Brand head-to-heads
A price rise over ten years tells you nothing you can act on. This does: rival brands of the same thing, on the same shelf, ranked by who quietly hands you the least for your money. Every figure is sourced on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Big-brand chocolate sharing bars
Three household-name sharing bars that lost weight on the shelf while the wrapper and the price held. The question is not that chocolate got dearer, it is which brand quietly handed you the smallest bar for your money.
Like-for-like rivals ranked by pack size. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Christmas chocolate tubs
The three tubs that land on every Christmas table, weighed against the same tub in 2009. All three now hold 600g. The question is not that chocolate got dearer, it is which brand has quietly taken the most out of the tub since.
Like-for-like rivals ranked by pack size. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Crisp multipack bags
Four lunchbox multipacks that lost bags in the 2021-2023 cull while the box and the price held. The question is not that crisps got dearer, it is which brand quietly handed your kids the fewest bags for the same money.
Like-for-like rivals ranked by pack size. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Toilet roll, sheets per roll
Two loo rolls that look identical on the shelf, judged on the one number you cannot see through the wrap: how many sheets are actually on the roll, and which brand has quietly torn the most off.
Like-for-like rivals ranked by pack size. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Instant coffee jars
Two big-name instant coffee jars that both sat at 200g, then both quietly dropped to 190g while the jar and the price held. The question is not that coffee got dearer, it is which brand took the grams out of your jar, and how openly.
Like-for-like rivals ranked by pack size. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Tea bags per box
Two big-name tea boxes that look the same on the shelf, judged on the one number you cannot see through the carton: how many bags are actually inside, and which brand has quietly taken the most out of the box.
Like-for-like rivals ranked by pack size. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Easter egg chocolate
The big-brand Easter eggs that lost weight this season while the price went the other way. The question is not that chocolate got dearer, it is which name took the most grams out of the box and charged you more for the privilege.
Like-for-like rivals ranked by pack size. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Supermarket guacamole
Four tubs sold side by side as guacamole, judged on the one number you cannot read through the lid: how much avocado is actually in the pot. The spread runs from 14% to 95%, so the dearest is nowhere near the best value, and the cheapest is nowhere near the worst.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual avocado — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Supermarket pork sausages
Nine packs all sold as pork sausages, judged on the one number the wrapper buries: how much of the banger is actually pork, not rusk and water. The spread runs from 42% to 98%, so the dearest pack is nowhere near the most meat, and one of the cheapest is nowhere near the worst. More real pork means more food and less filler for your money.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual pork — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Cod fish fingers
Four boxes all sold as cod fish fingers, judged on the one number the box buries: how much of the finger is actually cod, not breadcrumb and water. The fish percentage barely moves (60% to 65%), but once you strip out the breadcrumb the cost of 100g of real cod runs from about GBP1.09 to about GBP2.72, so the priciest little box is the worst value and the most cod is not the best buy.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual cod — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Frozen chicken nuggets and dippers
Four bags of breaded frozen chicken sold for the same kids' plate, judged on the one number the wrapper buries: how much of the piece is actually chicken, not coating and water. The spread runs from 40% to 60%, and the cheapest sticker is not the best buy. Strip out the breadcrumb and Sainsbury's own breast nuggets give the most real chicken for your money, while the dearest big-brand pack is the worst value despite not being the least chicken.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual chicken — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Frozen fish cakes
Four packs all sold as fish cakes, judged on the one number the box buries: how much of the cake is actually fish, not potato and breadcrumb. The declared fish runs 32% to 43%, so the cheapest pack gives the most fish per pound while a box that fronts '100% of the finest cod' is nowhere near the best value. More real fish means more food and less filler for your money.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual fish — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Garlic chicken kievs
Five garlic chicken kievs sold side by side, judged on the one number the box buries: how much of the kiev is actually chicken, not coating and garlic butter. The spread runs 42% to 67%, and the big-brand pack fronting a 'made from 100% chicken breast' flash actually carries the least chicken at 42%. Strip out the coating and Sainsbury's own breaded kievs give the most real chicken for your money, not the dearest premium pack.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual chicken — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Pork pies
Five pork pies sold side by side, judged on the one number the pastry buries: how much of the pie is actually pork, not crust and jelly. The spread runs 30% to 49%, so the protected 'Melton Mowbray' name guarantees nothing, and the dearest pie is the best value: strip out the pastry and the premium Dickinson & Morris gives the most real pork for your money while the cheap value pies are barely a third pork.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual pork — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Quarter pounder beef burgers
Four like-for-like 454g quarter-pounder packs sold side by side, judged on the one number the box buries: how much of the burger is actually beef, not water, onion and crumb. The spread runs 72% to 92%, so the cheapest everyday pack gives the most real beef per pound while the big-brand pack is both the least beef and the worst value. Strip out the filler and Sainsbury's own Standard British burgers beat the dearest premium pack on beef per pound, and the reduced-fat pack is dearer for the same 86% beef.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual beef — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Back bacon rashers
