Bargain supermarket crowned better than M&S, Waitrose and Tesco for Christmas dinner --[Reported by Umva mag]

A BARGAIN supermarket has been crowned better than M&S, Waitrose and Tesco for Christmas dinner. Aldi is known for its low-cost grocery goods – but it has now been crowned one of the best-tasting supermarket for Christmas too. Aldi came out on top as the best-value supermarket store for Christmas. AldiAldi’s Champagne was crowned the best this Christmas.[/caption] The German discounter knocked out M&S, which is notorious for its festive treats out of the park. Upmarket Waitrose and ever-reliable Tesco were also trumped by the bargain store in Good Housekeeping’s annual taste test. Lucky tasters put over 730 products from over 97 brands through their paces. The grub is assessed on appearance, aroma, flavour and texture, and then rated out of 100. Aldi topped the charts with 15 of the brand’s products appearing in first or second place across all categories. For example, its mince pies, which cost just 38p each were crowned the star of the show. Elsewhere, its Specially Selected Orange and Maple Pudding scored 88/100 and was a fan favourite amongst panellists. The citrus take on the classic cost just £9.99. Coming in second was the Meg Rivers Christmas Pudding which will set you back £18.50. Aldi’s Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru Champagne also claimed the title of “Best Champagne’” and cost £22. Panelists rated the tipple 85/100. The budget bubbly outperformed pricier competitors such as Selfridge’s and M&S’s which cost £34.99 and £28, respectively. But Aldi was not the star of the show in every instance. For example, Waitrose’s came out on top in the Christmas Turkey category for its £60 bird. Plus ,Sainsbury’s took the crown in the Pigs and Blankets category for its premium £4.50 ‘Taste the Difference’ pork snack. Full list of taste test winners Baked Goods Winner: Co-op Ready to Bake Cinnamon Danish £3.00, 86/100 Runner-up: Tesco Finest Cranberry & Orange Pane-toastie £5.50 Smoked Salmon Winner: Fortnum and Mason Farmed Scottish Smoked Salmon £15.00, 85/100 Runner-up: Tesco Finest Strong and Robust Scottish Smoked Salmon £4.60, 81/100 Flavoured Smoked Salmon Winner: Asda Exceptional Fig, Whisky & Spiced Honey Smoked Salmon £4.60, 78/100 Runner-up: Tesco Finest Smoked Salmon with Whisky £5.50, 76/100 Meat Canapés Joint Winner: COOK Chicken, Ginger & Lemon Grass Bites £8.50, 89/100 Joint Winner: Morrisons The Best Pork Belly with Maple BBQ Sauce £6, 89/100 Runner-up: Asda Red Thai Santa Hats £2.75, 87/100 Seafood Canapés Winner: Morrisons The Best Prawn Bao Bun £5.50, 91/100 Runner-up: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference 8 Crispy Prawn Toasties £5.25, 89/100 Veggie Canapés Joint Winner: Morrisons The Best Vegetable Tempura Nests with Sweet Chilli Dip £5, 85/100 Joint Winner: Co-op Katsu Bites £3.50, 85/100 Runner-up: Waitrose 8 Mexican Style Vegetable Tacos £8, 81/100 Starters and Sharers Winner: Waitrose No. 1 Lobster, Crab and Prawn Cocktail £5.95, 93/100 Runner-up: Tesco Finest Chicken & Roasted Mushroom Quenelles £4, 91/100 Turkey Crowns (and Other Non-Whole Turkey) Winner: Waitrose Glorious Treacle Glazed Turkey Crown £60, £30 per kg, 89/100 Runner-up: Lidl Deluxe Free Range Bronze Turkey Crown £27.90 – £41.85, £13.95 per kg, 87/100 Whole Turkey Winner: Aldi Specially Selected Roly Poly Whole Turkey £39.96 – £59.84, £9.99 per kg, 86/100 Runner-up: Riverford Organic Farmers Turkey XL £155, 6.5kg, 83/100 Meat Mains Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Bone in Crackling Gammon with a Festive Spiced Glaze £30, 89/100 Joint Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected Crackling Gammon Joint Sugar Baked £18.99, 85/100 Joint Runner-up: Asda Exceptional Fig, Whisky & Spiced Honey Gammon Joint £20, 85/100 Roast Potatoes Winner (Best Roast / Vegan Roast): COOK Roast Potatoes £3.50 – £4.95, 80/100 Joint Runner-up (Best Goose Dripping): Morrisons The Best Goose Fat Roast Potatoes £4, 79/100 Joint Runner-up: McCain Triple Cooked Roasts £3, 79/100 Pigs in Blankets Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Proper Pig in Blankets £4.25, 86/100 Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected Pigs in Blankets £2.49, 83/100 Pigs in Blankets (Flavoured) Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Caramelised Onion Chipolatas £4.25, 85/100 Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected Caramelised Onion Chipolatas Wrapped In Bacon £2.49, 82/100 Meat-Free Mains Winner: COOK Roasted Pepper and Goat’s Cheese Quiche £22, 83/100 Runner-up + Most Impressive Looking Centrepiece: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Mushroom, Cavolo Nero and Chestnut Filo Pie £12, 82/100 Vegetable Sides Winner: Taste the Difference Sprout, Leek and Cavolo Nero Gratin £5.50, 88/100 Runner-up: Co-op Winter Roasting Tray with S

