tesco value what's good what's not?

[munz]

i'll start.

good:-

the wrapped biscuits/normal ones.
cloths
foil/clingfilm
butter/eggs for baking

bad:-

wipes (used for cleaning and were naff for that!)

please feel free to add. not only value but own brand as well.

Message withdrawn

According to the Asda magazine (well its free ), the meat etc is the same, its just the irregular cuts and strangely shaped bits that they sell this way. Ditto the fruit and veg.

The rest, i think it tends to have a higher water content tbh (eg tomatoes / benas) BUT value stuff is great for allergic kids, as they tend toa dd less fancy rubbish- so things like Asda chocolate (not so much Tesco imo) are delicious, cheap and relatively allergy free

Value things i like
cleaning:
cloths (seems like most of us like these) I use the nonal cloth ones and the microfibre ones!
Foil
clingfilm (see lots of us like the above)
Kitchen towels for cleaning out hamster and polishing my mirrors
Rubber gloves
kitchen Scourers
the bleach is bleach (have it at work but dont use it)
Kitchen towels (for cleaning out hamster and polishing my mirrors, have bounty as well)
Rubber gloves
kitchen Scourers

cupboard:
Flour (plain or SR)
tinned chopped tomatoes are fine
the pasta sauce in a jar (like ragu) was ok the 1 time i tried it
Choc biscs / bourbons / rich tea / custard creams
Chocolate (esp fruit and nut, yumm!)
Pasta
squash tastes the same (but personally i use rocks organic which is much nicer than all other squash)
tinned tuna
Apple juice

fridge:
Butter for baking
UHT milk (according to my grandma)
cheddar cheese is ok imo
Coleslaw (the lowest calorie according to my gran!)
tuna pasta bake ready meal contains no crap! and is quite yummy!
chocolate mooses YUM
peppers
onions
sometimes the fresh fruit is ok
'citrus' ie clementines... the same!

other stuff:
Note pads
lever arch files
most stationary does the job intended
A4 paper for printers
nappy sacks.. you only throw them in the bin!
Cat litter (my mum uses it and says its ok)

Things i dont like
Loo roll
Tissues (hurt your nose)
fresh tomaotuos (look big and testeless)
soap / shower gel etc(never tried and wont try!)
intstant hot choc
would NEVER get value chicken / eggs / pork products (due to animal welfare reasons) or any value thing with meat as an ingrediant
instant coffee (yuk)
Orange juice (doesnt tatse the same anymore, it used to!)
washing up liq (too thin)
bakedBeans
tinned spaghetti YUK

should say have value bleach at work but I dont use it at my house cause i dont use bleach!

cn i add porrdieg oats and jaffa cakes to my good section please

and jelly
and tinned fruit

shhh peachy - I don't want DH to know that! lol.

nannyL - u have a huge list there!

Tesco value

Good:
Tinned Toms
Kidney beans
Teacakes
pitta pockets
snack crisps (great for parties too!)
apple juice
orange juice big and small
peppers
apples but watch for which apples they are
bananas but watch for bruises
Parsnips
mushroom but short shelf life
All the buscuits esp. the shortcake swirly ones
flour
golden syrup
Basmati rice
mixed herbs
reduced sodium salt
butter
cheese ok if you like mild
tinned new pot great in omlettes
bin bags
freezer/food bags!
Old pots

BAD
baked beans
tinned spaghetti

Can now see how we've got ou weekly food bill down to under £50!! for a family of 4

oh should also add as good

smoked salmon bits but for pasta sauces only
Most of there stationary, printer papr ect

Good

own brand thick bleach
Kids clothes
Pasta- I bounght a 3Kg bag of pasta spirals for £1 in Asdas not that long ago!

Bad

Own brand/ value wipes
Thin bleach of any brand

own brand cocoa - tastes really bitter.

To answer the question about what the difference actually is between branded, value and own brand goods, with Tesco (I have insider knowledge!)they get various suppliers of branded goods to also manufacture the value goods or own brand goods as well, and this is the deal under which tesco will then stock their goods. Also, tesco are quite fussy about the quality of the raw ingredients used, even in value stuff, and the supplier/manufacturer makes no profit on the value stuff, neither does tesco, it is used to draw people in to the shop. So although it isn't exactly the same recipe, it isn't necesarily a worse recipe with more crap in it just because it is value. It depends on the product.

The people who make Bon Maman jam make most of tesco's own jam as well. Good stuff.

Stay away from the value baked beans, they are horrible!

Climbingrosie-Tesco may make very little on certain value lines but I can assure you they make very decent margins on others-I know becasue I supply some of them.

That's interesting about the jam - I usually get Bonne Maman (partly because I like the jars ).

I have been converted to Tesco nappie - so much cheaper than Pampers etc, only tried their "own brand" but my SIL has tried the value too and says they are ok...

Always stock up on tinned goods like tomatoes, kidney beans, etc.

Their organic mince (lamb and beef) is fine.

SJandW - My knowledge is mostly on jam, preserves and chilled goods! I'm sure tesco make a tidy profit on some of their ranges! It's usually the suppliers who miss out...(but again, I don't know about all of them, it is the case with some I know though)

KTeePee- don't get me wrong, they make Tesco's jam to tesco's recipes, so it isn't just the same bon maman jam in a tesco jar, I just mean it is the same top grade fruit etc. used. Bon Maman jam is still superior IMO!

I forgot the paper ranges - notebooks, printer paper etc, all good.
The boys got some Asda smart price pancakes and taosting waffles yesterday, which they had for breakfast this morning and they were good.