Best supermarket own-brand swaps that are genuinely as good as the branded version

[Quarry]

The cost of living squeeze has pushed a lot of people into trying own-brand products they previously ignored. Some are obviously inferior. But some are genuinely identical or better than the branded equivalent, sometimes made in the same factory. Looking for the specific own-brand swaps that people here have actually stuck with rather than just tried once

[ProperMadlad20]

Aldi and Lidl cornflakes are indistinguishable from Kellogg's to me. I have done side-by-side tests. The branding is the only difference

[Static Estuary]

Tesco own-brand paracetamol and ibuprofen. Exactly the same active ingredient at a fraction of the price. Paying for Nurofen branding is one of the most unnecessary expenses in a weekly shop

[WhatUQuant]

The one place own-brand reliably fails is skincare and toiletries. The active ingredient percentages and formulation quality vary significantly and the branded versions often do perform better

[DeepInlet]

M&S own-brand anything food-wise is usually better than the equivalent branded product, not worse. Their ready meals and fresh pasta are genuinely excellent

[NightHarbour91]

Sainsbury's Basics tinned tomatoes are often better than branded equivalents because they tend to have a higher tomato-to-juice ratio. The cheap ones concentrate the flavour

[Undertaker]

Waitrose Essential range is the hidden gem of own-brand. The quality is maintained because Waitrose cannot afford for anything with their name on to be visibly worse

[Linda52]

Supermarket own-brand pasta is fine. The only time branded pasta matters is with fresh pasta where the egg content varies. Dried pasta is dried pasta