Great 'disguised Own Brand' Hunt.

NineThreeNine

I was listening to a programme about chocolate on Radio 4 about 3/4 months ago.

Basically, 5 companies make about 80/90% of the chocolate sold in major shops. They mentioned that Cadburys do not make their own chocolate anymore, so obviously they can't make it for thorntons! This was a rather recent development, the program might have been made because of Cadburys selling their chocolate factory.

What happens is the huge companies have large computerised chocolate making machines. Each company can go down and work out new recipes and recipes are kept secret. Then these machines just pump out the chocolate. Supposibly this one company that they spoke to made chocolate for Cadbury's, Lindt, Nestle, alongside other companies.

Jenn85

Hello all this is my first post!

I spoke with the manager in Tescos and he told me that their Value beans are made by Heinz, i learned this when i was trying to find out if there Value Petiflous were made by Petiflous themselves as they are very similair in packaging but have a less strong flavour, as Petiflous were being costing me far too much as my DD was eating 6 at a time.

Years ago Kenco used to make the Tesco own brand coffee, my mum used to work in the factory and used to fill up the tubs put a different coloured Lid and Label on it bobs your uncle, Tescos Coffee.

I can confirm by taste test only that Tescos CoCo pops taste exactly the same as the leading Name Brand as do Tescos own Frosties although i think it may be phsycological for me as i was so impressed that i'd saved over a pound, per box.

By taste test again I find that Sainsbury's Basic Chocolate mouses are exactly the same as Aero Chocolate mouses at a fraction of the Price (ie Aero when on offer 2 for £2, Sainsbury's basics 2 for 54p) I am very much into saving at the moment i used to waste so much money on Name Branded food but found that its not really much different to Value or Shops own, never scrimp on toilet paper though!!

My dad also used to work for a "Major Bakery" ie bread and he said that Sainsburys basics and Name Brands are made in the same factory, in my eyes there is a difference in taste and texture but cheaper all the way, the cheaper versions tend to contain more yeast which is never good for a woman!

I do find that out of all the Own brands or Value Brands I prefer mostly Tescos, i have it in my head that they are actually leading Brands with different Packaging!! any other ideas on what is made but Name brands and repackaged I would be greatfull.

Hadrian

Al-Inshearar (PAGE 5)- Would you kindly explain this further as I find each one rather odd. I understand floor pans may be the same, but the rest?..... (Pity about NUFC!)

babs2008

I seem to remember that when 'value' products were introduced the main objective was that expensive packaging was made simpler - thus cheaper - no expenses on designers and printers etc. So, surely it is not surprising that some value products are produced by 'higher end' producers.

It used to be all about image, advertising and packaging. Now it's more about ecomomics.

NineThreeNine

Jenn85 wrote: »

My dad also used to work for a "Major Bakery" ie bread and he said that Sainsburys basics and Name Brands are made in the same factory, in my eyes there is a difference in taste and texture but cheaper all the way, the cheaper versions tend to contain more yeast which is never good for a woman!

I helped out on the back door whilst working at Tesco on a number of occasions.

From what I remember, there are only 2 or 3 major bakeries.

Warburtons, didn't supply any own brand stuff, or any other brands. Either the one that supplied Hovis or Kingsmill did all the Tesco stuff. I can't remember which. The one that did also supplies Sainsburys, we sometimes got their stuff!

Isabelle

Lilith1980 wrote: »

Also bought Tesco's value tomato ketchup. DH didnt like it but I loved it. It was a lot tangier and "sharper" than Heinz - reminded me of "Daddy's tomato ketchup" which is why I liked it. Maybe I should rinse out my Heinz squeezy bottle after we're done with it and buy some value tomato ketchup to pour into it lol

I do this, I buy cheap Tesco ketchup, rinse the Heinz bottle, fill it with cheap ketchup, hey presto! Fussy teenagers have never noticed the difference! Unfortunately, I think Heinz must have cottoned on to people doing this as their current plastic bottles don't seem to last as long :mad:

TIRkiz_2

Well...3 days later i've finally finished reading this thread!:T & i'm totally amazed.
Have jotted down 2 A4 sheets full of info to pass on to family members.
I know this has been asked countless times throughout the course of this thread but has all this info been collated elsewhere?

Does anyone have any comparison info on Olay anti-wrinkle creams (my only extravagance really)?

I used to work in a factory making curtains for M&S, BHS, Moygashel & mail order catalogues. M&S had a higher spec ie. stitches per inch & better quality thread.

gsdgeorge

Steff wrote: »

Hello all,

First time reader of this particular thread and long time shopper at Tesco. Due to recent surges in food prices I decided to try some value products as per Martins advice. My findings are as follows:-

ALL TESCO

• Value Pasta Tubes - 19p for 500g - really good - not soggy etc
• Value Low Fat Mayo - 49p for a big jar - cant tell the difference AT ALL - we used to buy Hellmans about £3 for same thing - NEVER AGAIN
• Value Bran Flakes - 74p for a huge box - IMPORTANT - These are EXACTLY THE SAME as Tescos Light Choices Bran Flakes which come in a prettier box and cost double the price @ approx £1.15 for THE SAME THING!!!!
• Value Fresh Orange (From Concentrate) Its ridiculously cheap and tastes identical to their own make - it really is ridiculous that we have been spending so much on orange juice when this is like 20p or something silly for a big carton....
• Value Kitchen Roll 99p for two thick rolls - MUCH BETTER THAN ANY OTHER WE HAVE TRIED AND THEY LAST AGES!

We have been using Tesco Value Tinned Tomatoes and Kidney Beans for ages now - they are fine - no problem at all. And a tip Tesco Value Chocolate Digestives are lovely - better than McVitites in my opinion. We have also switched to all Value bananas and peppers and mushrooms. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND the Value Apples - Euggh!!

My other half was VERY RELUCTANT to try these things but I bought them anyway so he didnt have a choice and he totally agrees now.

It will take a while before we choose value tea/coffee/washing powder etc - though if anyone else has any TESCO VALUE products that they would like to recommend then I would like to hear about them to try them.
Thanks. Steff

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Try the value washing powder, I found no difference in cleaning ability, what I think makes it cheaper apart from the packaging is the lack of perfume.

littlescarlet

As a former food buyer at Sainsbury's I can confirm that many of the value brand dry goods such as flour are identical to the own brand ones - it would simpy be too much trouble to search out poor wheat etc. The simple fact is the supermarket runs these brands as a loss leader and when I was there I LOST 17p on every bag of value brand flour I sold as it cost me twice as much as I was selling it for. This doesn't necessarily apply to stuff which has many ingredients, but simple stuff like fizzy water, cornflour, baking powder, herbs etc are usually identical to the supermarket branded version. Look also for things which are overpackaged and hence expensive - Schwartz herbs are a prime example. Those fancy jars cost the maker more than the contents. Supermarket brands are the same inside, just more simply packaged.

Lifeisbutadream

I used to work in a meat factory and they made sliced ham for every single one of the supermarekts except M&S (apparantly they could not match the quality M&S wanted)

The factory did different quality meats for each 'type' of ham - so you really do get what you pay for (with sliced ham anyway) - it may be made by the same place, but it certainly doesnt have the same ingredients! (the cheaper brands have a higher water, fat and ahem, other ingredients)

(I dont ever, ever buy pre-packed sliced ham by the way - I wont go into detail, but I wouldnt eat it if it was the last thing on offer - I always get it from the bone, from the deli)