'Proper' brands v Supermarket versions

I do prefer Fairy Liquid as nothing else seems to equal it. Only buy it in Home Bargains or other shops, though, not the supermarket.

Aldi dishwasher tablets came out top in a recent survey I read and they do us fine.

Agree with M&S baked beans, they’re excellent, and their tinned toms and tuna. Their own cereals such as cornflakes, ‘Weetabix’ and bran flakes are good, too.

Aldi can be good but ime is very hit and miss. I wasn’t impressed by a tin of tomatoes that contained just one tomato floating in watery juice. On the other hand, my dd did a shop for a week for a family of four for £77 yesterday, which is good going.

My son is MD of a company which produces food for various supermarkets. In most instances, only the label changes. The food is the same.

I think tinned tomatoes are extremely varied brand to brand (and unbranded).
I do buy lots of different ones but know which I actually like best...
Mutti ? - only for occasional use now though! £££

Cabbie21

My son is MD of a company which produces food for various supermarkets. In most instances, only the label changes. The food is the same.

We know there are a limited number of food production companies who make for various outlets. I was under the impression, from a son who worked for one of the big 4 a few years ago, that they often had their own recipe variations produced by the food producers. If you compare ingredient lists and nutritional tables on them there are differences. If the own brands are exactly the same as the branded, why do some people say they're even better than the branded?
That said I do use some own brands, another fan of Aldi washing up liquid. Own brand toilet paper was in use until a drop in quality so it's back, reluctantly, to Andrex. I've never found a difference between branded and unbranded pasta.

Aldi and Lidl own brands are excellent.
I just had a quick look in the kitchen and we have proper Marmite (bought from Lidl) and some Things tea bags (pinched from a hotel). These are the only brands in the house.

I think that proper Weetabix is very different from own brands but otherwise I am happy with own brands..oh except for marmalade as well. Own brands seem to be fairly tasteless in my opinion.

I always buy Asda’s Smartprice pasta (penne) and their ditto packs of very small prawns, which defrost in no time and go well with a multi-veg stir-fry.

Their baked beans are fine, but I’ve generally stopped buying their own tinned tomatoes - branded ones have rather more tomatoes and rather less juice.

Most supermarket own label items are fine. However, I’m not giving up my Taylor’s coffee, I’ve tried lots of different supermarket brands and none of them compared. The other thing I can’t substitute is the dog’s Forthglade, as there doesn’t seem to be a supermarket version which compares nutritionally.

I insist on Fairy liquid and Yorkshire tea, but most other things are whatever’s cheaper, be it own label or not.

I much prefer Birds eye frozen peas, Nescafé gold blend, fairy washing up liquid and lurpack butter. But will try anything else,and have been doing over the last few weeks. M &S tuna, soup and biscuits are nearly half the price of the big brands and very good.

I’m always happy to try own brands, especially at Lidl. If we like them or they work it’s a saving. If we don’t it would be a bigger waste of money to buy them.

Tesco,
dish tabs, baked beans, washing liquid & softener, tinned custard, long-life milk, toilet rolls, tinned toms, kidney beans, in fact any pulses, mayo. I don't work for them!

I really like clover butter, anyone know of a similar one?

NotSpaghetti

I think tinned tomatoes are extremely varied brand to brand (and unbranded).
I do buy lots of different ones but know which I actually like best...
Mutti ? - only for occasional use now though! £££

Tomatoes are one I get tied up with as well. When I lived near a Waitrose I bought everything own brand [Waitrose brainwashing}? Now I have to use Sainsbury's. their tinned tomatoes do not give the same taste to dishes even adding a little bit of sugar. I give in and buy Mutti or Cireao whichever is the cheapest.
The toilet roll has gone back to Andrex as we were getting through at least three times as many and can't buy quilted as it blocks our drains. I also buy Nescafe coffee.
I never buy Eco products, though Sainsbury's did give me Method granite cleaner when they did not have their own and it does give a lovely polish or is that me hoping it does?
Aldi has a lot of products with the Good housekeeping logo and I buy them.

I live near Aldi so I am increasingly trying their brands. Washing and washing up liquids are good. They are also selling more well known brands now, including Heinz baked beans, but Ihaven’t yet seen the sugar-free type there.

I eat the food I like whatever label it has, as for washing up liquid I've always bought own brand as I don't do any washing up by hand, it's used for cleaning paint brushes etc. Dishwasher tablets are fairy platinum. I have no need to try own brands if I'm happy with the current ones. I've tried other brands in the past and not liked them so I'll stick to my current ones. Each to their own.

I agree that tinned tomatoes vary, and I always choose Napolina or Ciro (who just had their plum toms from Puglia on special offer). We always buy Tesco French Coffee blend, as we like a strong cup. And, Lidl's washing powder and dishwasher tablets are excellent, and the powder comes in a cardboard box, so no plastic. Sainsbury's Assam loose tea leaves are good, but for baked beans only Heinz will do!

I like Branston beans, but I need to check out some alternatives, just in case they're better.

I used to buy whichever branded products were on offer. When my income dictated more penny pinching I switched to all own brands. I love baked beans and tesco are my favourite. I use Aldi dishwasher tablets, washing powder and washing up liquid and all perform well.

Currently enjoying a box of M&S fruit and fibre cereal. It was £1.35 which is half the price of Kellogg’s equivalent. I suspect it’s the same cereal.

A few months ago I bought a jar of Tesco own brand “Gold” coffee as my favourite Nescafé had increased further in price. It’s only £3 for a large 200g jar. The branded equivalent is £6. I honestly can’t tell the difference.

waitrose essential sardines were gross but suitable for cats I suppose. Big coarse fish with rough scales

Have a look on You Tube for Bald Foodie Guy, who does many comparisons. The supermarkets ( especially Aldi) usually do well.

I'll definitely check him out, thanks.

I tried own brand digestive biscuits instead of McVities last week…..they were horrible, too sweet and too crisp. Very disappointed.

I havent found a digestive I like as much as Mcvities, either.

Too sweet, and I like that slightly salty taste.

karmalady

waitrose essential sardines were gross but suitable for cats I suppose. Big coarse fish with rough scales

Suitable for cats? How insulting!

I'll have you know that my cats eat better sardines than I do!

They won't touch Aldi sardines - only Waitrose or Tesco. I made the mistake of buying 12 tins of Aldi sardines for them and they just turned their noses up, so I ended up with them.

Heinz is awful, there is more water than beans in a tin. Asda washing up liquid lasts for weeks and lidl soap powder is fantastic, so much better than Ariel