'Tesco Wheat Biscuits' Versus 'Branded Weetabix'

another question

Weetabix 24 pack = €3.49

Tesco Wheat Biscuits 24 pack = €1.99

Difference in price = €1.50.


Taste difference - I noticed very little. Tesco's version looked slightly darker in colour but that was it.


After comparing all the ingredients and nutritional value per (2 biscuits 37.5g) I noticed everything was nearly exactly the same, except for one thing and that was the main ingredient 'wheat'.

Branded 'Weetabix' state 95% (Wholegrain Wheat) and Tesco 'Wheat Biscuits' state 95% (Wheat).

So basically I'm wondering what is the nutritional difference here between wholegrain wheat versus non-wholegrain wheat and how much do you think it contributes to the price difference between the two brands.

And also, if price wasn't a factor would you be more inclined to buy the wholegrain wheat version if you had the choice.

hfallada

Either lidl or aldi sell weetabix as an own brand.

another question

hfallada wrote: »

Either lidl or aldi sell weetabix as an own brand.

Do they sell it in the original Weetabix box or how are you meant to recognise it as Weetabix.

rubadub

I am pretty sure "wheat" could mean "wholegrain wheat", just they left if off. I is almost like if one said "fresh milk" and the other just "milk".

EDIT: the front of the pack says wholegrain wheat, the ingredients list doesn't

http://www.tesco.ie/groceries/Product/Details/?id=254852950

the weetabix does look identical, bar the calories, which could have been rounded on one.
http://www.tesco.ie/groceries/Product/Details/?id=262146226

That is the way I compare them, look at ingredients order and nutritional values. I worked loading trucks as a kid and we would stop into the likes of chivers or shamrock and pick up lots of own brand stuff. I was surprised to see such a mixture, like dunnes might have had chivers peas and shamrock beans, and chivers might do someone elses beans.

even if ingredients and info is identical they could still be different, e.g. a lower grade of wheat, or cooked faster at a higher temp -you said your tesco one was darker.

The shape & size of the jar/can/carton can also be a giveaway. Most tin cans are different if you closely inspect them.

From 2011

MrsD007 wrote: »

More and more people are turning to own brands at the moment, here is a list of the companies who make supermarket own brand products.


Tesco Own brands

They say that 100 Irish companies produce some 2,000 own brand Tesco products. 98% of their customers purchase at least one own brand as part of weekly shop. Own brand household cleaning account for 63% of sales in that category.

Who makes Tesco own brand?

Glanbia – Tesco milk; Tesco butter; Tesco fromage frais
Mannings bakery (Dublin) – Tesco apple tarts, crumble, bakewell tart and other cakes
Hilton Foods (Drogheda) – Tesco Finest sausages, chorizo sausages, Tesco Finest Pork and Lamb products.
Brogan’s Bakery (Galway) – Tesco muffins
Country Crest (Lucan); Tesco roosters, kerrs pink, baby potatoes, onions, shallots and more veg.
Gem Pack Foods Ltd – Tesco rice, sugar, currants, sultanas, raisins, almonds, hazelnuts, walnut pieces, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds etc,
Catron Bros (Cavan / Dublin) – Tesco chicken ranges
P Mulrine & sons (Donegal) – Tesco juices (ambient and chilled).
Both Irish Pride and Bachelors also make some Tesco label products.

Superquinn

Over 2,000 own brand products are available; 95% of the fresh own label products are Irish, while over 75% of grocery own label products are sourced from Irish suppliers/producers, 100% Irish chicken only used in their ready meals. They say they have seen a 20% increase in sales on own label products in 2010 compared to 2009.

Who makes Superquinn own brand?

Johnston Mooney & O’Brien - Essentials bread
Pat the Baker - Superquinn core bread
Connacht Gold - butter and cream
Bewley’s - own label core tea
Seery’s, Scott’s, Sam’s Cookies, and Fusco’s - all supply cakes for Superquinn Essentials range
Irish Yogurts (Clonakilty, Co Cork)- produce Essentials yogurts
Dublin based Donnellys - supply all fruit and vegetables
Wonderfoods (Dublin) - supply pre-pack salads and prepared vegetables
Country Crest based in Lusk - produce Superquinn own label ready meals using locally grown ingredients
Bombay Pantry based in Dublin - produce ethnic convenience meals under Superquinn own label

Aldi

Over 45% of all grocery sales at Aldi are generated on products bought from Irish suppliers, producers and manufacturers.
Who makes Aldi products?
Bewleys / Robert Roberts – all coffees and teas
Natures Isle – fresh poultry, Irish Angus beef, pork, lamb, all sourced from RoI farms and Bord Bia certified.
Irish Yogurts / Town of Monaghan Co-op / the Different Dairy Company – yogurts
Odlums – flour

