What non branded foods are made in the same factory as branded?

[WildFlowerBees]

Weetabix and supermarkets own are made in the same factory. I'm interested to know what other things are made the same but we're paying more for the brand when the product is the same.

They might be made in the same factory but DS (3) will absolutely not entertain any brand apart from Weetabix! We've tried loads and he always knows!! Must be some difference somewhere 🤷🏻‍♀️

all shop bought celebration cakes & ready meals are made in the same factories. The cake factory - all the same cakes apart from M&S just different packaging so Monday = Asda, Tuesday = Sainsburys etc

Even if they are made in the same factory, the product isn’t necessarily the same. I once visited a factory that made Harrods jam alongside Asda Smart Price. The quality of the ingredients, recipes and processes were completely different.

They might be made in the same factory but they are not the same!.

Sainsburys and Asda are very similar tasting but incredibly crumbly. Lidl are like eating wallpaper paste.

Just because they're made in the same factory doesn't mean they're the same product. Sometimes they are, sometimes they aren't.

Also, just because something is branded and/or more expensive, it doesn't necessarily mean it's any nicer/better for you etc.

We get a lot of our shopping from Aldi, so usually not branded, but I just get whatever is cheapest that I like and is otherwise suitable.

I have no time for people who insist that branded items are better than cheaper alternatives, you only have to watch a few episodes of Eat or Shop Well for Less to see that in true blind testing, most people are unable to recognise 'their' brand and often prefer other versions when comparing.

Even if they are made in the same factory, it doesn’t mean it’s made to the same recipe. You can see this by looking at ingredient declarations and nutritional information. Just try different brands and see if you like one more than the other.

My sister worked in a Turkish Delight factory (niche!), and the same product went into Harrods packaging as Poundland packaging.

I know they're not all necessarily the same I'm asking for things that are.

Interesting about the cakes.

And sometimes the own label versions out of the same factories are actually better recipes than the branded!

This was the case with ASDA pizza (quite a while back, when I knew someone who worked for the supplier)

You know that slagging a Lidl product will get you kicked off MN right?

I have heard that hula hoops are made in the same factory as the ones in Aldi packaging and they are the same product .

I knew someone who worked in a factory which made Pakora among other things. It was made for 3 or 4 shops with M&S paying for the best shaped Pakora.

You know that slagging a Lidl product will get you kicked off MN right?

I LOVE Lidl. But oh my their weetabix are tasteless with the texture of cardboard.

I've heard that just about all corned beef is packed in the same mega factories in Brazil or Argentina. I once compared Asda standard and Smart Price cans and the ingredients and nutritional information were exactly the same so I bought the cheaper one.

Plus I think that the Asda version was higher protein and lower fat and salt than one of the brands (Princes or John West, I don't remember which).

Food companies contract out manufacture to smaller producers. It gives them flexibility and keeps costs down.

But that doesn't mean the ingredients or the manufacturing process is the same as other labels. A factory is capable of producing many different products.

Why does it worry you anyway?

@MintJulia I'm not sure why you'd think I was worried. I find it interesting that's all.

I know that not all recipes are the same despite being made in the same factory, but lots of things are exactly the same just branded differently.

Ice cream,such as cornettos.
I've been to the factory and whether you buy the "real" cornetto or the supermarket own brand, they are the same thing

Which supermarket own brand is the same as the real thing? I’ve had the Tesco, asda and sainsburys version and none of them are the real cornetto (which I absolutely love)

I know a local factory makes sausage rolls for M&S, Tesco Finest, Lidl and Aldi “special” ranges and Co Op (and maybe other but those are the ones I know). They look very similar and the descriptions are similar but they’re definitely not the same and the M&S ones are far and away the nicest. They’re all pretty good but there’s definitely a difference.

Walkers make the supermarket own brand crisps incl M&S

I don't know if walkers also make lidls version, but the lidl ones taste so much nicer and less salty to me

Very Lazy garlic and Lidls own brand are the same product I believe

I buy the Aldi hoops (cost savings) and you have to take your chances with your teeth! Some are like bullets. The branded hoops are different (better imo).

I used to work in a crisp factory in the 90s and we made crisps for m and s. Just better packaging and more care taken with the product.

Absolutely loads are going to be made in the same factories as the branded products - they have to be as there is no way Tesco have their own factories for every own brand product - ditto all the other supermarkets. The cost to do so would just be huge.