Value Range foods compared

[Ara]

In the past I have noticed Lidl sells things for a cheaper price where we live than at our sons' local shop 150 miles away. I have been known to buy things here and take them when I have been visiting them.
It is not the only shop that has different prices in different shops. There are 2 Asda supermarkets within about 10 miles of them and the one in the "less affluent" area has cheaper prices for the same goods.

[jennyjj01]

While researching who makes supermarket own brand products, I stumbled on this general comparison and taste test. It doesn't cover much, but it's more than just beans and spaghetti hoops.
Value range comparison article
Sadly it doesn't cover ASDA's new range. It's not very detailed, but does help identify how they use private named brands to obscure 'value' brand status. E.g. 'Stockwell'

I didn't realise, until recently, that Heinz make 'private label' baked beans and soup but NOT ketchup.
So much for "Beanz Meanz Heinz"

[Vitamin c]

Iv been after Lidl saver peas for a while now freezers in store often empty not sold out just empty today full but saver peas seem to be no more next cheapest are 79p ones.
This just don't seem to be slowing down its every time I shop now and way past the 10% reported in the msm .

Man I try to think positively but its getting real hard.

[jennyjj01]

Iv been after Lidl saver peas for a while now freezers in store often empty not sold out just empty today full but saver peas seem to be no more next cheapest are 79p ones.
This just don't seem to be slowing down its every time I shop now and way past the 10% reported in the msm .

Man I try to think positively but its getting real hard.

The supermarkets are wise to the fact that so many of us are swapping down, so expect them to try to maximise focus and profit on the value ranges, or pull them off the shelves where they are loss leaders. It's a ploy to boast that you have the cheapest, whatever, and then disappointing us when we enter the store. Rationing or de-stocking.
Lidl are beggars for having lots of empty sections.

[jennyjj01]

Lidl value brand Gold instant coffee versus Kenco Smooth

I drink gallons of Kenco smooth. It was the coffee of choice of the office coffee club. I'm NOT a coffee connoisseur and I'll happily drink Kenco Smooth, Douwe Egberts Gold, or Nescafe Gold Blend Instant. I dislike Maxwell house.

So, my Credentials are "I like Gold Instant Coffee Medium Strength"

coffees.png (112.45 KiB) Viewed 2598 times

Candidate #1:
Kenco Smooth
Current best price £4.79 at B&M You might find some at £4.50.
https://www.bmstores.co.uk/products/ken ... 00g-266753

Candidate #2:
Lidl Own brand Bellarom Gold Freeze-Dried Instant Coffee ( from their 'value' range)
Online price £1.99/200g Actual in-store price @ Crewe £2.39
https://www.lidl.co.uk/p/tea-coffee/bel ... offee/p333

These are both medium strength smooth coffees.

Taste test..... Kenco is my go-to, BUT. I have noticed that occasionally, it has a different, slightly toffee like taste. I.e. It is not always consistent. Disclaimer: I had covid in July. My sense of taste is back to normal. I still like Kenko

Taste test..... Lidl value range. Beggar me Back'ards! Almost indistinguishable! I'd say Lidl's is a tiny bit more bitter, and very slightly more roasted.

But hang on...... £2.39 versus £4.79 !!!!!! That's HALF the price. I had to double check. Both are 200g.
No Brainer !
I'm going to just drink this one jar of Lidl stuff exclusively till it's gone and if I've not detected any reason not to, I'll be buying a case of it for my reserves

It looks like the price is on the move (Lidl shows different on-line and Kenco recently leapt 79p). If I can find any of the Lidl stuff at £1.99, I'll not hesitate to buy that case.


P.S. I was once given Civet coffee without being told how it's made. It was Delish and I would drink it again, but you won't catch me paying for it.

[Frnc]

Had Aldi Pasta bake tonight. I think I prefer the Sainsbury's, but there's only a marginal difference. Not sure I could tell blind.
I use 1/3 jar per portion.
Sainsbos is 80p/jar
Aldi is 69p

Made with flask-cooked pasta (whole and non-whole, 50-50).
Sauce microwaved 1 minute

Topped with 25g cheese

Air fryer/mini oven 4 minutes.

Served w. microwaved peas.

Total cost including energy: minimal.

[jennyjj01]

Had Aldi Pasta bake tonight. I think I prefer the Sainsbury's, but there's only a marginal difference. Not sure I could tell blind.
I use 1/3 jar per portion.
Sainsbos is 80p/jar
Aldi is 69p

Made with flask-cooked pasta (whole and non-whole, 50-50).
Sauce microwaved 1 minute

Topped with 25g cheese

Air fryer/mini oven 4 minutes.

Served w. microwaved peas.

Total cost including energy: minimal.

Thumbs up for the Aldi Pasta sauces, and their sweet and sour. They're not Dolmio or Uncle Ben, but are fine as a base and superior to Asda's sauces, which seem to be thickened and sweetened with maize and starch.

Some of the value pastas are a bit pants, being made with semolina wheat. Try Baressa from Lidl, which is superior 100% Durum wheat and worth the extra.... https://www.lidl.co.uk/c/dried/c53
Mixing with Wholegrain works too.

[steptoe]

Hi Jenny i will confess here that i use to be a snob growing up my family never had money worries that i ever saw , a few times may be but nothing big cupboards always full fridge and huge freezer to , we always had the best brands now as i have aged i would never have thought i would use what i call unbranded but i am more and more , the wife and i love hubbards ketch up and like you some of the cheaper pasta sauces we find better , some of the more expensive i think are that way because they throw in 2 tonne of sugar , we now try and buy most stuff unbranded as we call it and tell people try it before you just say no , my niece being a case she never has anything other than heunz ketch up even if nothing left she would never have anythig else so we got a heinz and put cheap ketch up in after she had her fish and chips we were talking on branded stuff lol and threw in well heinz you get what you pay for to her saying you can tell heinz ketch up it is far better , we never told her and she had it again and never said anything until we said that is not heinz she never believed us .

Some of th pasta sauces if you throw on some extra pineapple that sweeterns them up to .

I think jenny you must do jennys book of alternate foods

[jennyjj01]

Some of th pasta sauces if you throw on some extra pineapple that sweeterns them up to .

I think jenny you must do jennys book of alternate foods

We have typically one bolognese and one sweet and sour per fortnight and for a long time it was Dolmio and Uncle Ben, which are now >£1.50 a jar. Always augmented with a dried or fresh ingredients. So naturally enough, we have a lot of those jars in stock, from when they were cheaper..

I can and have made such sauces from scratch, but popping a jar is the norm. It certainly will be post apocalypse.

For Sweet and sour, I had a few grumbles when I substituted out the Uncle Ben and I discovered a super simple improvement. Literally just a teaspoon of sugar and a teaspoon of vinegar brings Aldi Sweet and sour back to what my tasting panel demand. A tablespoon of tomato puree also makes it look less insipid.

I sometimes despair that this household prefers brand familiarity over actual quality and it's about tricking the panel by sleight of hand. Often, I have to hide the tins and jars until after they've 'enjoyed' their meals.

Aldi Sweet & Sour 69p (add 1 level tsp sugar + 1 level tsp vinegar)
compares to
Uncle Bens Sweet & Sour 2 for £3 at Iceland*


* Don't forget that over 60s can ask for an extra 10% discount on Tuesdays!

[pseudonym]

I sometimes despair that this household prefers brand familiarity over actual quality and it's about tricking the panel by sleight of hand. Often, I have to hide the tins and jars until after they've 'enjoyed' their meals.

Decant the contents into the more expensive jars and bottles.......