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Daily Record
31-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Record
I tried Lidl and 7 supermarket milk chocolates to see if it tasted better than Cadbury
One reporter thought she'd try different chocolate bars – including those from higher-end supermarkets and budget stores – to see if any tasted better than Cadbury chocolate. Cadbury, while being the nation's preferred chocolate brand, tends to be on the expensive side, with prices ranging from £1.50 to £2. As the cost of living is at the forefront of everyone's minds, reporter Angela Patrone from wanted to see if there was a cheaper alternative out there. This led me Angela to question how supermarket own brands stack up against them and whether there might be a superior alternative. To ensure a fair taste test, Angela bought milk chocolate from both high-end and budget supermarkets. The supermarket brands included Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, M&S and Waitrose. Angela ranked each supermarket chocolate bar and gave them a rating out of 10. She also shared the cost of each supermarket milk chocolate bar and how it tasted. This is how each supermarket faired: Morrisons Priced at 80p, this tasted like your typical everyday chocolate bar, slightly sweet and creamy, but nothing extraordinary, Angela noted. The smooth texture was "pleasing", but unfortunately, the chocolate didn't build on that with no memorable flavour notes or even an aftertaste. Rating: 5/10 Sainsbury's This chocolate bar was much more enjoyable than Morrisons' and melted in the mouth far more easily. The 75p bar also had a delightful taste, which wasn't overly artificial as some chocolates can be. Rating: 6/10 Tesco This 55p chocolate bar from Tesco reminded Angela of cooking chocolate, and not in a positive way. The chocolate from Tesco tasted like it was attempting to mimic a blend of Galaxy and Dairy Milk, but very poorly. It has a chemical aftertaste and melts quickly into a thin layer of chocolate rather than oozy goodness. Rating: 3/10 Aldi Aldi is renowned for its budget-friendly items that won't break the bank. Among these is Aldi's Everyday Essentials range, which is purportedly cheaper than its other in-house brands. Priced at 59p for a 100g bar, the taste was a "letdown". It had an overly salty flavour and left a peculiar aftertaste. It didn't quite hit the mark as chocolate, tasting more like excessively sweetened confectionery, Angela stated. Rating: 3/10 Lidl Following the Aldi chocolate experience, Angela wasn't holding out much hope for this one, but it pleasantly surprised her. Lidl is famed for its low-cost products, so it was her first port of call when considering affordable chocolate bars. Priced slightly higher than Aldi, the bar cost £1.09 for a 100g portion. In terms of taste and quality, it was a revelation. The chocolate was "sweet, velvety, and melted delightfully" in her mouth. It evoked memories of Angela's childhood, reminding her strongly of Magic Stars. In terms of taste and value, she'd say it surpasses Cadbury. Rating: 9/10 Asda For Angela, Asda's chocolate bar ranks alongside Tesco and Aldi, albeit marginally superior. Priced at 59p per 100g, the chocolate bar was sweet, but lacked the melt-in-the-mouth quality typical of most chocolate bars. Rating: 3.5/10 Waitrose At £2.75, this was one of the priciest chocolate bars in this taste test, and unfortunately, it also turned out to be the least impressive. While Angela could appreciate its thick and smooth texture, it had an overpowering taste, and not in a pleasant way. Rating: 2/10 M&S M&S was the final supermarket brand on Angela's list, and she had high hopes for this one. M&S boasts a selection of scrumptious chocolate treats throughout the year that consistently earns rave reviews. However, their most affordable milk chocolate bar is not something Angela would buy again. Priced at £2.75, the same as the Waitrose chocolate bar, it lacked the expected sweetness and creaminess of a milk chocolate bar. Rating: 4/10 Cadbury Finally, we have Cadbury. As soon as you unwrap the bar, you're greeted with a strong whiff of chocolate. Milk chocolate often has a fatty layer in its harder centre, which Cadbury usually nails. But how did the iconic brand perform this time? Quite well, although for my taste, it was a tad too sweet. Rating: 8/10 Verdict Among all the chocolate bars tested, Lidl emerged as the top contender. While the Cadbury bar was enjoyable, the Lidl chocolate bar just had the edge.
