It is all too easy to get caught in the habit of purchasing familiar brands, believing they offer better value. However, I have tested countless supermarket own-brand products over the past few months in a bid to reduce my shopping costs, including baked beans and ketchups, and I have been truly surprised.
Why I Made the Switch
These trials have led me to now solely purchase and use certain own-brand items, including olive oil, baked beans, and dishwasher tablets. Switching to supermarket alternatives has reduced my expenditure without sacrificing quality, and in some cases, I have genuinely preferred them. It has demonstrated to me that opting for brands does not always ensure superior quality; sometimes, it merely means paying more.
Baked Beans
I switched to own-brand baked beans last year, and I honestly cannot understand why I did not make the change sooner. Following years of automatically choosing Heinz, I decided to sample Asda's version, and it is now my preferred option. Not only are they significantly cheaper, which truly makes a difference to the weekly shopping spend, but I actually enjoy the taste more. The sauce is tasty and well-balanced, and the beans have a brilliant texture. For a 410g tin, Asda charges merely 42p, compared to the £1.45 Tesco is asking for Heinz. I am also quite partial to Sainsbury's own-brand baked beans, though if I lived closer to an Asda, they would be my go-to choice.
Olive Oil
The same applies to olive oil. For years, I was a loyal buyer of Filippo Berio, convinced it was the superior choice, never once considering other options after becoming so accustomed to well-known brands. These days, I have switched to Sainsbury's own-brand olive oil, and I could not be happier with the change. It is significantly more affordable, which is a huge bonus, and it works every bit as well. I also love the olive oil sprays, too. They are great for using in the air fryer when you do not need lots of oil.
