Waitrose own-brand tomato ketchup has been crowned the best in a blind taste test conducted by Which?, outperforming Heinz and other major brands. The panel of 60 ketchup enthusiasts rated Waitrose's offering at 77%, with many praising its balanced tanginess, sweetness, and depth of flavor.
Affordable Winner
At just 90p for a 470g bottle, the Waitrose ketchup was also among the most affordable options tested, costing a third of Heinz's price. The majority of tasters found its color ideal, with 82% rating it highly. Additionally, it contains lower levels of sugar and salt than Heinz.
Co-op and Heinz Follow
Co-op's On the Side Tomato Ketchup finished just behind Waitrose, praised for its excellent thickness and attractive color. Priced at £1.25 for 550g, it was slightly more expensive than other own-brand options. Heinz secured joint-second place alongside Co-op, receiving high marks for appearance, aroma, and flavor, though a third of the panel felt its texture was too thin. At £3 per 460g, Heinz was the most costly ketchup sampled, though it often appears on promotion.
Other Brands Ranked
Asda ranked next, described as a "good all-rounder" at £1.13 for 550g. Hellmann's followed, with some tasters finding it excessively tangy; it cost £2.15 for 473g. Tesco received praise for texture but was unimpressive in flavor. M&S had modest ratings for flavor and texture, with higher sugar levels. Sainsbury's finished second from bottom, while Morrisons received the poorest rating for flavor, with some describing it as too tangy and insufficiently sweet.
Jessica Carson, Which? taste test expert, said: "For many of us, tomato ketchup is a much-loved kitchen staple, but our blind taste test shows that there's no need to let brand loyalty squeeze your weekly budget. If you're looking for a supermarket alternative, you don't have to compromise on flavour. We found a 90p bottle that, according to your tasters, tastes just as good as Heinz, and it contains slightly less sugar and salt, too."
