UK Supermarket Value Brands

[Playing with Fire UK]

Inspired by Katekat's failure with value peas, we can share our good and bad experiences with supermarket own and value brands.

Please include what you like or dislike about products and share price details for particular bargains (if you say "too sweet/spicy for me", readers can infer whether this is a good or bad thing for them, whereas "bad" is less helpful).

[Playing with Fire UK]

Sniped for a summary.

[AnswerIs42]

Great idea for a thread.

The cheap Lidl ketchup (called "Batts" or something, about 46p/bottle) is surprisingly nice - it tastes like ketchup should taste. I haven't tried the Asda value ketchup in a while, but I remember that being OK too. The Tesco value stuff isn't so nice - that's more like "cheap greasy spoon cafe bulk ketchup" if you know what I mean, a bit too sweet with an unpleasant aftertaste.

[Playing with Fire UK]

Aldi do a coffee porter called Spill the Beans which is 99p for 300ml and is rich, dark and delicious.

[never give up]

I expect people on here have done this a long time ago but I've recently changed to home brand fabric softeners, washing up liquid and tinned fish e.g. Mackerel. My local supermarket is Sainsbury's. I can't say I have noticed any difference in quality but they certainly are a lot cheaper.

[dutty]

I expect people on here have done this a long time ago but I've recently changed to home brand fabric softeners, washing up liquid and tinned fish e.g. Mackerel. My local supermarket is Sainsbury's. I can't say I have noticed any difference in quality but they certainly are a lot cheaper.

Yuck, I only like the taste of fairy liquid.

[poppydog]

Lidl's rip-off of Laughing Cow cheese triangles are better than the real thing, and half the price.  (How do they get away with such blatant copies?)

[poppydog]

...and while I'm at it, for you white wine lovers, Aldi do a highly quaffable South African Sauvignon Blanc called Cambalala at a very reasonable £3.99.  And, if you're pushing the boat out, they have an outstanding New Zealand Marlborough Reserve Sauvignon B for a terrific £5.99 - would easily cost a tenner anywhere else.

Edited to add that the NZ wine is called Freeman’s Bay.

[twistedfirestarter]

Aldi do a coffee porter called Spill the Beans which is 99p for 300ml and is rich, dark and delicious.

This ^ and their Red Rye IPA are both very pleasant. I re use the bottles for home brew and as new bottles are ~20p it effectively makes these beers only 79p each :-)

[shelivesthedream]

Things we have particularly enjoyed from LIDL:
- Mayonnaise (husband seal of approval as indistinguishable from Hellmans)
- Cheese (small LIDL so small selection but cheddar, goats cheese and a few soft cheeses have been very nice - has actual flavour)
- Salami and other cured meats (Black Forest ham OM NOM NOM)

Things we have particularly not enjoyed from LIDL:
- Fruit juice. Juice is a treat for us and it's just not worth it. Insipid.

[sea_saw]

Surprising not-so-Basics product: Sainsburys Basics Smoked Salmon Trimmings. I bought it way more regularly when it was a quid, it has more than doubled :-O but it is still about half the price of smoked salmon slices. Fantastic for e.g. sauces with pasta, or risotto, or just mixing with cream cheese to have on toast. Freezes very happily.

Not worth it: loo roll and paper towels. Supermarket own brand fine, basics/cheapest ranges nooooo.

[shelivesthedream]

Not worth it: loo roll and paper towels. Supermarket own brand fine, basics/cheapest ranges nooooo.

Loo roll is my "would die on this financial hill" product. Nothing dyed or patterned, but I am buying the loo roll I like (not too thick but not scratchy) and I don't care how much it costs. (Waitrose Ecological Toilet Tissue, FYI.)

[dreams_and_discoveries]

Not worth it: loo roll and paper towels. Supermarket own brand fine, basics/cheapest ranges nooooo.

Loo roll is my "would die on this financial hill" product. Nothing dyed or patterned, but I am buying the loo roll I like (not too thick but not scratchy) and I don't care how much it costs. (Waitrose Ecological Toilet Tissue, FYI.)

Years ago I worked in toilet paper.....and the cheaper ones are much more environmental friendly being mainly recycled, but they use a different approach and have a different type of softness than premium brands.