Lidl has emerged as the winner in a UK supermarket ice cream taste test, beating Magnum and six other own-brand competitors. The test, conducted by Sky News's Money team, awarded Lidl's product a score of nine out of ten, while Magnum received eight out of ten. M&S came second with eight and a half out of ten.
Detailed Results and Pricing
The taste test compared own-brand ice creams from Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, M&S, Lidl, Asda, and Aldi against Magnum and Cadbury offerings. Lidl's winning product retails at £3.19 for six ice creams, significantly cheaper than Magnum's £2 for three. Lidl's ice cream also boasts a larger portion size of 120ml compared to Magnum's 100ml, and a higher chocolate content of 30% versus Magnum's 28%.
Impact of Rising Costs on Magnum
According to a spokesperson for Unilever, Magnum's parent company, changes to the product were driven by ingredient costs. The spokesperson said: "The price of our ingredients. And that's why we've had to make some changes to our ice cream packs. To give all our pleasure seekers a pack size that suits their needs and budget you will now find your favourite Magnum flavours available in either three stick or six stick packs." In 2022, Magnum reduced its stick size and later cut pack counts from four to three.
Affordable Alternatives at Seaside Towns
For those seeking ice cream outside supermarkets, research by Zable identified Barton-on-Sea in Hampshire as the most affordable seaside location for a scoop, with a single vanilla scoop costing £1.95 and a two-scoop cone at £3.55.
