REVIEW: Aldi groceries and Which? Magazine winners
With the cost of living and price of groceries soaring, it was good news this summer for thrifty shoppers when Which? Magazine named two of budget supermarket chain Aldi’s products the best on the market.
Shoppers can discover, in the wonder that is Aldi, a random world of everyday groceries nestling with the slightly odd – such as caravan cleaner or car parts in racks next to baked beans, bread and festive costume.
Now, Aldi’s Magnum Premium Original Washing Up Liquid, has come out top in an independent Which? Test, beating Fairy to first place for the first time in twenty years. As well as beating off Fairy, Aldi’s washing up liquid also trumped products from Sainbury’s and Morrisons.
The Magnum Premium was tested for its ability to remove fat, how long it lasted, how long the foam lasted and how thick or runny the liquid was.
Which? Magazine said: “Aldi’s Magnum Premium Original is the best washing-up liquid money can buy, despite a bottle costing just 59p, which is almost half the price of the same amount of Fairy Original. Aldi was able to knock Fairy off its perch by increasing the number of active ingredients in its Magnum Premium Original liquid.”
Aldi’s Del Rivo Orange Juice also beat stiff competition from other top brands including brand leader Tropicana and fruit juices from Innocent, Marks and Spencer and Lidl.
Which? magazine said: “This was the top-scoring juice overall, with many tasters commenting that it tasted just like a fresh orange. They loved the flavour and texture and thought it had just the right amount of sweetness.”
Aldi recently commissioned Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) to carry out its own independent research comparing the difference between Aldi’s own-label range and premium brands. The university found that 91 per cent of Aldi’s own-label products were just as good as main brands and 27 per cent said Aldi’s were even better.
Dr Kritika Mahadevan from Manchester Metropolitan University said: “When consumers tested the samples with no information about their origin or packaging, they liked many of the unbranded household staples just as much as their branded counterparts.
“The study used an almost equal split of male and female participants aged between 18 and 84 years (average 48.3 ± 17.3 years), who were students, professionals, family household members, empty nesters or retired pensioners, to represent a cross-section of consumers.”
Chopsy Baby put everyday Aldi products to the test.
Magnum Premium Washing Up Liquid: 59p
Chopsy Baby says: “Straight away, this washing up liquid is clearly miles better than the Fairy Original used to clean up plates and cups here for three years. Plenty of fresh bubbles and clean cutlery. Great for getting Dr Brown’s Baby Bottles free from milk residue. 5/5
Del Rivo Orange Juice Smooth: £1.29
Chopsy Baby says: “Wonderful. Easily one of the best orange juices you can buy. It is made from 100 per cent freshly squeezed orange, not concentrate. This is apparent in the taste and texture. Its soft fruit flavour makes this the perfect fresh orange juice.” 5/5
Village Bakery Soft White Toastie: 69p
Chopsy Baby says: “Lovely thick, soft, white bread. Toasts beautifully and spreads easily. Matches and exceeds premium brand toasting bread alternatives. Highly recommended.” 5/5
Corale Premium Quality Baked Beans: 28p
Chopsy Baby says: “A full tomato flavour without tasting hugely artificial. The sweet sauce is of a medium thickness, definitely not watery. These beans would be ideal with sausages.” 4/5
Diplomat Red Label Original Blend Round Tea Bags: £1.99
Chopsy Baby says: “A delightful medium strength tea. Tested with semi skimmed milk and two sugars, the price is a bargain. There will be no embarrassment offering cups of Red Label to special guests.” 5/5
Bramwells Tomato Ketchup: 69p
Chopsy Baby says: “The packaging boasts 24 tomatoes in every bottle. This is not one of Aldi’s best in our opinion. It is slightly sharp and overpowering in taste.” 2/5
Belmont Biscuit CO Milk Chocolate Digestives: 55p
Chopsy Baby says: “These are very satisfactory biscuits. Good for eating, good for dunking. They are somewhat dryer in texture than McVities’, but for shopping on a budget, these biscuits are every bit as palatable.” 4/5
To find your nearest store, visit: www.aldi.co.uk