What products do you prefer the cheap version of?

[Fink]

I went to Fortnum and Mason this week (part of our exercise cycling around London) and treated myself to their hot chocolate powder. To my disappointment, at £20 a packet it's nowhere near as nice as my usual brand (Options), which is around £6 for an equivalent amount (and not because it tastes more like actual hot chocolate rather than powder, because I occasionally make real hot chocolate at home and it's nothing like that). My Dad prefers Sainsbury's own brand, which is even cheaper.

Is there anything you get where you think the cheaper brand is actually nicer?

Co Ops cheese puffs. I'm not sure if there is an expensive version, Wotsits, probably. But careful testing (ie eating lots of packets) has told me that the Co Op ones are superior, unless you get the one packet in ten that hasn't got any flavouring in it.

Sainsburys cheese curls - far more flavour than Quavers.
Asda Jaffa Cakes - exactly the same, neither DH or DS2 could tell the difference.

Just got some Sainsbury’s chinos, £14. Much nicer than the Boden ones I have. Ditto jeans.

Agree re:Waitrose essential beans. Their essential houmous, peanut butter, teabags and weetabix great too as is their lemon and ginger kitchen cleaner.

We love sainsburys bran flakes.

Aldi’s oat cakes, brioche burger buns, cream cheese, red wine

Lidl breadsticks, yoghurts. DH really rates their craft beer.

Tesco lighter than light mayonnaise.

I’ve missed being able you shop about during lockdown!

I haven't RTFT I bought aldi's intensive hand cream as a cheap to keep by the sink it is amazing. Takes years off your hands.

Loads of Aldi stuff. Their Jaffa Cakes are far nicer than McVitie's. Their chocolate is as good as lots of the more expensive brands, and far better than crappy Cadbury's or Thorntons.

Grower's Harvest kidney beans are much nicer than dearer tins because they're not all soggy like most brands are.

Cheap(ish) handcream is often much better than the incredibly expensive L'Occitane stuff I used to use.

Aldi Mayo.

Lidl deluxe ketchup

Sainsbos tomato ketchup and bbq sauce are much better than the brands and their own brand taste the difference crisps better than Kettle/Tyrells.

Anyone suggest a cheapo version of crunchy nut cornflakes? We're going through boxes a week here The Sainsbury's one doesn't cut it.

I’ve never noticed the difference between brands of pesto, hummus, bags of flour or sugar. Some things though, such as coffee, juice and chocolate you really can! I’m really not an Aldi fan because I’d have to do half my shopping there and then go to another supermarket to get the rest of proper branded items.

'proper branded items'

As opposed to improper own brand ones? 🤔😂

ALDI Choceur with hazelnuts is the best chocolate ever!

Thanks to this thread I bought Branston's baked beans yesterday on the weekly shop, instead of Heinz. Haven't tried them yet, but I'm looking forward to it!

ALDI own brand Azera coffee...£2.29 as opposed to almost £6 and we prefer it

I agree with those who like Aldi ketchup. I would rather go for that nowadays.

I also liked Sainsburys Basics Cornflakes when they were around. They have a new boxed brand now.. I haven't tried them yet.

Aldi serums, the ones in the little pump container.

Aldi chocolate.

I bought ketchup in Lidl (after reading on MN it is nice)

Did a Taste Test with DS and DD , they couldn't tell.

They did notice the difference between Heinz and the huge Costco bottle (it was more vinegary) . It got eaten but pricewise , it wasn't worth the saving/.

You should try the deluxe Lidl ketchup

It is on a par with (but not identical to) Tiptree.

Lidl Mars Bars