Tesco has launched a new food to go concept to make lunchtime meal deals simpler and quicker for customers.

Under the initiative, called Pickbox and being trialled at its Canary Wharf store, customers can choose any four items from a range of packaged products, including cooked pasta, rice, salads, fajitas, sauces and desserts - plus a dressing pot - for £5. The meals come in plastic containers that fit into a specially designed cardboard box with plastic cutlery ready to take away, which can be scanned at automatic tills within seconds.

Tesco says the move is part of a “lunchtime evolution” and comes as part of a major drive to make food to go its key offer at commuter and tourist areas in London.

“This is an ideal store in which to trial the concept,” said Kantar Retail analyst Bryan Roberts. “It’s catering to time-pressed affluent shoppers who want to create their own healthful lunch in one convenient stop.”