Anchor, one of the UK's most recognisable butter brands, has been placed last in a taste test of 13 supermarket butters, scoring just 3.5 out of 5. The test, conducted by food writer Emma Henderson for The Independent, saw own-label offerings dominate the top spots.
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference West Country farmhouse butter was crowned the winner with a perfect five-star rating. Priced at £3 for 250g, it features Maldon sea salt flakes and is made using a slower churning process with higher-quality whey cream from leftover cheese production. However, it is currently not available through Sainsbury's online delivery service.
M&S British salted butter took second place, also scoring five stars. Henderson praised its £2 price tag as 'as affordable as it gets for decent blocks of butter', describing it as 'lightly salted and not too overpowering'. Tesco Finest butter with sea salt crystals ranked 12th, while Kerrygold claimed third place.
The test comes amid a broader butter renaissance, with experts suggesting that butter, when enjoyed in moderation, is a better choice than ultra-processed margarines. Sales of flavoured butters have surged by 24% in the year to September 2025, driven by social media trends and a growing 'foodie' culture among younger consumers.
