Own brand versions that are at least as good as the market leaders.

Not exactly a case of ‘as good as’ since I don’t know of any other brand, but I nearly always keep a pack of Asda’s Smartprice small prawns in the freezer. They defrost in no time, perfect for a quick stir fry, and tonight (having wondered what on earth we’re going to have - a Big Shop is overdue but I just can’t be bothered today) I’m going to make a prawn risotto.

I’ve also used them in a Thai green curry - just for me and dh. For guests I would buy the bigger, more expensive ones.

Aldi cod fish fingers. I hadn't had fish fingers for years but my husband put these in my trolley one day .... we now buy them regularly

I nearly always plump for own brands, and the only one that’s disappointed was the Marmite clone. I can’t remember whether it was from Tesco or Sainsburys, but oh, it was foul!

I’m shamelessly revealing my lowbrow tastes now, but I recently discovered that all the supermarket, B & M etc cheapo versions of Supernoodles, on sale for 20p to 30p, taste as good, sometimes better, than the original, And the 25p Hubbard tinned rice pudding at Sainsburys is a real treat.

I’ve used supermarket brand fir years. Nota Heinz snob like some but did buy them on offer. Aldi is a great shop that keeps my cupboards full. Love the norpak butter. M&S cheaper wheat and white bread is lovely. But aldi definitely gets my vote especially the weetabix swap. ( agree with cheaper ones not so good).

Daddima

Louella12

M&S food does not come from the same place as any products from different supermarkets. I know this due to working on one of the places where their food is made.

The Bodach used to go to United Biscuits, where they told him that the biscuits made for Marks and Spencer had to have a shorter ‘best before’ date than others.
Young’s provided their seafood, and Pringle made their knitwear, albeit to M&S specifications, so probably not the same as own brands.

I did hear that about their cheese.

Some of M&S cheese is produced in the same place as that for other supermarkets but M&S had a shorter best before date.

Louella12

M&S food does not come from the same place as any products from different supermarkets. I know this due to working on one of the places where their food is made.

The Bodach used to go to United Biscuits, where they told him that the biscuits made for Marks and Spencer had to have a shorter ‘best before’ date than others.
Young’s provided their seafood, and Pringle made their knitwear, albeit to M&S specifications, so probably not the same as own brands.

I shop mainly at Sainsbury’s and this is mostly own brands except forCornflakes and baked beans as my DH prefers these.
My favourites from there are red label teabags, taste the difference coffee pods and 2 in 1 laundry liquid.

I buy a lot of Asda's own brand items -

tinned fish, fruit, beans, as well as jars of beetroot, and sweetcorn. Also, shower gel, cleaning wipes, polish, toilet rolls.

margauxbordeaux

Suzique:

Garofalo: Yes, it is also a good Italian brand of dry pasta.

Barilla at one time was very good however, now they produce most of the wheat in Canada. It is not Sicilian or Italian grown.

All dried pasta is NOT created equal. Cipriani is another brand however, difficult to encounter in The Madrid Capital of Spain.

We prefer DeCecco or making our own from Italian flour. I agree Barilla is not as good as it was. Assume non-Italian wheat is the difference.

Suzique:

Garofalo: Yes, it is also a good Italian brand of dry pasta.

Barilla at one time was very good however, now they produce most of the wheat in Canada. It is not Sicilian or Italian grown.

All dried pasta is NOT created equal. Cipriani is another brand however, difficult to encounter in The Madrid Capital of Spain.

LouLou you eat Weetabix or their clones for breakfast, with fresh fruit, and milk, cream or yoghurt poured over them. Extra sugar or honey if you wish (American taste seems to be for more sweetness that British in most foods)

Butter wise I think you definitely taste the difference if you have "grass fed" animals.

I've bought mostly own brand for some years, except I had Kenco coffee Peruvian until it got increasingly difficult to get, then stopped. To my surprise I found Aldi's 4 strength really good, and it's Rainforest Alliance.
Still haven't found an improvement on Shreddies but I will keep looking. As for butter, I refuse to buy other than British, I don't understand anyone buying from other than British farmers. It's always fine.

LouLou23

Elegran

I bought Tesco's own "Wheat Biscuits" in mistake for Weetabix, and discovered that they are so like the "real thing" that they could have been made in the same factory. What is more they are almost exactly half the price! Does anyone else have any favourites which match the market leaders in quality and beat them hands down on price?

What are these Tesco "Wheat Biscuits"? I see they have sugar, so are they cookies or like crackers? I am from the US so unfamiliar with them. What do you eat them with? They sound lovely. :-)

Breakfast cereal LouLou like Weetabix, but cheaper.

www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/254852950

Couldn’t find brown and poison blancmange anywhere online , they must have stopped making it jocork
Amazon sell the chocolate and assorted packs of Pearce Duffs make wonder if that’s as good? Loved the chocolate one.
But you could always put some cocoa into custard powder for a chocolate trifle.

Have a look at Bald Foodie Guy on You Tube. He does loads of comparisons, and the cheaper ones usually do well. Here’s his Weetabix one

youtu.be/62hr67KXhU4

And Corn Flakes

youtu.be/arW5fa-5bJg

Elegran

I bought Tesco's own "Wheat Biscuits" in mistake for Weetabix, and discovered that they are so like the "real thing" that they could have been made in the same factory. What is more they are almost exactly half the price! Does anyone else have any favourites which match the market leaders in quality and beat them hands down on price?

What are these Tesco "Wheat Biscuits"? I see they have sugar, so are they cookies or like crackers? I am from the US so unfamiliar with them. What do you eat them with? They sound lovely. :-)

Dee1012,

I totally agree about the Almat washing liquid.
I have a stained (from home hair dye) towel, Almat cleaned it completely, when well known makes as well as supermarket own brands did not touch it.
Reasonably priced as well!

margauxbordeaux

I think it depends on the product.

For example: I definitely prefer Italian Pasta De Cecchio verses other Italian brands. I do not purchase non - Italian Pasta.

This used to be my only brand but now I also like Garofalo too. I'm willing to pay extra for really nice pasta.

GrannySquare

Not fussed about own branded coffee as long as it is ground Peruvian.

That sounds pretty fussy to me, but I'm the same, I much prefer the Machu Picchu beans to anything else!

GrannyGravy13

Waitrose essential Baked Beans, in my opinion are 100% better than the leading brands.

Aldi West Country salted butter along with Norpak are better than the more expensive butters and Lurpak.

Ugh, no, GrannyGravy, Norpak is absolutely disgusting compared to Lurpak.

Blondiescot

4allweknow

I like Aldi tinned tomatoes(not their cheapest) as they have 65 /70% content tomatoes. Most others just give you 60%. Aldi's is about a half the price of Napolino's.

I buy them too. I love Mutti tinned tomatoes, but just can't justify the price when the Aldi ones are so much cheaper. And if you're putting them in something like chilli or bolognese, who's really going to notice the difference?

I'm afraid that Mutti are my one extravagance, I buy the finely chopped ones when on special offer as they taste so good and are never too wet or sour.

M&S food does not come from the same place as any products from different supermarkets. I know this due to working on one of the places where their food is made.

Someone I know worked in a juice factory where they produced Tetra Pak cartons and various brands all came from one big tank, so M&S, Sainsbury's, Tesco's etc we're all the same. Happy Shopper and Co-Op were slightly watered down.

BlueSapphire

Always try to buy supermarket's own brand. Sainsbury's Yeast Extract is just as good if not better than Marmite.

No no no!
It certainly is not