An Aussie ‘world first’ is being sold in the UK, and we don’t know how to feel
Brits have been left “furious” after a supermarket giant introduced a new version of an iconic Aussie item.
Brits have been left “furious” after a supermarket giant introduced a new version of an Aussie classic to a popular lunchtime meal.
Tesco, which has almost 3000 stores across the UK, recently added the iconic Tim Tam bar to its “meal deal” promotion in a new “world first” twin pack, and it is a move that has proved extremely divisive.
The humble meal deal enables customers to choose from one main, usually a sandwich, one snack, such as a packet of crisps or a biscuit, and a drink for a set price.
It has become widely recognised as a cultural British phenomenon in recent years, largely thanks to the rise of social media – but the Aussie addition has ruffled a few feathers.
Some claim the chocolate biscuit, made by Arnott’s, is “inferior” to the UK’s Penguin bar, which has long been compared to the Tim Tam.
“Tim Tams are disgusting, Penguins are superior,” raged one disgruntled Briton on TikTok following the announcement.
“We don’t want that Aussie crap infiltrating our meal deals,” fumed another.
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However, Aussies and Kiwis had a far nicer reaction.
“PSA to Kiwi and Aussies in the UK, Tim Tams are a meal deal snack at Tesco,” wrote one.
“Aussie gold is now part of a meal deal, day made,” remarked another.
A video shared to the official Tim Tam UK Instagram account shows someone buying the chockie bikkie from the self-serve checkout, alongside a Brie and Cranberry sandwich and a pre-packaged iced cappuccino.
The whole meal cost the shopper £4.24, about $8.50.
Interestingly, the new Tim Tam on-the-go option is not sold anywhere other than in the UK, with the brand’s market development manager stating it came in response to the product launching across the pond in 2024.
“Tim Tam has proven to be incredibly popular in the UK since our launch last year, and the demand to have Tim Tam in an on-the-go format has been strong,” Amber Dutkiewicz told Retail Times.
“We are excited to offer the opportunity to enjoy Tim Tam in a travel-friendly, snack-size two-biscuit pack format that is also available in the iconic Tesco Meal Deal.”
As well as the meal deal option, the Tim Tam Twin Pack Original can also be bought alone, priced at £1 ($2).
Part of the success of the meal deal lies in the various mix-and-match outcomes, with many customers trying to score the best price for their chosen combo.
It has become so ingrained in everyday life that every third Brit buys a meal deal for their lunch every day, with tourists often adding “try a meal deal” to their must-do lists while on holiday.
The meal deal announcement comes after it was ruled that Penguin bars, made by British snack brand McVities, can no longer be called chocolate due to their declining cocoa levels.
It is now described as “chocolate flavour” after the recipe was altered to reduce the expensive ingredient amid rising cocoa prices globally.
Interestingly, Woolworths has just launched two new festive sandwiches that the Aussie supermarket describes as a “tribute to the iconic UK meal deal tradition”.
Priced at $8.50, the British-inspired sangas are only available at Woolworths Metro stores across New South Wales, The ACT, Queensland, and Victoria.
The sangas are available in Turkey Stuffing & Cranberry Sauce as well as Christmas Ham, Cheese & Balsamic Chutney.
“Why wait for Christmas Day? We wanted to bring a fun, convenient way for customers to enjoy those iconic holiday tastes right now,” a spokesperson told news.com.au.
“Working with a local supplier, our team blended those rich, nostalgic flavours — from the turkey and stuffing to the ham and chutney — to create a delicious, lunch-sized tribute to this iconic UK tradition.”
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Originally published as An Aussie ‘world first’ is being sold in the UK, and we don’t know how to feel
