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Metro
11-07-2025
- Business
- Metro
Supermarket own-brand ketchup voted as good as Heinz — and it's 70% cheaper
The UK's best tomato ketchup has been revealed, with one own-brand option scoring exactly the same as Heinz, and coming in 72% cheaper. In a blind taste test, the consumer watchdog Which? asked 72 people to taste and rate eight supermarket own-label ketchups including Aldi, Asda, Tesco, M&S, Co-op, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Lidl, alongside the beloved American brand. And while Heinz Tomato Ketchup did win the title of Best Buy, it shared joint first place with Asda's Classic Tomato Ketchup, which also scooped Great Value. Asda's tomato sauce is less than a third of the price of Heinz, at £1 for 550g, while the latter will cost you £3 for 460g. When it comes to taste, both condiments received an overall score of 77%, based on flavour, appearance, texture and aroma. The majority of the panel said Asda's Classic Tomato Ketchup 'had well-balanced tanginess, sweetness and strength of flavour'. Fun fact: it also contains less salt and sugar than its winning counterpart. When it came to Heinz, tasters rated it highly for texture and flavour but the downsides include it being the most expensive option in the entire test, as well as having more salt and sugar than most other sauces tried. Another Heinz alternative to consider is Waitrose's Essential Tomato Ketchup, which came in a respectable second place with an overall score of 75%. Apparently taste testers were a big fan of the consistency, claiming the thickness of the sauce was 'just right'. It's also pretty good value for money (shock, we know) coming in at just 2p more expensive than Asda per 100g – a 470g bottle will cost you a measly 95p. If you prefer to do your weekly shop in Aldi, you're in luck too. Taking third place is Aldi's Bramwells Tomato Ketchup with a score of 73%. However, only half the panel were satisfied with the sweetness and strength of flavour of this sauce, perhaps because it has the lowest sugar content of the bunch. But when it comes to price it's of course an absolute steal, at just 89p for 550g – that price is bound to make it taste a little sweeter. It seems like we're so often raving about the marvellous innovations at Marks & Spencers, from Chunked N' Loaded cookies to the Strawberry Sandwich, but its attempt at tomato sauce didn't impress. More Trending In fact, M&S Tomato Ketchup came dead last with a score of 61%. People weren't a fan of it's thickness, finding it to be too much, and it was also too 'dark and tangy'. It did okay on price. You can pick up a bottle for just £1 for 495g, but there are cheaper alternatives that scored better. Jessica Carson, Which? food and health editor said: 'The perfect tangy flavour boost on chips, burgers, bacon sandwiches and so much more, it isn't hard to see why tomato ketchup is one of the nation's favourite condiments. View More » 'The good news is that rather than forking out for the big brand version, you can get a tasty supermarket alternative for a third of the price.' The consumer champion tested own-label tomato sauces against Heinz and Hellmann's to see which came out on top. Here's the verdict: Asda Classic Tomato Ketchup – 77%. One of the tastiest on test and one of the cheapest too. At£1 for 550g/18p per 100g it was awarded Which? Best Buy and Great Value commendations. Heinz Tomato Ketchup – 77%. It's a classic for a reason, also receiving the title of Best Buy from Which?, although it'll cost a pretty penny at £3 for 460g/65p per 100g. Waitrose Essential Tomato Ketchup – 75%. Another strong own-brand alternative, costing just 95p for 470g/20p per 100g. Aldi Bramwells Tomato Ketchup – 73%. This had the lowest sugar content of the bunch which meant it lost points for sweetness, but it makes up for it with the 89p price tag for 550g. Co-op Tomato Ketchup – 72%. Scored well but the verdict was it was 'too tangy'. It's £1.25 for 550g/23p per 100g. Sainsbury's Tomato Ketchup – 71%. Good tanginess and sweetness, but the texture was less appealing compared