Lidl

Lidl say they are “committed to using as many indigenous suppliers as possible in the production of its own brand products.”
Pat the Baker - granary bread and scones
Johnston Mooney & O Brien - hot dog rolls and burger buns
Olhausen – Premium pork sausages
Irish Yogurts (Clonakilty) – Premium yogurts
Town of Monaghan – Irish creamery butter
Liffey Meats (Cavan) – fresh beef
Cooley Distillery – whiskey
Oakpark Foods (Tipperary) – Glensallagh streaky bacon
Donegal Creameries – 1 litre milk carton
Seerys (Carlow)– triple chocolate cake and luxury lemon cake
Glenpatrick – Flavoured water
Begleys (Dublin) – fresh fruit and veg
The Scullery – relish (small supplier, relishes developed with Lidl)

SuperValu

SuperValu have 1,700 own brand products, over 30% of these are Irish.
Who makes SuperValu own brand?
Glenisk – organic yogurts
Follain (Co Cork) – SV Supreme jam, cranberry sauce, apple chutney, wholegrain mustard, relishes.
Kelkin – SV Muesli
Bandon Vale – cheese blocks
Mulrines – SV ketchup
Seerys (Carlow)– tea brack and brownie slices
Silver Pail (Fermoy, Co Cork)– Supreme ice creams
Lakeland Dairies (Cavan) – SuperValu Ice cream 1lt tubs
Riverview Eggs, Cork, Valley View Eggs, Bandon, Co. Cork, Clonarn Clover, Co. Meath and Nest Box Egg Co, Monaghan – SV eggs
Carty meats (Athlone)– SV rasher range
Mallons (Monaghan)– SV sausages
Countrystyle (Co Kilkenny) – SV puddings
Kepak – frozen burgers
Prestige Foods (Kerry) – trifle range
Taravale (Naas)– Salads such as coleslaw etc
Sunshine juice (Carlow)– Supreme freshly squeezed juice
JDS Foods (Cork) – SV spreads / margarine
Cashel – SV speciality cheeses

Centra

Centra have 700 own brand products available and 35% of their own brand products are Irish made. They say they use Irish suppliers for their fresh produce; all meat is 100% Irish; 67% of fruit and veg and 75% of dairy.

Who makes Centra products?
Irish Yogurts (Clonakilty)– Centra luxury yoghurts
McEvoy Family Foods (Co Tipperary) - Chilled Soup Range
Brady Family (Co Kildare) – deli style meats
Dunhill Cuisine (Waterford)– ready made meals i.e. cottage pie / lasagne
Mulrines (Donegal)– Centra juice range
Kerry Freshways – pre-packed sandwiches
North Cork co-op – Centra butter
Blenders (Dublin)- Mayonnaise

Dunnes

Overall over 75% of Dunnes fresh own label is sourced in Ireland; 100% fresh beef, chicken , lamb, pork is Irish; 97% of our bakery lines are Irish made ; 91% of all potatoes are Irish and 100% fresh fish from Irish suppliers / waters.
Olhausen - Dunnes Sausages
Batchelors - baked beans and peas
Mulrines - juice
Blenders - pasta sauces
Tendermeats (dedicated meat plant) - All Dunnes meat is controlled from farm to shelf via this plant
Some of Dunnes fresh own label suppliers
Natural Dairies Ltd.
Riverview Eggs Ltd.
The Nest Box Egg Co.
Annalitten Farm Foods Ltd.
Nevilles Bakery Dublin Ltd.
Johnson Mooney & O'Brien
Pat the Baker
Matt Reilly Cakes Ltd.
Staffords Bakery Ltd.
Brogans Bakery
P McCloskey & Sons Ltd.
Scotts Bakery Ltd.
William Carr & Sons Ltd.
H.J. Nolan (Dublin) Ltd.
Wrights of Howth
Dunns Seafare Ltd.
Oceanpath
Galway Bay Seafoods Ltd.

Another way of checking (for the super-sleuths!)
This only applies to meat and diary products: Irrespective of the brand, the label will have an EU approval number identifying the final processing plant. The Department of Agriculture publishes a list of approved plants for Ireland on its website.
This label identifies only the final stage of processing not the actual origin of the meat or dairy product.
For example, if you’re looking at two cartons of milk or a packet of rashers, one branded, one own brand, look at the origin code on the label (an oval with IE, a number and EC) or on the cap you may find, for instance, the number 1405 on both products. This identifies the production plant as being the same.

List compiled by Tina Leonard of the Pat Kenny Radio Show