With grocery prices on the rise along with everything else, swapping to supermarket own-label options can be a good way to lower your food bill.
Switching from your favourite brands can seem like a big move, but taste tests have uncovered plenty of great-tasting supermarket own label alternatives worth trying which can save you money. Consumer group Which? found some of its top own-label choices cost less than a third of the price of branded options.
And it's not surprising that own brands performed well in taste tests - as most of them are manufactured in the same factory as their competitors or even the brand leaders.
Read more: Take a trip to the world foods aisle for big savings
Manufacturers are often sworn to secrecy as part of their contract when they sign up to make products on behalf of other brands - and it's not only supermarket own brands that are made by white label manufacturers, to give them their industry name. Often different prestigious brands are made side-by-side in the same factory - but the brand owners don't want you to know that, which is why the manufacturer very rarely appears on the label.
And while it's not always true to say the products are exactly the same - often the recipes are tweaked for each brand - it's fair to say there's not a lot of difference between different brands of, say, crisps or frozen vegetables.
Sometimes manufacturers are famous for their branded product and also produce other brands from the same factory, and there are even factories which just produce own-label products and nothing else. While it's notoriously difficult to find out which factories are manufacturing which brands, employees took to Moneysavingexpert recently to share some insider tips.
These included a woman who worked in a cheese factory and who now only ever buys 'value' cheese. "One massive block of cheese enters a huge cutting machine and proceeds through approximately five separate wrapping sections, popping out as M&S, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Asda and Tesco 'value' cheese blocks," she said. "All the same cheese, wildly different prices. I have never bought anything but value cheese since."
And a man who said he worked for biscuit manufacturer McVities claimed it made own brand versions of favourites like custard creams, bourbons, ginger nuts and digestives for "all the major retailers" and that "recipes were nearly identical, the main difference was usually a bit of salt."
Daniel Dawson who said he "worked for a large premium baby food brand", said that was very little difference in baby food - with branded products being made on the same line as "baby food for shops such as Asda, Aldi and Lidl".
And Amy Mortson, a former Nando's employee revealed that Nando's popular Perinaise is merely a mixture of mayo and medium sauce, which are both available for free to diners in Nando's restaurants.
Kate and Sheena used to pack frozen fruit and veg, and say that they're all the same, no matter which brand or supermarket you use. "I worked in a frozen veg factory. The difference between branded and supermarket brands were minimal or non-existent," said Sheena, and Kate agreed, saying: "I used to work in a fruit packing factory. Doesn't matter if it's Asda, Aldi or Waitrose, they are all the same fruit, just different labels."
However both Mark and Sally say there can be a difference between brands in the quality or appearance of fruit and veg, though it may not be worth the extra cost. "I worked in a vegetable processing plant and the cheap carrots came from the same fields and through the same cleaning and packaging line as the expensive carrots," said Sally. "But what was different was the expensive carrots had more workers looking for, and removing, unsightly or damaged carrots, so what you're paying for is more people to check your carrots before you see them. Buy big bags of cheap carrots, sort the best ones yourself and make soup with the rest."
Merita shared her experience of working in a chicken processing factory, saying: "I can say with complete authority that all the meat packed is the same, just different labels and prices. As they trays of meat came off the production line we'd have labels from all the major supermarkets and would do a certain number for Tesco and certain number for Waitrose and so on, according to their orders."
And it's not just food. Nic worked in a hand soap factory, and shared the secrets behind own-brand bubbles. "On Monday's we'd pump the batch into M&S bottles and on Tuesday's Superdrug bottles," she said.
The recent survey from Which? found that shoppers could save hundreds of pounds a year by shifting from branded to own-label products. The group blind-tested brand leaders against budget buys and the results were a revelation.
Lidl Newgate baked beans, 32p (8p per 100g) were preferred to Heinz baked beans, £1 (24p per 100g) across the board, beating Heinz on appearance, aroma and texture. If you buy two tins a week, switching from Heinz to Lidl could save you more than £70 a year.
Best cheap honey nut cornflakes were Aldi Harvest Morn Honey Nut Crunchy Cornflakes, 85p (17p per 100g), beating Kellogg's Crunchy Nut, £3, (60p per 100g) . There's a whopping £2.15 saving per pack, or over £51 per year if you get through two packs in a month. Plus, the Aldi cereal contains around 20% less sugar.
And if you like big brand spreads on your morning toast, be prepared for a shock.
Nutella, £2.90, (83p per 100g) was pipped at the post by Lidl Choco Nussa Spread, £1.09, (27p per 100g), with tasters saying not only did they think Lidl Choco Nussa looked better than Nutella, they also liked its texture and aroma more too. Plus, it contains less sugar and saturated fat.
And loyal Marmite fans might find the news that Aldi Grandessa Mighty Yeast Extract, £1.69 (70p per 100g) beat Marmite Yeast Extract, £2.49 (£1 per 100g). If you're a lifelong Marmite fan, you might not have considered an own label before, but Marmite, which fell behind all four of the own labels we tested.
Do you buy own labels or are you loyal to your favourite brands? Join in the conversation below
Natalie Hitchins, head of home products and services at 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.”
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