Consumer group Which? has revealed that shoppers could save up to £250 a year by switching from popular branded groceries to supermarket own-brand alternatives. The findings come amid the ongoing cost of living crisis, which has forced many households to reassess their spending.
Blind taste tests conducted by Which? showed that cheaper options often matched or even outperformed expensive brands like Heinz, Innocent, and Kellogg's. For example, Lidl's Newgate baked beans at 32p per 420g tin were found to be the best value, costing less than half the price of Heinz beans. Switching from Heinz to Lidl on two tins a week could save over £70 annually.
Similarly, Aldi's The Juice Company Smooth Orange Juice at £1.69 per 1.75L carton was the best value and taste option, beating Innocent juice which cost £3.60 for 1.35 litres. Shoppers could save £99.32 a year by making the swap. In the cereal aisle, Aldi's Harvest Morn Honey Nut Crunchy Cornflakes at 85p per 500g pack saved £51.60 a year compared to Kellogg's Crunchy Nut at £3.
Other notable savings include Lidl's Mister Choc Crunchy Peanut Butter at 85p per 340g jar, saving £1.65 per jar over Sun-Pat, and Lidl's Choco Nussa Spread at £1.09 per 400g jar, saving £1.81 per jar over Nutella. Aldi's Grandessa Mighty Yeast Extract at £1.69 per 240g jar saved £4.80 a year compared to Marmite. While some brands like Nescafe and Heinz Tomato Ketchup retained top taste scores, cheaper alternatives offered significant savings: Aldi's instant coffee saved £3.85 per jar, and Sainsbury's Tomato Ketchup at 60p saved £1.70 per bottle.
Natalie Hitchins, Which? Head of Home Products and Services, said: 'No one wants to overpay for basic groceries, especially when the cost of living crisis is putting huge pressure on household budgets. Shopping around and buying own-brand products is an easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year.'
