As the cost of living crisis continues to grip the nation, many households will be looking to shake up their shopping habits to help save some spare cash.
The branded goods vs supermarket own-brands debate has been growing since prices sky rocketed, but is it worth making the switch and will it save you money?
Well, according to a series of blind taste tests, the answer is yes, as quite a few supermarkets have come out on top form for quality, flavour and price recently.
Consumer champion group Which? conducted the series of tests, where they found that shoppers could save hundreds of pounds by switching to non-branded goods as part of their weekly grocery shop.
Using a panel of 60+ taste testers, the consumer champion found that the likes of Lidl and Aldi were offering much cheaper, and often better tasting, products such as orange juice, chocolate spread, peanut butter and cereal.
The results found that shoppers could save up to around £250 by switching to supermarket own-brands on a range of six different groceries without ever compromising on quality.
Natalie Hitchins of Which?, 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.
“Those prepared to switch to a cheaper supermarket for their regular shop will likely find some great value alternatives to their favourite brands - with many even beating their well-known rivals for taste in Which?’s tests.”
To help households keep their bills low and still pick up good quality groceries, we have detailed below the six out of eight supermarkets that beat out their branded rivals.
Save over £70 a year on baked beans
Which? found Lidl’s budget-friendly Newgate baked beans (32p for 420g, 8p per 100g) are the best value option. They cost less than half the price of Heinz beans (£1 for 415g tin). For shoppers buying two tins a week, switching from Heinz to Lidl could save more than £70 a year.
Save almost £100 a year on orange juice
Aldi’s The Juice Company Smooth Orange Juice is the best value option Which? tested - costing just £1.69 per 1.75L carton (10p per 100ml). Innocent orange juice was the priciest option (£3.60 for 1.35 litres, 27p per 100ml) and came in last place for taste. Overall, shoppers could save £99.32 a year by swapping expensive Innocent juice for Aldi’s budget option.
Save £51.60 per year on Crunchy Nut Cereal
Pitted against Kelloggs’ Crunchy Nut cornflakes (£3 per 500g pack, 60p per 100g), Aldi’s Harvest Morn Honey Nut Crunchy Cornflakes is the best value cereal, costing only 85p per 500g pack, 17p per 100g and saving shoppers £2.15 per pack and £51.60 per year if they buy a box every two weeks.
Save £9.90 per year on Crunchy Peanut butter
Testers compared popular peanut butter brands WholeEarth, Sun-Pat, and KP against supermarkets and again found Lidl’s Mister Choc Crunchy Peanut Butter is the best value pick, costing just 85p for 340g (25p per 100g). Sun-Pat, costing £2.50 per 400g jar (63p per 100g) was ranked near the bottom. Shoppers could save £1.65 per jar by switching to Lidl’s offering.
Save £10.86 per year on chocolate hazelnut spread
Nutella’s popular spread, costing £2.90 per 350g jar, was beaten by Which?’s best value pick, Lidl’s Choco Nussa Spread, which scored highly on taste and costs only £1.09 per 400g jar. Opting for Lidl’s spread will save shoppers £1.81 per jar and £10.86 a year.
Save £4.80 per year on Marmite
Branded Marmite sets shoppers back £2.49 per 250g jar (£1 per 100g), whereas Aldi’s Grandessa Mighty Yeast Extract was ranked at the top for taste and only costs £1.69 per 240g jar (70p per 100g), saving £4.80 per year.
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