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Metro
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Supermarket own-brand chocolate bar crowned better than Cadbury, Tony's and M&S
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more Is there a problem a chocolate can't solve? Whether it's a case of the Mondays or it's that time of the month, a little sweet treat can work wonders. Many of us will likely reach for the likes of Cadbury or Tony's Chocolonely when the cravings hit, but are these really the best? After several supermarket own-brand products recently beat out big name brands in Metro taste tests, we couldn't help but wonder how the retailers would fare when it came to chocolate. Following the recent craze for loaded chocolate bars like The Big Daddy from M&S and the viral Dubai chocolate (which don't come cheap), we put 13 bars to the test to see which are really worth your money. Interestingly, it was a supermarket product that came out on top, with several other supermarket options proving to be just as good as pricier options. Keep on reading to find out which ones we loved and which chocolate bars we wouldn't bother buying again… It's certainly a big chocolate bar and it's rammed full of filling. The flavour is overwhelmingly that of peanut butter, so if you aren't a fan, this won't be one for you. It's very much like an oversized Reese's Cup, in a slab format, so if you're expecting something more luxurious, this might not fit the bill. Very tasty and a little bit of this bar goes a long way — but sorry M&S, I'm not convinced it's worth the £7.50 price tag. Rating: 4/5 Reviewed by Courtney Pochin, specialist food writer The Big Daddy is definitely too big for a quick snack. There's no breaking this bar of chocolate with your hands, unless you have a similar type of super strength as the Hulk. If I'm being honest, this felt a bit too sickly for me. The caramel is slightly overpowering and you can't taste too much pistachio, despite there being a lot crammed in the bar. A few bites was enough, but for the novelty aspect, definitely worth a try. Rating: 3.5/5 Reviewed by Jessica Hamilton, lifestyle reporter Twice the size of a regular chocolate bar, this extra-long number from M&S contains raisins, almond brittle and nibbed hazelnuts All the components are good, but the chunky nuts make it feel a bit too healthy for my taste. I prefered Tesco's biscuit and raisin bar, which might be smaller, but it's mightier. Rating: 3/5 Reviewied by Jess Austin, first-person and opinion editor Tiffins are an underrated baked good, but one of my favourites and this chocolate bar is a tiffin reincarnate. Unlike like a tiffin, where my sweet tooth keeps me to just one portion, I could eat the whole bar of this (Tesco biscuit and raisin) Rating: 5/5 Reviewed by Jess Austin, first-person and opinion editor Tesco's Crispies, Caramel and Almond loaded milk chocolate is a moreish triumph. You might think its crunchy almond and chewy caramel texture, paired with a salty aftertaste are too much for the senses, but it's the perfect blend of flavours. My only critiques would be that the pieces are quite big and the chocolate could be a little creamier. But it's got all the ingredients to pack a superb punch. Rating: 4.5/5 Reviewed by James Besanvalle, assistant opinion editor Those who love anything sweet and salty, with a bit of a crunch will love this chocolate bar. While the flavour of the chocolate itself doesn't quite live up to favourites like Cadbury, it's wonderfully creamy and there's plenty of filling, with pretzel pieces in each bite. A nice little salty kick comes through in every mouthful too. Rating: 4/5 Reviewed by Courtney Pochin, specialist food writer This one is good, but doesn't quite measure up to the others from Tesco's range. The pieces of honeycomb and caramelised pecans are quite small, meaning they don't pack a lot of punch in terms of flavour. It's essentially just quite a sweet chocolate bar, with a little bit of crispiness. This is disappointing as I love pecans and think this combo had so much potential. Rating: 3/5 Reviewed by Courtney Pochin, specialist food writer While the minimalist packaging and slender size makes it seem like it'd be super grown-up, it tastes similar to one of my childhood favourites, Caramac. The butterscotch flavour is nostalgic, and there is a hint of saltiness, but it's hard to detect much beyond the overpowering sweetness. Texture-wise it was also a miss, with no discernable nuts or difference between the filling and shell. Yes, I hate half the bar – but that's because I'm a gannet, not because I particularly enjoyed it. Rating: 2/5 Reviewed by Jessica Lindsay, assistant lifestyle editor We've already established I'm a fan of the sweet and salty combo, but I don't think it works quite as well with the white