'Proper' brands v Supermarket versions

I was told by someone working in a biscuit factory that they make for various "brands" but the actual ingredients/recipe does vary.

I know this is true of soaps having lived near a soap factory and buying de-branded/overmakes and "basics" type soaps there. They made everything from cheap-as-chips to Harrods and (if I remember correctly) Creed.

The staff knew which ones were made with what and would unofficially say "come back in a few days" if they knew something lush was coming to the end of an order.

Needless to say we always had lovely soaps I'm those days!

I've generally been pleasantly surprised by supermarket own brands but agree that Fairy Liquid is superior to all other detergents I've tried. Love Tesco's own Fruit Muesli.

Also, branded products (such as cereals and chocolate) are different in different countries.

One shop in America that I've used actually is not allowed to sell certain UK manufactured products as the industry has an international agreement in place! It's nothing to do with colours or e-numbers either - just money deals.

Aldi's Nordpak tastes as good as Lurpak. I was prepared to buy Lurpak regardless of price as it's my favourite but tried Aldi and Tesco versions and both are OK.
I buy my Fairy Liquid in the big bottles from The Range they last a long time. I decant it into a smaller one as the big one is too difficult for me to squeeze. Other than that, I do try own brand and will buy it if it tastes OK. Many years ago, I bought Tesco Rice Krispies for my kids, they were horrid and clung to the roof of my mouth. Today I tried toast made from Sainsburys Seeded bread, yuck same again clung to the roof of my mouth so back to Hovis in future.

Lidl dishwasher tablets are just as good as the Finish/Fairy ones I’ve been buying for years and cost £3.19 for 40. Less than half the price of branded ones.

I rarely buy named brands. Apart from anything I can’t afford to, but as others have said, the own brands are usually as good. I have never bought anything other than the cheapest chopped tomatoes, and my cooking is no worse for it. I usually shop in Asda or Lidl and am very happy with their own brands. I recently bought some hand wash from Lidl. It was the More expensive brand, about £1.70! It looks just like the White Company bottles and smells amazing. The White Company ones are at least £16.

Even ice lollies from Lidl are lovely. I look for the ones that look like name brands and buy them and there’s no difference. Lidl washing powder/liquid is great. So much cheaper and does a really good job.

I now do the bulk of my shopping at Aldi and find the quality of the food very good - their tinned chicken soup blows all the much more expensive versions out the water!
I do still use Fairy washing powder, mainly because I tend to come out in a rash with anything else

We have shopped with Asda for years and use a lot of their own brand products from foods to cleaning items, and have noticed very little difference in quality or efficiency compared with branded products. Asda's laundry liquids, tea bags, bread, biscuits, cereals, milk, etc are just as good (if not better) than the branded equivalents - and cheaper.

Own brands or Home Bargains for me with just a few exceptions. Ketchup and Mayonnaise have to be Heinz and I like my more expensive coffee and tea. If you’re still shopping in M&S you must have a bigger budget than a lot of people in the current climate, nothing wrong with that, just saying…..

Riverwalk

The cheaper brands of paracetamol can be harder to swallow - the tablets are chalky and catch at the back of the throat. I find the caplets (not capsules) are smoother and the shape makes them easier to swallow.

I much prefer soluble paracetamol. I think it takes effect quicker than solid pills or capsules as it's already dissolved.

As Martin Lewis advises, try own brand once. If you and family don’t notice any difference or it’s marginal and the own brand is cheaper - go for it! IMO most own brands are absolutely fine - and I’m quite fussy. Especially good value is Lidl.

Because I am house bound I shop on line from Sainsburys so don’t have much choice.
I don’t eat baked beans because of problems caused by cancer and avoid tomatoes as they are bad for arthritis.
My help gets A large Fairy liquid from B and M as well as bleach.
I use very little clothes washing liquid because I put a tablespoon of soda crystals in the dispenser drawer. Use white vinegar instead of clothes softener. Use toilet soap instead of shower gel.

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.

Someone I know used to work for McVities and said the "best before" dates on the packets of digestive biscuits in a production run varied depending on where they would be sold.
Those destined for Canada had a date three months later than those sold here or in Europe.

The only ones with a different recipe were the M&S ones, they had their own production run.

V3ra you may be interested to know that there is a regulation as to how quickly drugs enter your system. Apologies if you knew this (I only recently discovered).
... So for example Ibuprofen has to be 75% in your system after (I think) 40 mins.
The brands that state "fast acting" have to come in quicker than that. I think I read 25 mins.

If your soluble paracetamol variety says "fast acting" it will work faster than regular paracetamol whether it is soluble or not.
If you are wanting the pain relief quickly I'd look out for the ones advertised as "fast".

In my weekly Asda delivery today, with the exception of Clover and Cadburys choc bars, everything is own brand, some the cheaper yellow range. Even if I could afford it, I wouldn't pay the extra for the big brands, perfectly happy with the supermarket brands

I’ve always bought Andrews loo rolls and have their gone right down hill in quality shocking paper thin. I was visiting a friend and hers were really thick so I asked her where she got them and they were from Aldi. So I’m buying from them next time I need some. I have also always bought fairy but as just me I’m going to buy cheaper brands. I bought chocolate biscuits and my son said you still buying posh brands mum lol said no son Tesco’s own brand. 55p a pack other ones I buy are 2.00 I keep trying different stuff it’s trial and error.

Don't the fast acting medications have caffeine in?

I have used Aldi’s washing powder, dishwasher tablets and washing up liquid for quite a long time. They regularly come up as “best buys” in Which? Consumer magazine, and I’ve always found them extremely good. I also buy plenty of another “own brands” from various supermarkets. Why waste money?

Some own brands are fab, others not so much…you just have to give things a try and see what you think - one man’s meat is another man’s poison, and all that

I agree most Aldi own brands are as good as the main ones
With prices as they are it really is a no brainier !

I tried Lidl digestives once and they were really grim so I haven't tried any others. I find Waitrose own brands usually better than branded things but these prices have gone up too. I buy Waitrose sensitive unperfumed washing up liquid and add my own aromatherapy oils... usually peppermint and tea tree, as I dislike the smell of most of them.
My daughter turns up her nose at own brand tomato ketchup, baked beans and tomato soup but I think after 2 or 3 times of having the own brand you don't notice the difference.
It's about habit often rather than being 'better'.

Aldi tomato sauce contains way more actual tomatoes than any other brand.
It's more runny, though.

kittylester

Don't the fast acting medications have caffeine in?

I don't believe so.. it's the way the drug enters the system.
There are rules about it as I explained earlier.

I just googled it and here's an article (from 2016 I'm afraid). There may be more recent ones. It doesn't seem to mention caffeine but does explain about the pharmaceutical "rules".

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/science/2016/oct/03/do-branded-painkillers-work-better-than-cheaper-generic-ones-iboprofen-nurofen

Our son in law says he would never eat anything from Aldi or Lidl. Recently we all went to a barbecue. The hosts were rather 'well to do'. SIL was wolfing down sausages and told the host they were fantastic and asked where they were from. His face was a picture when she said 'Lidl'!

I prefer Sainsbury's Real Mayo to Hellman's. I have changed to Sainsbury's tomato ketchup from Heinz. Try Branston's brown sauce, in my opinion much better than either HP or Daddies. If you're not sure try smallest size of any own brand and make your own judgement.