Are there any branded items that you once thought you would never compromise on, that the price rises have made you rethink?

[AtleastitsnotMonday]

As the title says really. This hit me today when I went to grab a box of our usual Crosta and Molicca branded breadsticks off the shelf. They were one thing that I always said were worth the extra. But today the price was up to £1.65, from about £1 a year ago and I did think that I should revert to a cheaper option. I appreciate it's not an essential product but still.
I'm still hanging in there with Green Giant Sweetcorn, but that's on dodgy ground.

In some ways I think it's lucky that supply issues over the last few years have forced me to try own brands/alternatives as I have swapped an awful lot of branded items already.

Before anyone jumps on me I do appreciate how fortunate I am to have the luxury of buying anything other than the most basic essentials, I know how many people out there are just grateful to eat at the moment.

Surprised people like heinz ketchup and beams, they are so watery and sugary compared to aldi own.

Any recommendations for Heinz salad cream alternative? Paid 3.50 the other day but ive never found another to taste similar

@PrincessHoneysuckle I think Tesco's own salad cream is a good substitute for Heinz

Mouthwash. When I started using mouthwash dentyne was the only one available without alcohol. Then the hygienist suggested it might be indicated in the brown staining on my teeth. So I switched to Colgate Max white on her recommendation and used it ever since - until it hit £5 a bottle, £2.50 on regular special offer. There is now a supermarket generic similar product for pence so I've switched to that.

Completely agree. I love their bread.

I switched to this. My DC say they much prefer it, I can’t really taste the difference between it and marmite. It’s great.

Heinz red sauce and Branston beans. I LOVE the Asda essentials red sauce and I used to be the biggest red sauce snob ever!

Only ever bought Heinz ketchup, mayo, salad cream etc but now all condiments are shop's own be that Sainsburys or Lidl. Bread as well, I don't buy Warburtons or Hovis anymore.

I've swapped kenko coffee and PG tips for Lidl own brands too
Had one of their delux pizza this week because they've been doing a free item when you spend £15. It's blinkin lovely.

I know it's not really a super brand but I was a little stunned that co op filtered milk was 90p cheaper than Cravendale on the same shelf. It's milk fgs. I suspect many people just grab the packaging they're familiar with.

I've only a few things that are sacred. Ariel, Heinz salad cream and beans, coopers marmalade. Yorkshire tea. Own brand biscuits etc are half the price of Mcvities and taste the same.

Lurpak spreadable. None of the other spreadable butters quite match it for taste but the price of Lurpak was getting ridiculous. I used to stock up on the tubs when they were £2.50 special offer, now they're over £5 and occasionally there's a £4 special offer...no thank you! The Aldi one is ok and under £2.50 so we have that now.
Branson baked beans - we've had these for years but the price has gone up a lot so I may change to own brand. HP sauce I do really like but at £3.60 a bottle I have now switched to own brand.

@Manchestermummax2 if you like slightly crumbly tangy Cheddar I really like the 750g blocks of mature west country cheddar from M&S, they were recommended on another thread on here. It seems expensive at the time of buying it but because it's a 750g block it does last a long time and it's very reliably the same each time. The own brand I used to buy was inconsistent with flavour and texture so it wasn't liked much

Warburtons Toastie lasts so long in the fridge that I wont give it up as I think it would be false economy. Other brands go off much quicker. I dread to think what's in it to make it last so long though! I'm also still using Heinz beans but have ditched the ketchup Hellman's mayonnaise.

Pretty much everything, only thing I haven’t been able to match is walkers cheese and onion crisps

@MaggieMagpie357 thanks!

Please can I be friends with your dad , he sounds ace 😃

@ScottBakula he loves a job. I got covid and he whinged about my food shop list but then bought twice as much stuff as "it looked nice"

Accompanied by half the chemist and a story about how everything was sold out. Ask for a bottle of squash and I'll get ribena, vimto, some random one as it was on offer and some cans of pop "just in case"

I think I remember uou posting about him before ' he loves a job' sounds familiar.
I definitely want to be his friend.

My dad , bless him many years ago I broke my left coller bone and 3 fingers on my right hand so struggled to do lots Including cooking and eating so I asked him to get me some micro meals , "that's not proper food " says he.
So bought s few pound of spuds , cauil , a swede and two steaks . All very good food that I would normally be very happy with but have you ever tried to prepare swede and cauil with one arm and two fingers or eat a steak with a spoon 🤔

Swede that's bad enough with two working arms!

The only time he failed was when he had the whole of M&S dessert section at his fingertips and chose for me... lemon mousse
Me "lemon? And mousse"
Him "you like lemon mousse"
Me "no, that's mum! I wanted chocolate caramel custard goodness. AND it's diet lemon mousse"

Tell me about it ! That bugger sat in the veg rack for weeks the got binned.

Oh no , that is a failure! Who wants diet pudding anyway ?
If I diet I will have a boring salad so that I can have a nice pud .

Awww @Rebel2 your dad sounds lovely!

Does anyone know any own brand alternatives for Nakd bars? They’re the major expense in DD’d lunchbox alas. Also why oh why does Lidl never have any of their own brand mini rice cakes in stock? I refuse to pay more than £1 a bag for Organix! I’ve switched out all of my own branded stuff (except tea), mostly been using own brand for several years, but DD is even fussier than I am.

I tried swapping Persil non-bio and Comfort Pure for Aldi’s own but developed hideously bad eczema so have swapped back.
I always thought I’d never give up Walkers salt & vinegar but the Golden Wonder version is better by far (and is only £1 for a six pack in Home Bargains.) Hellman’s mayo is much cheaper in there too.
I’m still holding onto Jackson’s multi-seeded loaf, Anchor spreadable, President dome butter and HP sauce.

I've used Aldi Almat washing powder for years, fantastic value. Tried their dishwasher tabs but wasn't impressed.
I too ditched heinz Tom sauce recently in favour of Waitrose own brand, fine.
Used to use Cushelle loo paper but the quality plummeted so it's Regina at the moment but I'm open to suggestions, must be both strong and soft.

Most things tbh. I never thought I'd give up andrex but tesco own brand is great and so much cheaper!

@fussychica try tesco quilted or the tesco shea butter loo roll. It is as good.