chocolate here as it has with other milk chocolate bars in this taste test. Perhaps because white chocolate doesn't have the same richness to it. For me, this bar was too sweet and too salty all at the same time. It was overwhelming and not in a pleasant way. I felt my face scrunch up on the first bite. What I did like about it though was the generous amount of pistachios inside, they gave it a lovely crunch. The chocolate is also super smooth and the bar looks sleek and expensive. Rating: 2/5 Reviewed by Courtney Pochin, specialist food writer I LOVE Cadbury, Dairy Milk is always my go-to when I need a little chocolate pick-me-up, but the &More bars did not hit the spot for me. There are two different options to choose from; a Nutty Praline Crisp and the Caramel Nut Crunch, but neither wowed – especially as the products look nothing like the imagery on the packets. From the pictures, I'd been expecting chunky bars, filled with layers of filling, when in reality they're just regular-sized chocolate. The flavours were disappointing, with both tasting quite artificially sweet and cheap. This isn't the Cadbury chocolate we all know and love. For the praline one, I couldn't pick out any specific individual flavours from the fillings, unlike with others in the taste test. While the caramel nut crunch, didn't bring the crunch it promised, the nuts inside were pretty soft, and it was more chewy. Rating: 1/5 Reviewed by Courtney Pochin, specialist food writer When they said this is an 'everything' bar, they weren't kidding. The milk chocolate is chocker block with caramel, pretzel, almond, nougat and sea salt. It's crunchy, chewy, sweet and salty all at once – a real feast for your taste buds. I did like this a lot and I'm a big fan of Tony's chocolate and the brand's ethos, but I'm not sure I could eat an entire bar, or very much of it in one sitting – there's just so much going on. Rating: 3.5/5 Reviewed by Courtney Pochin, specialist food writer The Dubai chocolate craze has recently been usurped by the new Angel Hair chocolate, but we can't talk about filled chocolate bars without including at least one of these. Like the others, this contains pistachio cream and kadayif all wrapped in milk chocolate. I'm firmly of the opinion that Dubai chocolate is an acquired taste. I've tried a few different ones now and haven't been overly keen thus far, but I actually didn't mind this one. It manages to remain on the right side of being too sweet, with the pistachio cream bringing a little earthiness to the flavour to tamper it down. But it's the satisfying crisp from the kadayif (shredded filo pastry) that makes the whole thing interesting. With most of the Dubai-style chocolate costing £10 and over, this one is a steal for the price. Rating: 3.5/5 Reviewed by Courtney Pochin, specialist food writer This isn't a regular chocolate bar, it's more of a sharing treat – almost a dessert. Stuffed with popcorn, tortilla chips and peanut praline, the milk chocolate slab is said to offer the best of the cinema at home. And it definitely does. The box says it serves eight… which really just means it'll serve me, eight times. This makes it a little dangerous to have in the house. I could easily see myself going back for a little bit more again and again until there was nothing left. More Trending If you eat it without refrigerating, it's akin to those chocolate shredded wheat nests we all used to make at Easter. If you refrigerate it as the box recommends, be careful, you're likely to break a tooth. I loved the idea of this and as the name suggests, it's really nice. The size is also impressive, but let's be real, at almost £18 it would need to be made of solid gold to justify the price, which is why I just can't give it full marks. Rating: 4/5 Reviewed by Courtney Pochin, specialist food writer Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ View More » MORE: 'Peak Greggs' is coming to UK — here's everything sausage roll fans should know MORE: Lidl is giving away free bakery items every day — including 'top tier' pastry MORE: From boxy blazers, to laidback barrel leg trousers – shop the Lioness look from £30 Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Metro
2 days ago
- Business
- Metro
Costco shoppers devastated as ‘ultimate' treat is axed from all food courts
