YouTuber Just Deano has compared 11 branded products with Aldi's budget alternatives, finding five cheaper options that came out on top. The taste test, shared with his subscribers, saw him pit items like Cheerios, Mars bars, and Pringles against Aldi's own versions, with results he described as "shocking."
Five Budget Alternatives Win
Deano identified five Aldi alternatives that he preferred over the branded originals: Titan bars (over Mars), Nordpak butter (over Lurpak), Dark Thunder energy drink (over Monster), Professor Peppy (over Dr Pepper), and Mumbai Mad Boy noodles (over Pot Noodle Bombay Bad Boy). He also found the branded versions superior in six other comparisons, including Cheerios, Pringles, and Freddo bars.
Setting out the challenge, Deano said: "In today's video, we are going to be comparing some high branded, high quality, very expensive items with the cheap budget options." He added: "The thing is, will they taste similar? Will the quality be as good? And is the price going to be ridiculously lower?"
Notable Comparisons
In the cereal test, Cheerios (priced at £3.50) beat Aldi's Hoops Multigrain (79p), with Deano noting the Hoops were "very very bland." For chocolate, Titan bars (£1.45 for six) beat Mars (£1.89 for four), with Deano saying they were "absolutely identical" in taste. Lurpak butter (£4.75) lost to Nordpak (£2.18), which Deano described as "identical" in flavour.
Monster Energy (£1.75) lost to Dark Thunder (89p), with Deano saying he "definitely wouldn't be paying £1.75 over 80p." Dr Pepper (£1.69) lost to Professor Peppy (49p), with Deano noting the Aldi pop alternatives are "just as good if not better."
Branded Winners
However, Deano favoured several branded products despite higher prices. Pringles (£1.85) beat Stackz (£1.19) for taste, though he noted Pringles can be found cheaper elsewhere. Fridge Raiders (95p) beat Snackin Chicken (40p), with Deano calling them "elite stuff." Bachelors Super Noodles (£1.20) beat Bramwells Express (39p) on flavour, and Penguin bars (£1) beat Seal Bars (slightly more expensive) due to the joke and nicer chocolate.
The final tie-breaker saw Freddo bars (£1 for four) beat Deeno, with Deano admitting he'd "pay the Freddo" despite the Deeno's lower price. He concluded: "So, to sum up, the originals are the best and the alternatives, well, they are just that. However, in some cases, those alternatives, save yourselves some pennies. And in others, well, unfortunately, you just got to pay for that brand name because it's just nicer."
