which supermarket does the best basic brands

DrScotsman

wannabe_sybil wrote: »

Also Aspartame is in some of the basics range, it is not a blanket matter.

On their dilutable drinks it says that they don't use Aspartame in any of their soft drinks, what do they use it in then?

wannabe_sybil

DrScotsman wrote: »

On their dilutable drinks it says that they don't use Aspartame in any of their soft drinks, what do they use it in then?

I am embarrassed to admit that I am too lazy to go and check. I do know that occasionally I check the label of their own brand stuff and once a flood it says aspartame. I think that they are phasing it out, however, as I noticed on their own brand instant chocolate dessert 6p that it contained sucralose and not aspartame.

I am sure I saw it in a drink, but that may be a while ago... It was almost certainly a basics item. I don't get particularly stressed for me but I don't want my little boy to have too much sweeteners. It is a personal preference.

My personal experience is that the less aspartame I have the better, but that may just be me. It usually is

Regardless of the battle of the additives I do think that Sainsburys basics are extremely good value, especially if it is less processed items such as mushrooms or potatoes. Or basics white fish fillets or smoked salmon or trout.

Also important to note for OP - Today I checked and Turkey Breast fillets are currently cheaper than the basics diced turkey, due to a special offer. Just because it says value/smartprice/basics does not necessarily mean that a special offer has not made something else more economical.

Edited to add - it may have been on their hot chocolate, basics... If I can remember I shall come back and make a note.

Edited again to add - aspartame used to be in their supreme desserts - angel delight wannabies - but it is now sucralose.

ShelfStacker_3

wannabe_sybil wrote: »

I suppose the best thing for the OP is to sit down with a large drink and a note book and use mysupermarket to compare value/smartprice/basics for the most frequently used items. Basics, in my experience, is the best quality though I would say it is the packaging that I like the least. I loathe orange packaging and my cupboards are full of it :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

I did that minus the stiff drink. I was actually laughing out loud at how cheap stuff was. Maybe I'm just sheltered...

I happen to like the packaging, anyway. Especially the self-deprecating comments under the product name (i.e. "SAINSBURY'S BASICS TOILET PAPER - Well, at least it's not sandpaper", "SAINSBURY'S BASICS CURRY - tastes of something and won't give you diarrhoea"). They tickle me.

ruade

Morrisons basics is ok, 12 toilet rolls for £1.25 also basic food brand is ok, BUT would be better if it wasnt in bright yellow tins with large BASIC in black on em, are they trying to discourage people by doing that ?

wannabe_sybil

ruade wrote: »

Morrisons basics is ok, 12 toilet rolls for £1.25 also basic food brand is ok, BUT would be better if it wasnt in bright yellow tins with large BASIC in black on em, are they trying to discourage people by doing that ?

Quite probably wanting to discourage.

You see, I think it works like this. Morrisons very likely put the same or similar items in basics as their own brand. Basics have an incredibly low margin. But if they tempt shoppers like myself in, who normally look at basic/value/smartprice first and other stuff later then I may splurge on an impulse buy with a bigger margin. But those who are more brand and label conscious won't buy the basics (which screams basics at you) but buy perhaps branded or their own brand normal range, which is higher profit margin.


I think you have to treat this shopping thingy as a battle of wills, a test of strategy and a war of attrition.

pollyskettle

ruade - links in sigs aren't allowed - I would suggest you remove it as someone from the forum team will come along and remove it soon.

Back OT, I couldn't give a monkeys if the basics range is in tins with "this shopper is a tight wad" in neon on - if it's a good quality product, something I need and a good price I'll buy it! No-one else looks in my larder except me and anyone looking in my shopping trolley can keep their opinions to themselves