We're all being encouraged to be more health conscious, so it's no surprise that salad companies are booming across Britain as Brits swap their lunch sandwiches for a lighter option.
LondonFor example, “plant-centric grain bowls and salads” brand Atis unveiled the opening of its sixth location next month, with four more planned this year.
Meanwhile, Farmer J secured a £5.5m investment in February, thanks to its ever-popular salad bowls.
There's no doubt that the country is craving nutritious salad bowls, but the new lunch trend has a major setback: extortionate price tags.
In contrast to the relatively low cost of a sandwich, salad bowls can cost upwards of £10, which has sparked outrage on social media, with customers complaining that while their salad tastes 'delicious', the prices are too expensive.
Salads have become an increasingly popular lunch choice among British workers, but how much are you willing to pay?
Pret remains a lunch staple for employees looking for a quick but healthy solution for their lunch break.
Their summer menu introduced four new salad options, including a salmon and mango salad bowl, a grilled pepper and feta pasta salad and a chicken satay salad bowl.
But the good news comes with bad news. The cheapest new salad costs £8.30, while the most expensive – salmon and mango – costs £8.40.
But the national chain scores relatively low on the price list. One of London's trendy salad companies, Urban Greens, charges a whopping £14.35 for its 'Beef Saigon' salad bowl when ordering via Deliveroo.
Elsewhere, the Salad Project is all the rage in the British capital, with the brand regularly attracting half-hour queues. Their success is reflected in the 4,000 salads they sell every day in London alone.
“These are delicious salads,” claimed James Dare, co-founder of The Salad Project, in conversation with The times. He added: 'Yes, they are more expensive than a salad you buy at Pret. But they will keep you full. You don't have to eat a sandwich immediately afterwards.'
They may keep you full, but the opposite effect for your bank account is to be expected if the Salad Project becomes a regular lunch break.
Their vegan 'Super Green Bowl' with pearl barley, rocket, spinach, green beans, broccoli, croutons, edamame, tamari tofu and avocado will cost customers £14.95.
Hungry customers can grab a 'Beef Saigon' salad (pictured) from Urban Greens for the price of £14.35
And if anyone would like a drink and a snack with the salad, the Salad Project is offering a Deliveroo meal deal for £17.
Elsewhere, Farmer J has proven to be an increasingly popular choice for workers wanting a healthy bite.
London content creator Stephanie Jane Oakes commented on TikTok: “Do you even work in London if you haven't stood in the ridiculously long queue at Farmer J,” before sharing her order.
Stephanie opted for the 'Charred Grass-Fed Flank Steak' salad tray, which costs a whopping £15.75 at Deliveroo.
Other options at the chain include a salmon 'Farmer's Catch' tray for £12.95 and a Harissa Chicken tray for £13.95.
Farmer J's success in London saw the chain receive a £5.5m investment in February, with the chain planning further expansion in the UK and overseas in the US, according to RestaurantOnline.
Elsewhere, Atis' 'Azteca' house salad, filled with lettuce, baby corn and black beans, costs £12, and that's without the egg white.
If you want to add chicken it costs £4.90, or an even higher £6.90 for salmon.
Lauren Tanner shared her experience of visiting the Atis branch in Old Street, London, where she paid an 'irresponsible' £16 for a salad.
Lauren claimed it was “delicious,” but the price tag prompted her to add, “First and last time I order a salad.”
Meanwhile, Whole Foods – a supermarket known to offer high-quality items at an equally expensive price range – is surprisingly on the lower end of the spectrum.
While most chains allow customers to build their own salad bowls for varying prices, pre-mixed ones are also available. For example, their Mediterranean chicken salad costs £7.49.
The cost of lunchtime salads has nevertheless sparked outrage on social media, with customers taking to X to share their disapproval.
The price of salads has sparked outrage on X, formerly Twitter, with users on social media complaining
One said: 'Salad place next door in East London does a Caesar (no egg whites, just bareback lettuce and a few croutons) for £9.80 in East London.'
A second added: 'The chap at the till in Pret just said: “How can I help you my friend” and then charged me £8.40 for a small box of salad. Friends don't do that to each other. They just don't do that.'
'God, I love London. Where else in the world can you buy the blandest salad you've ever tasted for £18?, a third wrote:
A fourth wondered: 'Why are salads so expensive? They're just leaves, I can walk outside and find thousands of them. How can a salad justify the price of £13?
The cost of high street salads…
The Salad Project
'Supergreen' salad bowl – £14.95
Customers at the Salad Project can expect a queue of up to 30 minutes for their salad bowls (photo 'Supergreen' salad bowl)
In return for
Salmon and mango salad – £8.40
Pret has introduced a number of new salads as part of their summer range, including the salmon and mango bowl (pictured)
Farmer J
Salmon field tray – £12.95
Farmer J is selling salads paired with a protein in their signature field trays, and their plan is set to expand to the US
Atis
Seiz'a salad – £11.50
With chicken – +€5.50
With salmon – +€6.90
Atis charges £11.50 for their version of Caesar salad (pictured) and an additional £5.50 for chicken
Whole foods
Mediterranean Chicken Salad – £7.49
WholeFoods is known to be on the expensive side of supermarkets, but their £7.49 Mediterranean salad (pictured) is at the lower end of the spectrum
Urban Greens
Beef Saigon Salad – £14.35
Salad chain Urban Greens is popping up all over the British capital, where customers can get their hands on a beef salad for £14.35 (pictured)
Prices taken from Deliveroo locations in London