In a blind taste test of baked beans, several supermarket own-brand options outperformed the market leader Heinz, which has dominated UK shelves for over 130 years. Heinz sells 1.5 million tins daily and holds 65-70% of the market, but the taste test found its beans to be a 'steadfast 6/10 experience' — familiar but unexciting.
Morrisons' own-brand beans scored 8/10, praised for a thick, sweet tomato sauce with a 'quiet spicy flourish' from ingredients including cinnamon and garlic oil. The beans were described as having 'greater depth and character' than Heinz while sticking to a similar template. Duchy Organic, costing 13p less than Heinz, scored 7/10 with a 'bright and well-rounded tomato flavour' and creamy texture.
Other supermarket brands fared worse. Co-op's beans scored 3/10, described as a 'bewildering muddle of peculiar flavours' with tired beans. Tesco's scored 4/10, with a thin, bland sauce and mushy haricot beans. Aldi's version scored 5/10, lacking tomato flavour and containing some undercooked beans.
The test suggests that while Heinz remains the default choice for many, cheaper alternatives can offer superior taste. The results challenge the notion that 'Beanz means Heinz', showing that budget options can beat the iconic brand on flavour.
