What are the best and worst basics/value/smartprice own brand products out there?

pakokelso93

Aldi's Shampoo etc and cleaning products are decent for the money... (Better than Lidl's).

[Deleted User]

I notice with interest that the Tesco Value Sweetcorn is on the "Not worth it" list - I personally like it, guess it must be a matter of preference. I find that the Tesco's value ketchup is very good as already listed.

They used to also do a Tesco Value tomato sauce - havent seen it in our store nearby of late but that was very good for bunging in a pasta bake. I also dont see Tesco Value Custard Creams on the list - you get a big pack for only 40p

On the pet side of things I started buying the Tesco Value Rabbit Food last month due to a local small pet shop closing down - our bunnies love it, and pretty good for £2.39 as well. We also get the Tesco Value Hay which lasts us about 2 weeks per bale.

pakokelso93

Tried a Tesco Everyday Value Rump steak tonight (Approx £4 for two steaks). Barely any fat, and if I do say so myself, cooked perfectly was tasty!

strummergirl

We've bought a lot of EV/smartprice stuff lately. Some of our faves are:

EV sweet and sour sauce
EV tea bags
EV biscuits ESP custard creams
EV mouthwash
EV cereals are really good too, esp like the shreddies and fruit n fibre
EV soya milk, nicer than alpro half the price!

Smartprice
Passata
Curry sauce
Fabric conditioner
All the veg tins are fine from both tesco and asda. If anyone wants to know about anything specific I will try and help .

Wizzbang

I'm afraid I disagree with the following
NOT WORTH BUYING DUE TO PRICE / QUALITY / TASTE
sainsburys sweet and sour sauce - Basic price (Redkids1972 - is horrid)- IS LOVELY, exactly the same as any more expensive brand
Sainsburys Crisps - basic Price (Paadzer)- the squares and tortilla chips are brilliant, agree that the rest are variable
Sainsburys Tinned sweetcorn - Basic Price (ixia)- can't notice any difference between more expensive brands
Sainsburys Banananas - Basic range (Bekko - Rubbery)- they are exactly the same as the other bananas
Sainsburys lemon curd - Basic Range (rubber and tasted like plastic) (thebanananapimp) I have no problem with eating this
Sainsburys kitchen swingbin bags - Basics price (7 week wonder - they rip too easily)- they are fine to use for cat litter
Sainsburys Chocolate Mouse (4 pack) - Basic Range (Kathie1101)- more chocolately and less sweet than the more expensive ones
Sainsburys Chocolate - Basic Range (schtee)- fab stuff, has a good 'snap' which is what you should look for in chocolate. I use it all the time as its cheaper than cooking chocolates and better than those fake chocolate cooking chocs

Bargain_Bunny

Hi,

I bought a jar of Smartprice curry sauce today due to the fact I am lactose Inolerant (used to have homepride) and the ingredients look ok for me, has anyone tried this? If so, how did they find it?. I currently have a bag of Smartprice porrage oats, which are ok.

Few years ago I tried a jar of T Value pasta sauce which was just vile so wasn't sure if the curry sauce would be similar!.

BB

prinsazz

my hubby is lactose Intolerant, and a lot of the basics stuff is lactose free (LF). Here is what I buy

Basics Jaffa Cakes- LF and cheaper
SP tinned toms - no difference as far as I am concerned in a spag bol
SP frozen sweetcorn and peas- again no difference
SP digestive biscuits (in fact most biscuits) - taste the same and majority are LF
SP and Basics Mozzarella- use it on pizzas, no difference from the bigger brands, Morrisons was not so good but I would use it. I havent seen SP recently though so get Basics
SP Cooking bacon- from any store actually, all the value ranges are brilliant for adding to stews and spag bol, I also use it for BBQ beans, I pick out the packs with the bigger bits in, but fantastic quality every time and so much cheaper than back bacon.

Hubby says steer clear of the SP stuffing mix, only have paxo- ive clearly spoilt him!!!!

prinsazz

just remembered a couple more so thought I would add

Basics Tortilla Crisps- good, wouldnt buy more expensive
Pitta Breads- again all good

Wouldnt buy
SP Mushy peas- they were awful
Basics Penne Pasta - was really thick and not good

Has anyone else noticed a distinct lack of SP products in asda recently? A lot of the SP i bought has disappeared off the shelves, most recently the mozzarella and the tortilla crisps

cheapcherryade

I did a weeks shop in Sainsburys and it only came to 16.47 because I stuck to their own brand things!
Trying everything out for the first time so going to try Tesco next!!

MrsAverage

Is it just me but have most supermarkets stopped doing so many basics/savers items?
I've just been to TESCO and the only basic fruit was some poor quality grapes.
This is just most recent in a long line of non-avaialibilty of items I used to buy regularly and now cannot find at all.
It seems be across all goods and all supermarkets. I came out empty handed as couldn't afford what was there.
Also 'reduced price/date salmon was £3.45 for 2 small fillets - that's not value.
Do they think we are stupid?