant, steer clear because most contain dairy.
Tesco is the only one to offer beer as your meal deal drink of choice – a four-pack of Peroni.
CO-OP £26 Pricier but good for vegans and ethical shoppers
Co-op’s Valentine’s meal deal gives you a starter, main, side, dessert and alcoholic drink for £16 if you are a member of its loyalty scheme.
The food choices include vegan options such as mushroom wellington parcels and dark chocolate and raspberry velvet tortes.
At £10, a dozen roses will set you back twice as much as competitors, but they are Fairtrade – ethically and sustainably sourced. This should score you bonus points with your eco-friendly partner.
ASDA – £20 – Plenty of choices and a must for movie lovers
Here, £15 will get you a starter, main, two sides, dessert and a bottle of wine to share – or a box of chocolates if you’re not drinking. A dozen red roses cost £5.
There are plenty of choices with beef, chicken, fish and vegan options – and tiramisu for dessert.
On top of that you get a free Sky movie voucher with your meal so you can snuggle up with a film after dinner.
SAINSBURY’S – £20 – Great for procrastinators
Leaving things late could pay off at Sainsbury’s.
If you get the meal deal at the last minute, you can get it delivered to your door – with some freebies included in the price.
It is £15 for the starter, main, side, dessert and wine in the store. But from noon to 8pm on the big day on Tuesday, you can order an ‘emergency bundle’ via Uber Eats, where you get the meal deal for the same price – plus you will get two treats such as Sanctuary Spa bubble bath and a Habitat scented candle.
A dozen red roses are just £5.
It’s not all about the numbers. Depending on your partner’s palate, you might be best off shopping around
WAITROSE – £45 – Best for a special someone who hates flowers and loves a good cocktail
It’s no surprise that Waitrose works out as the dearest – at £25, the bouquet of roses alone is more than any rival’s meal deals. If you can get away with a single red rose for £5, then the £20 meal deal is good value – especially if your crush is more into cocktails.
You can choose from 50cl bottles of espresso martini and rum daiquiri from Tails Cocktails – which are each sold separately for £16.
MORRISONS – £18.99 – Great deal on bubbly, stunning starters but lacklustre sides
Another to offer two sides means it is great value for £15. They also have the cheapest champagne at £12 for a bottle of Charles de Villers. There is a wonderful selection of starters including a camembert heart.
The sides are very basic – mainly potatoes and veg – but you get two.
A dozen red roses are just £3.99.
ALDI – £17.25 – Best for home cooks and surf & turf lovers
LIKE Morrisons, Aldi also has the cheapest red rose dozen at just £3.99. Unlike other supermarkets, it does not have a set meal deal – you choose your own combination of speciality dishes.
The cheapest combo is £7.27, for garlic bread, lobster-filled pasta and a melt-in-the-middle chocolate heart. The pasta is just the ravioli so you need to whip up the sauce.
A surf & turf combo including oysters, steak, triple-cooked chips, eight profiteroles and a bottle of pinot grigio comes to £13.26.
LIDL – £24.44 – Tons of heart-shaped food, good for contradicting palates
Like Aldi, Lidl also shuns the set meal deal and offers Valentine’s-themed options.
This is handy if you’re a carnivore married to a vegan, or a cheese-loving vegetarian dating a lactose-intolerant pescatarian. You also aren’t tied down to a shared main. And your entire meal from chicken nugget starter to cookie dessert can be heart-shaped.
An example meal is £19.45 – for mussels, sirloin steaks with prosecco butter, gnocchi, souffle and cava. A dozen roses are £4.99.
M&S – £25 – Great for lamb lovers and lots of healthy veg-based sides
M&S doesn’t have roses by the dozen. But you can get 10 for £5.
They are tied with Waitrose for most expensive meal deal, but are the only supermarket to offer lamb as a main. They have more than 20 options, with a potential saving of £17.50 based on individual prices.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk