60 people went to Tesco to get a meal deal together and it’s adorable

The Meal Deal Society has gone viral on TikTok over the past few days (Picture: Getty Images) It was a just a normal, quiet, Tuesday night at the Tesco Express in Selly Oak, Birmingham. That is, until the chatter of more than 60 hungry students began to echo through the supermarket aisles. It was, of course, the arrival of the Birmingham University Meal Deal Society. ‘I’ve seen so many people with completely different interests, courses and friendship groups come together over their shared love of the meal deal,’ President of the society, Finlay, 21, tells Metro. ‘It’s been a really easy way for people to meet others they might not have otherwise crossed paths with.’ There’s a society for everything (and we mean, everything) at the Freshers Fair these days, from the Gilmore Girls Society at Liverpool Hope, to the Hummous Society at LSE and the Custard Wrestling Society at Cardiff. Birmingham’s Meal Deal Society was originally founded in 2017, but had been on an extended hiatus, which started in Covid. Then, with the start of a new year, came a fresh cohort of students eager to bring it back, using social media to drum up members. Finlay, a computer science student, played a key role in its return. Ask Metro Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications. After registering with the Guild of Students, the founding members did what any responsible club would: hold an AGM. ‘We were all democratically elected into our positions,’ Finlay shares. ‘I stood for president, as bringing the society back was originally my idea.’ Making connections with people outside his typical social circle has been one of Finlay’s favourite parts of the society (Picture: Meal Deal Society) While some society committees may take their members on rigorous hikes up Seven Sisters or on day trips to Roman burial sites, the Meal Deal Society is far more relaxed. Finlay tells Metro that their next event is a ‘a campus scavenger hunt, with teams completing tasks at various locations around campus.’ Other future activities include quizzes, volunteering, and collaborations with other University of Birmingham societies. Would you join a Meal Deal society? Sign up to Metro's The Slice newsletter for your guide to what's on in London, with trusted reviews, offers and giveaways. Keen to join? You’ll be pleased to know that the annual membership fee is just £3.85 which, unsurprisingly, includes a free meal deal. Of course, each committee member must publicly state their meal deal of choice on the website. For Finlay, it’s a simple choice, consisting of a Chicken Caesar Wrap, Jimmy’s iced coffee, and salt and vinegar Kettle chips. While social media executive, Maya, 21, prefers the Deli Meat Feast Sub, which she washes down with a Lipton Peach Ice Tea and Chocolate Croissant. The society is fast becoming a social media phenomenon, with the latest TikTok video racking up over 500,000 views. The committee who lead the viral society (Picture: Meal Deal Society) It’s now experiencing a swell of demand from wannabe members, with more and more students — some from other universities — clamoring to get involved. Comments on one of their recent TikTok videos read ‘this is a society I would sign up for,’ and ‘omg I need to join’. One user @Rebs described the recent society event at Selly Oak Tesco Express as ‘peak British culture’. While @jasmin added ‘I need to know the most ordered items between all of them and I need it now’. It perhaps speaks to the intergenerational love of the meal deal — an oft cited statistic says that more than 7 million are sold each weekday. Plus, as Gen Z drinks less, with 35% of 16–24-year-olds in England reporting no alcohol consumption in the past year in a 2026 health survey, it’s no surprise societies like this are gaining popularity. But for Finlay, it’s simply about offering students the opportunity to connect. The Meal Deal Society is keen to stress that they’re a ‘relaxed’ bunch, ‘where you can meet new people and get involved whenever you fancy’. Even during lockdown, when Finlay’s predecessors were running the show, the team regularly communicated with society members on Facebook, keeping spirits high by rating different meal deals and sharing crucial information. Now, brands like Tesco, UniDAYS, Deliveroo, and KrispyKreme are also eager join in on the fun, leaving comments on the society’s TikTok hinting at future collaborations. And, Finlay does confirm that they don’t discriminate when it comes to the beloved meal deal. The president adds that while the society has strictly stuck to Tesco meal deals of late, they’re not biased. ‘We’re definitely planning to branch out and try other supermarkets and food establishments in the future!’ he adds. Do you have a story you’d like to share? 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