No trip to Costco is ever complete without a visit to the food court for a hot dog and a drink. But fans of the wholesaler are currently mourning the loss of the 'ultimate' treat from its warehouse stores. That's because the company has axed Pepsi Max from all of its drinks machines across the USA and UK and replaced the beverage with Coca-Cola Zero. Customers can also choose from Diet Coke, Fanta and Sprite but many aren't happy with this change. Social media user @uknewestfoods took to Instagram to share a look at the new Coke Zero-branded machines and cups, asking: 'Costco, what have you done?' More than 800 people liked the post, with dozens proclaiming: 'Nooooooooooooo.' @xo13bec replied: 'Oh nahhhhhh Pepsi Max is GOAT.' Similarly, @kelly7anner said: 'Ah no, Pepis Max is the ultimate drink.' @louiep777 admitted they were 'not happy', while @gemsyh85 was 'devastated', saying: 'Nothing better than a chicken bake and Cherry Pepsi Max after a big shop.' 'Bring back my Pepsi Cherry Max,' demanded @just_frank_who_goes_to_the_gym, and @uknewestfoods agreed suggesting they start a petition for its return. Others were outraged that regular full-fat Coke wasn't one of the new options, only Diet and Zero. Costco's American CEO announced in January that they would be switching the drinks fountains to Coca-Cola products. More Trending And the roll-out of the new drinks began in early July, making its way across Costco food courts in 14 countries, including the UK. In a statement given to USA TODAY, the company claimed the change was an 'ice-cold Coca-Cola upgrade'. Costco first switched from Coca-Cola to Pepsi in 2013, in order to keep their famous hot dog and drink deal at the low price of £1.50. View More » There are currently 29 Costco stores across England, Scotland and Wales, with the business reportedly having plans to open more sites in the future. Metro's specialist food writer, Courtney Pochin, went to Costco for the first time and was surprised that a pit stop at the back of the store was the highlight of her visit. She said: 'I was sceptical about the kind of food we'd receive from what was essentially a hatch at the back of a warehouse, especially given that it was so cheap – £1.50 for a hot dog and drink and £1.99 for a slice of pizza – but the food really blew me away. 'The pepperoni pizza was better than the likes of Domino's, Pizza Hut or Papa John's. 'My husband felt similarly about the beef hot dog, which can be ordered with or without onions, and along with a soda of your choosing for less than £2. He could have added in an ice cream as well and the price would still have put supermarket meal deals to shame. 'There's plenty more on the menu, including a chicken sandwich, jacket potato, chicken and bacon bake, gelato, plus those famous cookies, which can be bought individually.' She added:'Everything was under £5, except for whole pizzas which cost £9.99, but in today's climate, that still felt like a steal.' 'The only downside was that there were only a handful of seats in the food court, and like the rest of the store it was heaving with people. Being too hungry to wait for a table, we tucked in there and then slumped over the handlebar of our trolley. 'The pizza was messy and the awkward standing position made for one of the most undignified eating experiences of my life, but I enjoyed the meal none the less. 'Will I be going back to Costco again any time soon? I'd go back for another slice of the pizza in a heartbeat.' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: At least two feared dead after plane crashes into sea off California coast MORE: Man shouting 'death to Trump' tackled by passengers on EasyJet flight to Glasgow MORE: The high street cake shop that bucked trends to make £42,000,000 last year Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Metro
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Lidl just dropped ‘spectacular' new bakery item — and it only costs 79p
Lidl's in-store bakery boasts more than 40 items, with everything from brownies to boules and Belgian buns. But eagle-eyed shoppers have noticed a brand new item was just added to the line-up and it stands out from the rest thanks to its colourful toppings. The budget retailer has launched a Birthday Cake Bun in the bakery, priced at 79p and it features a pale pink icing and rainbow sprinkles. From the outside, it looks like a rather standard iced bun, but inside it's hiding a fabulous fruity pink swirl. Online reactions to the new supermarket product have been mixed so far, after @newfoodsuk shared a snap of the bun on Facebook and Instagram. Some thought it looked 'yum' and 'nice' while others claimed they'd tried it and it was 'too dry for them'. So Metro decided to put the Birthday Cake Bun to the test and find out if it's worth buying, and it certainly went down a treat. James Besanvalle, Metro's assistant opinion editor, rated it a 4.5 out of 5, hailing it as 'fantastic'. He said: 'Lidl's new Birthday Cake Bun combines all the best elements of a doughnut (pink icing and sprinkles) with a scroll-like bun (jam-filled and soft in the middle). Sure, it's sweet – but who really wants a birthday cake that's not? Supremely satisfying.' And Metro's specialist food writer, Courtney Pochin, also gave one a try. While James ate his on the day of purchase, Courtney took hers home to see how it would fare the next day and she was pretty impressed by how it held up. 