In a recent taste test conducted by the consumer watchdog Which?, Aldi’s own-label baked beans triumphed over well-known brands, earning the top spot among consumers.
- Aldi’s beans surpassed brands like Heinz and Branston, achieving a high score for their appealing appearance, aroma, and flavour.
- Branston closely followed Aldi, noted for its appealing tomato sauce texture by a significant majority of testers.
- Heinz, though popular for its flavour, fell short due to its less appealing aroma and thinner sauce compared to others.
- Morrisons and M&S received the lowest ratings, with criticisms focused on flavour and sweetness, despite a generally liked texture.
In a comprehensive blind taste test carried out by the consumer authority Which?, Aldi’s Bramwells baked beans emerged as the consumer favourite, attaining a commendable score of 76% from a panel of 66 participants. This taste test juxtaposed Aldi’s offering against both established brands such as Heinz and Branston, and other supermarket own-brand labels including Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Tesco. The key factors that propelled Aldi to the forefront included high marks for appearance, aroma, and strength of flavour. A notable 80% of the participants described the texture of Aldi’s beans as ‘just right’.
Branston beans, a close competitor, achieved a respectable score of 75%. This score was largely driven by the satisfaction of 89% of taste testers with the texture of the tomato sauce, which they found impressive.
Heinz, a household name, garnered a score of 72%, primarily due to positive feedback on the strength of flavour. However, its score suffered as many testers were not as pleased with the aroma, and over one-third criticized the sauce for being too thin compared to its competitors.
Co-op and Asda followed closely with scores of 74% and 73%, respectively. Their scores reflected positive reception but did not eclipse the leaders due to minor criticisms that varied by consumer.
Trailing behind, Morrisons and M&S recorded scores of 68% and 67%, respectively. Taste testers appreciated the texture of Morrisons beans, yet hesitated over their flavour and sweetness balance. M&S beans were similarly critiqued, as although the texture was liked, a significant portion of consumers desired a sweeter taste profile.
This taste test underscores consumer preference for flavourful yet well-textured baked beans, highlighting Aldi’s successful capture of these qualities.
