Consumer champion Which? has found that supermarket own-brand products often beat more expensive branded rivals in blind taste tests, offering significant savings for households amid the cost of living crisis. In a series of tests involving over 60 tasters, Which? evaluated products such as baked beans, orange juice, cereal, peanut butter, chocolate spread, and yeast extract from major supermarkets.
Lidl's Newgate baked beans (32p for 420g) were named the best value option, costing less than half the price of Heinz beans (£1 for 415g). Switching from Heinz to Lidl could save more than £70 a year for shoppers buying two tins per week. Aldi's The Juice Company Smooth Orange Juice (£1.69 per 1.75L) was the best value, beating Innocent juice (£3.60 for 1.35L) which came last for taste. Annual savings could reach £99.32.
Aldi's Harvest Morn Honey Nut Crunchy Cornflakes (85p per 500g) outperformed Kellogg's Crunchy Nut cornflakes (£3 per 500g), saving £2.15 per pack and £51.60 per year if bought fortnightly. Lidl's Mister Choc Crunchy Peanut Butter (85p for 340g) was the best value, compared to Sun-Pat (£2.50 per 400g), saving £1.65 per jar. Lidl's Choco Nussa Spread (£1.09 per 400g) beat Nutella (£2.90 per 350g) on taste, saving £1.81 per jar.
In the yeast extract category, Aldi's Grandessa Mighty Yeast Extract (£1.69 per 240g) was top for taste and cheaper than branded Marmite (£2.49 per 250g), saving £4.80 per year. Natalie Hitchins of Which? said: 'No one wants to overpay for basic groceries... Shopping around and buying own-brand products is an easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year.'