Three packs of back bacon on the same shelf, judged on the one number the cure buries: how much is actually pork, not the water pumped in. The two everyday packs are both 87% pork, while the premium dry-cured pack has the most pork by weight because air-drying drives the water off. But that premium is by far the dearest per pound of real pork: the budget Stamford Street rashers match the standard pack on pork and cost less, so they give the most real pork for your money.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual pork — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Cooked ham slices
Three packs of sliced cooked ham side by side, judged on the one number the slice buries: how much is actually pork, not added water. The premium pack is 99% pork but the dearest per pound of real pork; the two budget packs are 77% pork with water added, and the bigger wafer-thin pack gives the most real pork for your money. The most pork on the label is not the best value.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual pork — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Strawberry jam
Three jars of strawberry jam on the same shelf, judged on the one number the label buries: how much fruit went in per 100g of jam, the rest being sugar. The Sainsbury's jar has the most fruit at 41%, but the budget Stamford Street jar matches big-brand Hartley's on fruit (35%) at a fraction of the price, so it gives the most real fruit for your money. Hartley's is by far the dearest per pound of fruit.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual fruit — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Baked beans
Three tins of baked beans on the same shelf, judged on the one number the label buries: how many grams of beans went in per 100g of the tin, the rest being sauce. Heinz and Sainsbury's tie for the most beans at 51%, but the budget Stamford Street tin (45%, the least beans) costs a fraction of the price, so it gives the most real beans for your money. Heinz is the dearest per pound of beans.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual beans — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Peanut butter
Three smooth peanut butters on the same shelf, judged on the one number the label buries: how much roasted peanut went in per 100g, the rest being oil, sugar and salt. The Sainsbury's own jar matches premium Whole Earth on peanut content at 96% but costs a third as much per pound of peanut, so it gives the most real peanut for your money. Whole Earth is the dearest per pound of peanut despite its no-added-sugar recipe, and Skippy has the least peanut at 91%.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual peanuts — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Frozen pepperoni pizza
Three frozen pepperoni pizzas on the same shelf, judged on the one number the label buries: how much pepperoni went on per 100g of pizza. Chicago Town markets "Double Pepperoni" and does carry the most meat at 10.1%, but it is the dearest per pound of pepperoni. Dr. Oetker (9%) at the cheapest shelf price gives the most real pepperoni for your money, with Goodfella's (9% smoked pepperoni) in the middle. The meat naming differs by pack, noted on each.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual pepperoni — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Sausage rolls
Three packs of pork sausage rolls on the same shelf, judged on the one number the label buries: how many grams of pork went in per 100g of the roll, the rest being pastry. The premium Taste the Difference roll has the most pork at 42%, but at GBP16.67/kg it works out the dearest per pound of pork by far. The budget Stamford Street pack has the least pork at 17%, yet costs so little that it gives the most real pork for your money, with the standard Sainsbury's roll (27%) in the middle. Most pork is not best value.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual pork — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Houmous
Three tubs of houmous on the same shelf, judged on the one number the label buries: how many grams of chickpea went in per 100g of the tub, the rest being oil, water and tahini. The everyday Sainsbury's tub and the Creamy Classic tub tie for the most chickpea at 52% and are all but identical on value, giving the most real chickpea for your money. The premium Extra Smooth Taste the Difference tub has the least chickpea at 45% and is roughly four-and-a-half times dearer per pound of chickpea. The dearest tub holds the least chickpea.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual chickpeas — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Green pesto
Three jars of green pesto on the same shelf, judged on the one number the label buries: how many grams of basil went in per 100g of the jar. The everyday Sainsbury's jar has both the most basil at 48% and the cheapest price, so it is the runaway best value per pound of basil. The premium Taste the Difference jar has the least basil at 24% and is the dearest per pound of basil by a wide margin, with the Sacla brand jar (45.5%) in the middle. Here, more money buys you less basil.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual basil — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Chicken tikka masala
Two 400g ready meals from the same shelf: the standard tier at £3.75 and the Taste the Difference premium at £4.85. The premium pack does carry slightly more chicken — 20% versus 18% — but the price jump is disproportionate. Work out the cost per 100g of actual chicken and the standard tier wins at £5.21 against £6.06 for the premium. More money, but not more chicken for your money.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual chicken — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Chocolate hazelnut spread
Three jars of chocolate hazelnut spread, judged on declared hazelnut content. The Sainsbury's Taste the Difference jar has the most hazelnuts at 35% and works out as the best value at £2.86 per 100g of actual hazelnut — proof that the premium tier can win. The own-brand Sainsbury's jar and the famous Nutella both declare 13% hazelnuts, but Nutella charges £6.37 per 100g of hazelnut against £3.17 for own-brand. Brand recognition costs you more than twice as much per pound of hazelnut.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual hazelnuts — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
Brand head-to-head
Cream of tomato soup
Two iconic cream of tomato soups in the same 400g can format, judged on declared tomato content. Heinz leads on both counts: 89% tomatoes against Baxters' 63%, and at £1.70 it works out at just £0.48 per 100g of actual tomato. Baxters charges £2.15 for less tomato, landing at £0.85 per 100g of tomato — nearly double the cost per pound of the hero ingredient. The famous brand wins here.
Ranked by cost per 100g of actual tomatoes — shelf price with filler stripped. Sources on each pack's own page.
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