A shopper who regularly buys supermarket own-brand products has named the three branded items she refuses to swap – Oral-B toothpaste, Fairy washing up liquid and Heinz ketchup
I typically do my big weekly haul at Asda, then nip into Aldi and M&S during the week to stock up, with the occasional dash to Tesco and Home Bargains since they’re practically on my doorstep. And I’m completely fine with own-brand products.
I’ve got absolutely no issue swapping Heinz baked beans for Aldi’s or Asda’s versions. The sourdough from Tesco is gorgeous, Aldi’s Greek yoghurt is gloriously thick and creamy, and honestly, the finest loo roll you’ll find is Nicky Elite from Home Bargains.
My other half spent ages persuading me to ditch Lurpak, but we’ve switched to Aldi’s Nordpak now and my bank balance is considerably healthier for it.
That said, there are certain things I simply won’t budge on and refuse to go for supermarket alternatives. Products that, in my view, can’t be matched by cheaper versions and you’ve just got to cough up the full whack, reports the Express.
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Oral-B toothpaste
The moment I realised I’d become properly middle-aged was when I discovered I had a favourite toothpaste – pretty sure I even announced it on Facebook at the time.
For me, nothing budget comes close to the refreshing sensation of Oral-B Pro Expert, and I’m willing to pay the premium.
It’s almost as though there are minuscule particles (presumably the ‘cleaning crystals’) mixed into the blue gel that polish and buff my tooth enamel, delivering a sparkling, silky-smooth result that simply can’t be matched. Plus, it’s got a lovely, sweet mint taste with just a touch of cinnamon.
You can pick up Oral-B Pro Expert from Asda for £2.24, though I normally grab a twin pack from Home Bargains for roughly £3.49.
Fairy Washing Up Liquid
In my younger, less discerning days, I’d happily reach for the supermarket’s own-brand washing up liquid. These days, it’s Fairy all the way – anything else simply feels wrong.
With the budget alternatives, I’ve found they don’t lather up nearly as well, and you end up having to use considerably more product just to match Fairy’s bubbles. I reckon this comes down largely to the consistency of the liquid itself.
Fairy has a satisfyingly thick texture, meaning you can dispense precisely the amount you need, making each bottle go that much further. The cheaper rivals tend to be far runnier, practically glugging out before you know it.
I’m a genuine fan of its cleaning prowess, and I’ll happily use it on virtually any surface – it’s gentle enough not to cause damage, yet a brilliant degreaser when combined with piping hot water.
I’m strictly a classic Fairy devotee too – none of those limited edition seasonal varieties for me, just the trusty original, thank you very much.
You can pick up Fairy Washing Up Liquid for £1 at The Range for 320ml. I tend to stock up on the larger bottles whenever they’re on offer and squirrel them away until required.
Heinz Ketchup
While I’m perfectly willing to cut corners on baked beans, Heinz Ketchup is an absolute non-negotiable in my household.
No supermarket own-brand imitation sauce is coming anywhere near my bacon butty. I refuse to dunk a single chip into a substandard Heinz knock-off – and I’d wager I could pick it out in a blind taste test without breaking a sweat.
There’s precisely the right amount of sweetness to highlight the tomato taste. Other varieties miss the mark and plenty are far too sharp for my liking, though I appreciate others don’t mind it.
So you’ll invariably spot Heinz in my cupboard sitting next to the Aldi mayo. A 460g bottle of Heinz currently costs £2.48 at Asda.
Have I missed any others that deserve a mention? Which brands simply can’t be topped? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
