I tried supermarket own-brand cheese – the winner is better than Philadelphia and 20p cheaper
CHEESE sales are melting away – but which supermarket does it best?
After two years of significant growth during the pandemic, sales have since nosedived.
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We tested supermarket own-brand cream cheese
It’s thought to be because shoppers are no longer stockpiling fridges, but also down to recent price hikes.
“Shoppers are cutting back purchases in the category or switching to cheaper alternatives, such as own label,” says Matthew Fleming, senior analytics executive at NielsenIQ.
Sales of the big cream cheese brand Philadelphia fell by six per cent but as a pack now costs around £2.20, perhaps it’s a luxury many of us can no longer afford.
We asked mum-of-three Lynsey Hope, 41, to taste test some own brand soft cheese to see how they compare to the market leader.
Here she shares her verdict:
Full Fat Soft Cheese by Sainsbury’s (300g)
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This was our favourite oneCredit: Gary Stone
Lynsey says: “Just as good as the leading brand if not better.
“It has a subtle creamy flavour and a thick and smooth texture. No watery stuff like many of the other own brands.
“It’s a generous size tub – nearly double the amount of Philadelphia – and its 20p cheaper.
“A winning option from Sainsbury’s.”
- Taste: 10/10
- Value: 10/10
- Overall: 10/10
- Total score: 30/30
Essential Waitrose Soft Cheese (250g)
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You won’t be disappointed with this oneCredit: Gary Stone
Lynsey says: “A lovely creamy soft cheese. Perfect for sandwiches, pasta and cheesecake. A reasonable price for the quality.
“You won’t be disappointed with this.”
- Taste: 9/10
- Value: 9/10
- Overall: 9/10
- Total score: 27/30
Aldi Emporium Full Fat Soft Cheese (200g)
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We were very impressed with thisCredit: Gary Stone
Lynsey says: “Aldi’s is the cheapest tub we could find. Buy one of these a week instead of Philadelphia and you’ll save over £70 in a year.
“That’s a brilliant saving. Does it taste as good? I think maybe it does. It has a lovely creamy texture and is rich in flavour.
“It’s thicker than some others and closer in…
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