British consumers splash out more than £10,000 on lunch meal deals in their working lifetime, according to new research.

As suppliers mark British Sandwich Week, which kicked off on Sunday (20 May), a poll conducted among 2,000 UK adults last month has revealed consumer attitudes to sandwiches and meal deals.

Researchers found that a third of Brits buy a lunchtime meal deal twice a week, with 14% buying one  more than three times a week.

Almost half (49%) of those polled described meals deals as convenient, while 45% believed they were reasonably priced and good value for money. When it came to which supermarket offered the beat value, Tesco came first with 30% of the responses, followed by Sainsbury’s and Boots in joint second place, Marks & Spencer in fourth and Morrisons fifth.

When it came to who was eating the meal deals, the study showed IT professionals were the biggest fans, with 23% eating a meal deal every day, followed by plumbers, electricians and builders (18%) and those who worked in accounts (16%).

In contrast, 41% of teachers and 33% of medical professionals said they rarely had meal deals during the working week.

From the findings of the poll – which was conducted on behalf of short-term loan provider Wonga – researchers calculated that the average consumer would spend £10,044 on meals deals in their working life.

“Our research gives a clear insight into the nation’s views on meal deals,” said James McMaster, head of marketing in the UK at Wonga. “It seems convenience meals are top of the agenda for many professionals and people like to feel they are getting good value for their money.