Britain’s food tastes are changing and nowhere is the shift more seismic than in the world of condiments.
Research in 2023 by pickle maker Vadasz found that Gen Z believed classic table sauces such as ketchup, brown sauce and mustard were dying out, instead favouring the likes of chilli oils, hot sauces, soy sauce and fermented toppings like kimchi.
While we’re not averse to a drizzle of Sriracha on our pizza or noodles, to say it’s curtains for ketchup is ridiculous. What else would be put on chips?
The humble tomato sauce has been around since 1682 (believed to have emerged from southern China). Although the first recipe wasn't printed until 1812, it remains a must-have for many British and European households today. Gen Z simply hasn’t stumbled across the right bottle.
If you’ve got the time and inclination, it’s fairly straightforward to whip up a batch of homemade ketchup yourself. A basic recipe involves high-quality tomatoes, brown sugar, a few seasonings and spices, and a slosh of apple cider vinegar. It’s a fun activity to try with kids, but if you haven’t got the time to whip it up fresh, there are plenty of brands lining up supermarket shelves to do it for you.
Needing absolutely zero introduction and to no one’s surprise, Heinz is the market leader, with some 14.5m Brits picking up a bottle of its famed ketchup in 2021 according to figures from Statista. The company was founded by Henry John Heinz in Pennsylvania in 1869, producing horseradish at the beginning. Today it makes some of the most popular sauces on earth, from mustard and BBQ to its bestselling ketchup. It may be the biggest ketchup brand - but is it the best?
In an attempt to win hearts and minds to the juicy tomatoey goodness that is ketchup, we’ve drawn up a list of tried and tested bottles deserving of a place in your fridge.
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Stokes Real Tomato Ketchup
Made with the flesh and pulp of 200g Mediterranean tomatoes in every 100g bottle, Stokes’ ketchup delivers rich vibrant colour and full-on flavour in every dollop. Flavour is heightened with garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt and a few other seasonings. Treat BBQs to a bottle on the table the next time you decide to fire up the grill.
Buy now £10.40, Amazon
Bramwells Reduced Sugar & Salt Tomato Ketchup 530g
Aldi routinely tops taste test lists, and its ketchup is no exception. This one is reduced in both salt and sugar, making it perfect for big families who like to go to town on sauces. Tomato puree as the main ingredient means that the flavour of the fruit shines through, lifted with a tang of vinegar. Surprisingly it doesn't taste too processed. A decent sauce at a decent price.
Buy now £0.89, Aldi
Real Good Ketchup
Reduced salt, no added sugar, and no artificial sweeteners - so no flavour? That couldn’t be further from the truth with Real Good’s tomato ketchup, helpfully presented in a squeezy, recyclable bottle. It’s perfect for keeping an eye on kids’ intakes as well as anyone looking to cut back on high levels of salt and sugar.
And the taste test? This is noticeably dialled down compared to supermarket bestsellers - but we’re not mad about it. Instead of swamping tastebuds in seasonings, the full force of tomato flavour shines through on a lightly textured sauce.
Buy now £2.40, Ocado
Mr Organic Tomato Ketchup
Organic and natural, only the juiciest Italian sun-ripened tomatoes go into Mr Organic Tomato Ketchup. Not too sweet, it adds a rich, untainted mediterranean taste to any meal. The sauce is also gluten free, and is delivered in BPA Free Packaging.
Mr Organic provide a huge range of naturally great vegan products including sauces, pestos, and chocolate spreads.
Buy now £2.76, Ocado
Nandos Peri-ketchup
Ketchup gets some peri-peri spice action thanks to a Nando’s intervention. The grilled chicken chain has launched mid-spice PERI-Ketchup which joins the current line-up: PERi-BBQ, PERinaise, Garlic PERinaise, Lemon & Black Pepper PERinaise and Sweet Chilli Jam, meaning there are more ways than ever to bring delicious flavour to every meal.
Buy now £2.50, Asda
Tiptree Quite Hot Tomato Ketchup
This ‘posh’ ketchup is one you’ll find in upmarket restaurants and gastropubs across the UK. It certainly looks the part with a slim glass vessel topped with a screw cap. This is Tiptree’s hot version which is laden with spices to release a gentle kick of heat, all carried by a punchy tomato flavour.
Buy now £9.40, Amazon
Heinz Tomato Ketchup, 4 Litre
Mighty Heinz is known for many things, but top of the tree is its ketchup. Originally sold in 15oz glass bottles as ‘slow ketchup’ because it would take so long to ooze from the vessel, the sauce now comes in a squeezy tube with all sorts of remixes to appeal to niche tastes. You can find the OG, alongside a low-salt version with the difference in taste barely discernable.
Made with tomatoes, spirit vinegar, salt, sugar and a spice and herb mix that includes celery, the original remains the best. Know someone who would put ketchup on cornflakes? They'll adore this four-litre handle jar which will also cut down on plastic waste.
Heinz also launched a flurry of fun flavours, including bacon ketchup and a tomato condiment spiked with pickle juice, which has just the right level of vinegar to tip gherkin fans into waves of ecstasy. Fancy something with heat? Give Heinz Curry Ketchup a go.
Buy now £17.00, Amazon
Hellmann's Ketchup
Heinz's biggest mayo contender is playing the food giant at its own game, bringing out a ketchup to rival its bestseller. Hellmann's is a worthy alternative using sustainable tomatoes in a gluten-free recipe. Squiggle it over burgers and hotdogs fresh off the BBQ or try a squeeze of it in a weeknight chilli.
Buy now £3.30, Morrisons
Fortnum & Mason Tomato Sauce, 250ml
The contents of most of Fortnums' food hall may be out of most people’s financial reach to do a full weekly shop, but if you want to get fancy with a basic condiment, give its tomato sauce a whirl. The textured tomato sauce is beautifully thick and flavoursome, best enjoyed dabbed on a bacon butty.
Buy now £6.95, Fortnum & Mason
Banana Ketchup Roni B's Kitchen Filipino Style Banana Ketchup
This historically significant condiment was first created during World War II, when there was a global shortage of tomatoes which meant that the classic tabletop condiment couldn’t be produced. Filipinos instead turned to the humble banana as a substitute, and thus delicious, naturally sweet Banana Ketchup was born. We recommend giving Roni B’s a try.
Buy now £6.99, Selfridges
All Gold Tomato Sauce 700ml
If you're curious about ketchup beyond our borders, Amazon has a treat in store. This All Gold bottle is a cult favourite in South Africa where you’re bound to find it at a braai. One twist of the top and it’s clear to see why: the thick texture is bursting with rich, fruity flavour that's best poured beside breakfasty eggs, like an omelette.
Buy now £4.50, Amazon
Holland & Barrett Ketchup with Benefits 270g
A ketchup with added health benefits? Where else but Holland & Barrett? This gluten-free plant-based sauce is fortified with 16.1g of chicory inulin to promote good gut health. Still sweet, it's an excellent source of fibre, pairing simply with hot, salty chips.
Buy now £1.69, Holland & Barrett