'As someone who eats cake and pastries for a living, I've never been the biggest fan of supermarket baked goods. They just can't compete with homemade treats from independent bakeries,' she said. 'However, the Birthday Cake Bun was a pleasant surprise.' She continued: 'After a day sat on my desk and a night in the cupboard, I didn't have high hopes for the bun, which looked rather sad and dry when I plated it up. But I'm pleased to report that somehow it had managed to stay soft instead of going stale (not going to think too much about why this might be right now). 'It's a fun twist on a classic and I have to admit I probably enjoyed it more than most people will as I realised I haven't actually had an iced bun in years. 'There's something so spectacularly nostalgic about the taste of one and it went down very nicely with a cup of tea. 'My only real gripe is that Lidl has scrimped on the hundreds and thousands on top and they're not spread out evenly. In my book, there's no such thing as too many sprinkles. 'It loses a point for poor sprinkle form, so it's a 4 out of 5 from me' Lidl isn't the only supermarket with new baked goods on its shelves, as Tesco recently wowed shoppers with its brand new chocolate cake. The retailer has teamed up with Studio Bakery, a family-run bakery business from Lancashire, to start selling the brand's giant slices of cake inspired by a nostalgic favourite – you know, that one you always wanted to reach through the screen and smash your face into in Matilda. The aptly named Matilda Cake, is a beast of a chocolate cake slice that claims to serve 10 and sees 12 layers of chocolate sponge and 12 layers of ganache stacked one on top of the other. More Trending Priced at £16 for the slice, (which is meant to serve 10 people) the product can be found in Tesco's bigger stores, but not the Express ones. On social media, shoppers have hailed it the 'best chocolate cake they've ever had', with Frankie French posting in the Food Finds UK Official group to say: 'Best chocolate cake I've ever tried, this Studio Bakery Big Matilda Cake. Can't wait to be able to buy it in Tesco.' But Metro's Courtney Pochin thinks there's a better chocolate cake out there and that's Bertha. View More » She claimed the Matilda Cake came a 'close second' to the one sold by Leeds-based bakery, Get Baked, but the overall quality just wasn't on par. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Urgent recall of Lidl's Harvest Basket hash browns over fears they contain metal MORE: Shoppers say supermarket has 'lost its mind' over £80 Father's Day gift MORE: I tried the world's best champagne — and it's only £15 Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Metro
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
I tried the world's best champagne — and it's only £15
When you hear the words 'world's best champagne', you might picture Dom Perignon, which sells for hundreds of pounds a bottle. But it turns out the best in the world doesn't actually come with a hefty price tag and you can get your hands on it for less than £15. The winners of the World Drinks Awards 2025 have been revealed and in the champagne category, it was Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut that took home the gold. Even more surprising? This is Aldi champagne and it costs just £14.95 to buy from the budget retailer. The bubbly drink is crafted from a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier and has ripe apple, soft red fruit and delicate floral notes. It beat out competition from champagnes that were more than three times the price of it to be crowned the champion. This included G.H. Martel Honoré de Balzac Edition Limitée Brut Champagne, which retails at £49.68 – making it over 70% more expensive. Balzac Honoré de Balzac Rosé Brut came in second place, while the limited edition Brut came in third. Speaking about the win, Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said: 'To have our £14.95 Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut recognised as the best in the world is proof that exceptional quality doesn't have to come with an eye-watering price tag. It's a proud moment not just for Aldi, but for our customers who can enjoy world-class champagne without breaking the bank.' Metro's specialist food writer, Courtney Pochin, put the world's best champagne to the test, and she was very impressed. 'I love a glass of something bubbly to celebrate a special occasion, but I often find champagne is a bit too dry for my taste buds. 'Clearly, I just hadn't found the right champagne. 'The Veuve Monsigny is dry, but refreshingly light at the same time. I found myself pouring more into my flute before it was even empty – it was so delightfully drinkable. 