Oct 11, 2024 - 16:09

Bargain supermarket crowned better than M&S, Waitrose and Tesco for Christmas dinner --[Reported by Umva mag]

A BARGAIN supermarket has been crowned better than M&S, Waitrose and Tesco for Christmas dinner.

Aldi is known for its low-cost grocery goods – but it has now been crowned one of the best-tasting supermarket for Christmas too.

a picture of a turkey a christmas pudding and a box of mince pies — Aldi came out on top as the best-value supermarket store for Christmas.

several bottles of champagne are laid out on a snowy surface

Aldi’s Champagne was crowned the best this Christmas.[/caption]

The German discounter knocked out M&S, which is notorious for its festive treats out of the park.

Upmarket Waitrose and ever-reliable Tesco were also trumped by the bargain store in Good Housekeeping’s annual taste test.

Lucky tasters put over 730 products from over 97 brands through their paces.

The grub is assessed on appearance, aroma, flavour and texture, and then rated out of 100.

Aldi topped the charts with 15 of the brand’s products appearing in first or second place across all categories.

For example, its mince pies, which cost just 38p each were crowned the star of the show.

Elsewhere, its Specially Selected Orange and Maple Pudding scored 88/100 and was a fan favourite amongst panellists.

The citrus take on the classic cost just £9.99.

Coming in second was the Meg Rivers Christmas Pudding which will set you back £18.50.

Aldi’s Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru Champagne also claimed the title of “Best Champagne’” and cost £22.

Panelists rated the tipple 85/100.

The budget bubbly outperformed pricier competitors such as Selfridge’s and M&S’s which cost £34.99 and £28, respectively.

But Aldi was not the star of the show in every instance.

For example, Waitrose’s came out on top in the Christmas Turkey category for its £60 bird.

Plus ,Sainsbury’s took the crown in the Pigs and Blankets category for its premium £4.50 ‘Taste the Difference’ pork snack.

Full list of taste test winners

Baked Goods

Winner: Co-op Ready to Bake Cinnamon Danish £3.00, 86/100
Runner-up: Tesco Finest Cranberry & Orange Pane-toastie £5.50

Smoked Salmon

Winner: Fortnum and Mason Farmed Scottish Smoked Salmon £15.00, 85/100
Runner-up: Tesco Finest Strong and Robust Scottish Smoked Salmon £4.60, 81/100

Flavoured Smoked Salmon

Winner: Asda Exceptional Fig, Whisky & Spiced Honey Smoked Salmon £4.60, 78/100
Runner-up: Tesco Finest Smoked Salmon with Whisky £5.50, 76/100

Meat Canapés

Joint Winner: COOK Chicken, Ginger & Lemon Grass Bites £8.50, 89/100
Joint Winner: Morrisons The Best Pork Belly with Maple BBQ Sauce £6, 89/100
Runner-up: Asda Red Thai Santa Hats £2.75, 87/100

Seafood Canapés

Winner: Morrisons The Best Prawn Bao Bun £5.50, 91/100
Runner-up: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference 8 Crispy Prawn Toasties £5.25, 89/100

Veggie Canapés

Joint Winner: Morrisons The Best Vegetable Tempura Nests with Sweet Chilli Dip £5, 85/100
Joint Winner: Co-op Katsu Bites £3.50, 85/100
Runner-up: Waitrose 8 Mexican Style Vegetable Tacos £8, 81/100

Starters and Sharers

Winner: Waitrose No. 1 Lobster, Crab and Prawn Cocktail £5.95, 93/100
Runner-up: Tesco Finest Chicken & Roasted Mushroom Quenelles £4, 91/100

Turkey Crowns (and Other Non-Whole Turkey)

Winner: Waitrose Glorious Treacle Glazed Turkey Crown £60, £30 per kg, 89/100
Runner-up: Lidl Deluxe Free Range Bronze Turkey Crown £27.90 – £41.85, £13.95 per kg, 87/100

Whole Turkey

Winner: Aldi Specially Selected Roly Poly Whole Turkey £39.96 – £59.84, £9.99 per kg, 86/100
Runner-up: Riverford Organic Farmers Turkey XL £155, 6.5kg, 83/100

