In a surprising revelation for British shoppers, supermarket own-brand tomato ketchup has been rated just as good as the iconic Heinz version, while costing significantly less. A comprehensive blind taste test conducted by the consumer watchdog Which? has uncovered that budget-friendly alternatives can match the taste and quality of the market-leading brand.
The Taste Test Results
Which? assembled a panel of 72 people to evaluate eight supermarket own-label ketchups from Aldi, Asda, Tesco, M&S, Co-op, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, and Lidl, alongside the beloved American brand Heinz. The condiments were assessed based on flavour, appearance, texture, and aroma to determine an overall score.
Joint Winners: Asda and Heinz
Heinz Tomato Ketchup secured the title of Best Buy, but it shared joint first place with Asda's Classic Tomato Ketchup, which also received the Great Value commendation. Both products achieved an impressive overall score of 77%.
The majority of tasters praised Asda's Classic Tomato Ketchup for its well-balanced tanginess, sweetness, and strength of flavour. Notably, it contains less salt and sugar than Heinz, making it a healthier option as well.
However, the most striking difference is the price. Asda's sauce costs just £1.07 for 550g, while Heinz retails at £2.98 for 460g. This means the supermarket alternative is approximately 72% cheaper, offering nearly a third of the price for a comparable product.
Other Strong Contenders
Waitrose's Essential Tomato Ketchup came in a respectable second place with a score of 75%. Tasters particularly appreciated its consistency, describing the thickness as just right. It represents excellent value for money at £1 for a 470g bottle.
Aldi's Bramwells Tomato Ketchup took third place with a score of 73%. While only half the panel were satisfied with its sweetness and strength of flavour, possibly due to its low sugar content, its price point is unbeatable at 89p for 550g.
The Full Ranking
Here is the complete ranking from the Which? taste test:
- Asda Classic Tomato Ketchup – 77% (Best Buy & Great Value)
- Heinz Tomato Ketchup – 77% (Best Buy)
- Waitrose Essential Tomato Ketchup – 75%
- Aldi Bramwells Tomato Ketchup – 73%
- Co-op Tomato Ketchup – 72%
- Sainsbury's Tomato Ketchup – 71%
- Tesco Tomato Ketchup – 71%
- Hellmann's Tomato Ketchup – 70%
- Lidl Batts Tomato Ketchup – 68%
- M&S Tomato Ketchup – 61%
Notable Performances
Co-op's offering scored 72% but was criticised for being too tangy. Sainsbury's and Tesco both achieved 71%, with Sainsbury's praised for tanginess and sweetness but let down by texture, while Tesco had good appearance and texture but lacked in flavour.
Hellmann's Tomato Ketchup, at twice the price of many supermarket labels, scored 70% with tasters finding it lacking in both texture and flavour. Lidl's Batts Tomato Ketchup, though cheap at 89p for 560g, only managed 68% with unimpressed tasters.
The Disappointing Performer
Marks & Spencer's Tomato Ketchup came last with a score of 61%. Tasters found it too thick, dark, and tangy, despite its reasonable price of £1 for 495g. This contrasts sharply with the retailer's usual reputation for quality food innovations.
Expert Commentary
Jessica Carson, Which? food and health editor, commented: The perfect tangy flavour boost on chips, burgers, bacon sandwiches and so much more, it isn't hard to see why tomato ketchup is one of the nation's favourite condiments. The good news is that rather than forking out for the big brand version, you can get a tasty supermarket alternative for a third of the price.
This comprehensive test demonstrates that British consumers no longer need to pay premium prices for quality tomato ketchup. With supermarket own-brands matching or approaching the taste of established brands at significantly lower costs, savvy shoppers can make substantial savings without compromising on flavour.