to others. Costs 95p for 460g/20p per 100g. Tesco Tomato Ketchup – 71%. Good appearance and texture, but the flavour didn't impress. Costs £1 for 555g/18p per 100g. Hellmann's Tomato Ketchup – 70%. Twice the price of many supermarket own labels, but apparently lacked both texture and flavour. Costs £2.15 for 473g/45p per 100g. Lidl Batts Tomato Ketchup – 68%. Cheap, but not that cheerful. Our tasters weren't particularly impressed by the flavour of Lidl's ketchup. Costs 89p for 560g/16p per 100g. M&S Tomato Ketchup – 61%. This was the least liked ketchup overall, with some tasters finding it too thick, dark and tangy. Costs £1 for 495g/20p per 100g. Do you have a story to share? 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Scottish Sun
10-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Supermarket own-brand ketchup crowned better than Heinz in taste test – plus it's a third cheaper too
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HEINZ Ketchup is a classic for BBQs, picnics and summer parties - and it's rare to find anything just as good. But consumer site Which? has conducted a new taste test comparing the classic brand with supermarket own brand ketchups - and it's found a bargain alternative. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Which? tested eight supermarket own-brand ketchups versus Heinz and Hellmann's Asda's Classic Tomato Ketchup matched Heinz in the blind taste test, with both achieving an impressive score of 77%. At £1 for a 550g pack, it's a budget-friendly option. This works out at 18p per 100g. Meanwhile Heinz Tomato Ketchup comes with a higher price tag of £3 for a 460g pack (or 65p per 100g). By choosing Asda's version, you'll enjoy a ketchup rated just as delicious, but at less than a third of the cost. The majority of testers said the Asda ketchup had well-balanced tanginess, sweetness and strength of flavour. It also contains less salt and sugar than Heinz ketchup. However, testers praised Heinz for being one of the most visually appealing ketchups, while also scoring highly for its texture and flavour. As the priciest ketchup in the test, it's worth keeping an eye out for supermarket deals if you're a fan, making it a good idea to stock up when it's on offer. The panel of 72 testers also sampled seven other supermarket own-label ketchups, along with Hellmann's. Other supermarket versions that scored highly were Waitrose's Essential Tomato Ketchup and Aldi's Branwells Tomato Ketchup. My kid's obsessed with Heinz ketchup but can't tell difference with £1 version The Waitrose condiment scored 75% and testers said they loved its flavour and thickness. It's 95p for a 470g bottle, or 20p per 100g. Aldi's version is one of the cheapest options and scored a very reasonable 73%. A bottle will cost you 85p for 550g, which works out at 16p per 100g. The testers thought it had great texture and thickness, but not everyone liked the taste - only around half of people were satisfied with its sweetness and strength of flavour. The full list of scores HERE'S how each ketchup scored: Asda Classic Tomato Ketchup (£1 for a 550g pack) and Heinz Tomato Ketchup (£3 for a 460g pack) - 77% Waitrose Essential Tomato Ketchup (95p for a 470g bottle) - 75% Aldi Branwells Tomato Ketchup (85p for 550g) - 73% Co-op Tomato Ketchup – (£1.25 for 550g) - 72% Sainsbury's Tomato Ketchup (90p for 460g) – 71% Tesco Tomato Ketchup (£1 for 555g)) – 71% Hellmann's Tomato Ketchup (£2.15 for 473g) – 70% Lidl Batts Tomato Ketchup (89p for 560g) – 68% M&S Tomato Ketchup (£1 for 495g) – 61% Most of the other supermarket ketchups scored similarly - but the M&S one fell behind. Hellmann's ketchup came out as fairly average despite being one of the most expensive at £2.15 for a 473g bottle. Jessica Carson, Which? food and health editor, said: "The perfect tangy flavour boost on chips, burgers, bacon sandwiches and so much more, it isn't hard to see why tomato ketchup is one of the nation's favourite condiments. "The good news is that rather than forking out for the big brand version, you can get a tasty supermarket alternative for a third of the price."