Meat Mains

Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Bone in Crackling Gammon with a Festive Spiced Glaze £30, 89/100
Joint Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected Crackling Gammon Joint Sugar Baked £18.99, 85/100
Joint Runner-up: Asda Exceptional Fig, Whisky & Spiced Honey Gammon Joint £20, 85/100

Roast Potatoes

Winner (Best Roast / Vegan Roast): COOK Roast Potatoes £3.50 – £4.95, 80/100
Joint Runner-up (Best Goose Dripping): Morrisons The Best Goose Fat Roast Potatoes £4, 79/100
Joint Runner-up: McCain Triple Cooked Roasts £3, 79/100

Pigs in Blankets

Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Proper Pig in Blankets £4.25, 86/100
Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected Pigs in Blankets £2.49, 83/100

Pigs in Blankets (Flavoured)

Winner: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Caramelised Onion Chipolatas £4.25, 85/100
Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected Caramelised Onion Chipolatas Wrapped In Bacon £2.49, 82/100

Meat-Free Mains

Winner: COOK Roasted Pepper and Goat’s Cheese Quiche £22, 83/100
Runner-up + Most Impressive Looking Centrepiece: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Mushroom, Cavolo Nero and Chestnut Filo Pie £12, 82/100

Vegetable Sides

Winner: Taste the Difference Sprout, Leek and Cavolo Nero Gratin £5.50, 88/100
Runner-up: Co-op Winter Roasting Tray with Sage and Sea Salt Melt (vegan) £2.80, 83/100

Christmas Pudding

Winner: Meg Rivers Traditional Christmas Pudding £18.50, 85/100
Runner-up: Bettys Classic Christmas Pudding (Large) £27, 84/100

Flavoured Christmas Pudding

Winner: Aldi Specially Selected Orange and Maple Pudding £9.99, 88/100
Runner-up: Meg Rivers Gin Infused Christmas Pudding £17.85, 84/100

Dessert Centrepieces

Winner + Best Budget: Asda Crème Brûlée £5, 88/100
Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected Ultimate Gold Coin £6.99, 87/100

Panettone

Winner: Waitrose Limoncello Fizz Panettone £12, 94/100
Runner-up: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Classic Panettone £16.50, 90/100

Yule Logs

Winner: Asda Clementine and White Chocolate Yule Log £10, 85/100
Joint Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected Belgian White Chocolate Yule Log £8.99, 81/100
Joint Runner-up: Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Millionaire’s Yule Log £11, 81/100

Stollen

Winner: Meg Rivers Christmas Tart £14, 89/100
Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected Luxury Topped Stollen £5.99, 83/100

Mince Pies

Winner: Aldi Specially Selected Mince Pies £2.29, 88/100
Runner-up: Fitzbillies Classic Mince Pies £18, 84/100

Mince Pies with a Twist

Winner: Booths 4 Viennese Topped Mince Pies £4, 91/100
Runner-up + Best Budget: Asda Whisky, Fig and Spiced Honey Florentine Mince Pies £2.50, 83/100

Gluten-Free Mince Pies

Winner: Costa Vegan Gluten Free Mince Tart £2.30, 82/100
Runner-up: Waitrose Free From Milk & Gluten Free Mince Pies £2.90, 81/100

Christmas Cake

Joint Winner: Biscuiteers Christmas Cake £68, 85/100
Joint Winner: Daylesford Iced Christmas Cake £45, 85/100
Joint Runner-up: Iceland Luxury Christmas Cake £10, 81/100
Joint Runner-up: Aldi Specially Selected All Over Iced Christmas Cake £8.99, 81/100

Biscuit Tins

Winner: Bettys Biscuit Tin Selection £25, 96/100
Joint Runner-up: Fitzbillies Cambridge Gingerbread £17, 82/100
Joint Runner-up + Best Budget: Co-op Highland Shortbread Selection Box £4, 82/100

Christmas Crisps

Joint Winner: Waitrose Turkey & Stuffing Flavour Tortilla Chips £2, 85/100
Joint Winner: Asda Extra Special Beef & Red Wine Gravy Hand Cooked Crisps £1.35, 85/100
Runner-up: Savoursmiths Christmas Ham with Umami Truffle Glaze £2.95, 81/100

Christmas Heroes

Winner: Asda Exceptional Bone Marrow Beef Pie £10, 91/100
Runner-up: Specially Selected Honey Roast Hot Smoked Salmon Side £9.99, 90/100

Gingerbread Houses

Winner: Asda Gingerbread House Kit £5, 89/100
Runner-up: Waitrose Build Your Own Gingerbread House £6, 88/100

How to save money on your food shop

Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:

Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.

Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.

Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.

Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.

Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.

Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.

Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.

Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.

But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here.

Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.

“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.

The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.

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