'Each sip is vibrant, crisp and beautifully bubbly. If I'd been handed a glass of this as part of a blind taste test, I'd have bet all my money that it had a much higher price tag than it does, because it tastes expensive. 'This is by far the best champagne I've ever had.' Those in Manchester who want to grab a bottle of the award-winning wine will soon be able to get their hands on a rather special limited-edition one at Aldi's Bury New Road store. From July 7, the retailer will be lining the shelves in that specific shop with a version of the champagne that's a tribute to Oasis. A Supernova edition of Aldi's Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut will be available to buy, just a stone's throw from where the Oasis story began. Fans outside of Manchester will be ale to enter a prize draw online to be in with a chance of winning a bottle. More Trending Stock is limited for the Supernova edition and once it's gone, it's gone, so you'll have to be quick if you want it. The regular version of the champagne isn't going anywhere though, so don't panic. And if bubbles aren't for you, the retailer recently launched the UK's first bubble-less prosecco. Priced at £5.99 the Still Prosecco proved a hit with Metro's drinks expert, Rob Buckhaven, who said it was 'bone dry and lively with flavours of lime, nectarine and tangerine.' View More » He added: 'Not only is it a brilliant talking point, I'm a huge fan of the flavour, the price and will be stocking up over the summer.' Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Tesco shoppers going wild over £16 chocolate cake that's 'best they've ever had' MORE: Waitrose updates popular hot drink loyalty perk — but shoppers face a £3 charge MORE: 'Totally overrated' restaurant crowned the best in the UK — as top 100 revealed Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
Metro
08-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Metro
Supermarket's 28p own-brand Diet Coke is ‘so good' you can't tell difference
If you're a Diet Coke fan, I have no doubt that you take your allegiance to the fizzy drink very seriously. So the idea of swapping out the branded version for a supermarket own-brand cola might feel like a personal attack. But often these versions are much cheaper than the real thing, so we decided to put them to the test to see if we could save ourselves some money when it comes to our carbonated addiction. We tried five supermarket own-brand Diet Colas and while none of them were deemed to be better than the original, a bargain retailer had a surprising gem that was on par. Keep on reading to find out which drinks we liked and which didn't go down as well, starting with the least enjoyable and ending with the top scorer… Sorry Tesco, but your Diet Cola has nothing on the real thing. I could instantly tell wasn't actual Diet Coke – it just tastes fake. I don't think I'd be able to make it through an entire can… Reviewed by Kristina Beanland, lifestlye editor Rating: 2/5 This will probably sound a bit odd, but Asda's Diet Cola tastes thinner than the other drinks in this taste test. Almost like it's been watered down a little bit? It's notably less artificially sweet than the Tesco one, but certainly not the best of the bunch. Reviewed by Courtney Pochin, specialist food writer Rating: 2.5/5 For 49p, this one from Sainsbury's is a solid option if you're looking to save money. It's not anywhere near as crisp and fizzy as Diet Coke, but it's got a good flavour and doesn't taste too sweet. Reviewed by Courtney Pochin Rating: 3/5 Lidl Freeway Diet Cola, 49p for 2L bottle or £1.79 for a six-pack of cans Lidl came out on top in our full fat Coca-Cola taste test recently, but the retailer has just missed out on the top spot in this one. The Freeway Diet Cola doesn't have as much fizz and actualy tastes a bit flat, which is a shame as the drink itself is pretty nice with just the right level of sweetness – I'd definitely have another one. Reviewed by Courtney Pochin Rating: 4/5 Aldi Diet Vive, £1.69 for six pack (28p a can) As a Diet Coke superfan, it would take a lot for me to give up my favourite drink, but I might be willing (on occasion) to swap it for Aldi's version which is very good. More Trending It's really hard to distinguish between the two and in a blind taste test of both it took a while to work out which was which. The difference is so subtle, and again it just comes down to a little less fizz in the Diet Vive. Reviewed by Kristina Beanland View More » Rating: 4.5/5 Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Sainsbury's aisle change could signal end of an era for classic shopping feature MORE: 'Mouth-watering' chocolate brand that disappeared from supermarkets five years ago is back MORE: 'Power picnics' are perfect for summer — but you have to follow five rules Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