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Which? reveals best supermarket Magnum ice cream dupes
Stocking up the freezer with ice cream is an absolute must to get us through the scorching summer days, and who can say no to the satisfying crack of a chocolate-covered number? Of course, the top chocolate-covered ice cream brand in the UK is Magnum. However, you could make some savings by buying supermarket own-label ice creams instead - but how do they stack up against a Magnum Classic? Consumer champions Which? tested nine supermarket own-label ice creams in a blind-tasting that involved 60 people, and found that while none of them trumped a classic Magnum, one supermarket did hold a candle to it. A close runner-up came from a budget supermarket, giving ice cream fans more bang for their buck. In fact, two budget supermarket ice creams got higher ratings for flavour and value compared to posh supermarkets like Waitrose. Jessica Carson, Which? Food and Health Editor, said: 'Cooling down with a delicious ice cream on a hot day is the stuff that summer holidays are made of, so having a box full in the freezer is bound to please - whether you are entertaining or if you've got kids. 'While the Classic Magnum wasn't beaten in our test, one supermarket brand matched it and a bargain alternative from Lidl wasn't far behind - and is less than half the price.' The supermarket own-brand ice cream that matched Magnum's rating was none other than the M&S Chocolate Sticks. Both ice creams were rated at 82% and tasters said they loved the balance of chocolate and vanilla flavours, as well as the creamy texture of the ice cream within its chocolate shells. Which? advised customers to look out for deals on the Classic Magnums, which cost £3.50 for a pack of three, making them the most expensive of the lot. However, they are frequently on some kind of deal, so it's best to keep an eye out for special offers to get the most value for money. Classic Magnums are currently £2.75 for three for loyalty card holders at Tesco and Sainsbury's, according to the consumer website. It can also be cheaper to buy Magnums in bigger multipacks of six, if you have the freezer space for them. Here's how Which? rated the nine supermarket Magnum dupes. M&S Chocolate Sticks £2.40 for three 110ml ice creams (80p per stick) These were the only supermarket own-brand ice creams that matched up to Magnums in the Which? taste test, with tasters loving the sweetness and strength of the chocolate flavour, as well as the vanilla flavour. They are the most expensive own-label ice cream tested, but are still over a pound cheaper than full-price Magnums. Lidl Gelatelli Classic Ice Cream Sticks Rated at 79% for great value, Lidl's ice creams are cheap and cheerful. Tasters said they had 'just the right sweetness, creaminess and vanilla flavour'. These ice creams are slightly bigger than Magnums (120ml vs 100ml) yet are less than half the price of Magnum Classics, so customers will be getting more bang for their buck. Aldi Gianni's Milk Chocolate Ice Creams £1.69 for four 100ml ice creams (42p per stick) German budget supermarket Aldi offers the cheapest ice cream tested by Which? and received a decently high rating for flavour. It came in at a 77% rating. While the flavour was good, tasters said they weren't creamy enough, but at just 42p per ice cream, they're a good budget-friendly alternative to Magnums. Iceland Belgian Milk Chocolate Majestics The frozen food specialists' ice cream treat rounds off the Which? top five list, scoring well at 77% for looking great and offering a satisfyingly creamy texture. However, nearly a third of tasters complained they were too sweet. £2.25 for three 100ml ice creams (75p per ice cream) Waitrose has a reputation for being posh and expensive, but their ice creams are 5p cheaper than M&S - however, nearly half of tasters thought the vanilla flavour was far too weak. Morrisons Classic Milk Chocolate Amour Sticks £2.25 for three 110ml ice creams (75p per ice cream) Half of the tasters thought Morrison's Magnum dupes 'weren't bad', but they also were not creamy enough. £2.10 for three 110ml ice creams (70p per ice cream) Asda scored decently for sweetness and strength of chocolate flavour, but the vanilla ice cream within let it down by not being creamy enough. Tesco Milk Chocolate Ice Creams £1.39 for three 110ml ice creams (46p per ice cream) Whilst this was among the cheapest ice creams that Which? tested, over half of the tasters thought the vanilla flavour was too weak. Despite being more expensive than three of the top five ice creams, Co-op's Magnum dupes ranked the lowest because the ice cream wasn't creamy enough and the chocolate wasn't chocolatey enough. 'A bit of a letdown, but not terrible,' Which? said.