Daily Mirror
31-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
I taste tested milk chocolate from 8 supermarkets including Aldi and M&S - one bar beat Cadbury
One reporter decided to try eight supermarket brands of milk chocolate – and one bar tasted even better than Cadbury. Cadbury may be the nation's go-to chocolate fix, but with prices ranging from £1.50 to £2, it got one reporter thinking about how supermarket own brands stack up against them. To keep things fair, Angela Patrone – based at – sampled milk chocolate from both high-end and budget supermarkets, including Aldi, Lidl, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, M&S and Waitrose. Angela ranked each supermarket chocolate bar and gave them a rating out of 10. She also shared the cost of each supermarket chocolate bar and how it tasted. This is how each supermarket faired: Morrisons Priced at 80p, this was your typical chocolate bar - a bit sweet, a bit creamy, but nothing to write home about, Angela noted. "The texture was pleasingly smooth, but unfortunately, the flavour didn't follow suit, lacking any standout notes or lingering aftertaste," she said. Rating: 5/10 Sainsbury's Described as a step up from Morrisons' chocolate bar, this one melt much more readily in the mouth. At 75p, it had a "pleasant taste" that avoided the artificial tang some chocolates can have. Rating: 6/10 Tesco Tesco's 55p offering reminded Angela of cooking chocolate, and not in a positive sense. It tasted like a failed attempt to mimic Galaxy and Dairy Milk, complete with an off-putting chemical undertone. Instead of melting into a luscious pool of chocolate, it quickly thinned out. Rating: 3/10 Aldi Aldi is famed for its budget-friendly offerings that won't break the bank, and its Everyday Essentials range is touted as even more affordable than its other in-house brands. However, at 59p for a 100g bar, the chocolate left much to be desired. It had an oddly salty flavour with a peculiar aftertaste. Rather than tasting like chocolate, it seemed more akin to overly sweetened confectionery. Rating: 3/10 Lidl Following the Aldi experience, Angela wasn't holding out much hope for Lidl's offering, but it proved to be a pleasant surprise. Known for its low-cost products, Lidl was her first port of call when considering affordable chocolate bars. Priced slightly higher than Aldi at £1.09 for a 100g bar, it exceeded expectations in terms of taste and quality. The chocolate was "sweet, smooth, and melted delightfully in the mouth". It evoked memories of Magic Stars from Angela's childhood and, surprisingly, the chocolate bar surpassed Cadbury in both taste and value. Rating: 9/10 Asda In Angela's opinion, Asda's chocolate bar just about edges out Tesco and Aldi. Priced at 59p per 100g, the chocolate was sweet but lacked the melt-in-the-mouth quality you'd expect from a typical chocolate bar. Rating: 3.5/10 Waitrose At £2.75, this was one of the priciest chocolate bars in the taste test, and unfortunately, it also ranked as the worst. While Angela could appreciate its thick and smooth texture, the overpowering taste was not to her liking. Rating: 2/10 M&S M&S was the final supermarket brand on Angela's list, and she had high hopes for this one. M&S is known for its range of scrumptious chocolate goodies that garner rave reviews all year round. However, their most affordable milk chocolate left her underwhelmed and she expressed that is unlikely to buy it again. Priced at £2.75, the same as the Waitrose bar, it "lacked the expected sweetness and creaminess of a good milk chocolate bar". Rating: 4/10 Cadbury Finally, we come to Cadbury. The moment you unwrap the bar, you're greeted with a rich, chocolaty aroma. Milk chocolate often has a fatty layer in the harder centre, something Cadbury usually nails. But how did the iconic brand measure up this time? Quite well, although for Angela's taste, it was a tad too sweet. Rating: 8/10 Verdict After sampling all the chocolate bars, Lidl emerged as the top dog. While the Cadbury bar was enjoyable, the Lidl chocolate bar just pipped it to the post.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Amazon huge sale with 40% off on thousands of items including household staples to end in DAYS
AMAZON shoppers have been treated to a massive sale with 40 percent off thousands of items. But you'd better be quick, the major discounts won't be around much longer. 1 Amazon's Everyday Essentials Week runs from 21 to 27 May, slashing the prices on groceries, cleaning items, beauty products, and more. Products from big brands like Andrex, Fairy, Flash and Gillette Venus will all be discounted. Shoppers will also be able to snap up grocery products from brands such as Cadbury and Twinings, for up to 30% cheaper. The discounts will apply to all UK customers, with Prime members also able to access free delivery and same-day delivery in over 80 towns and cities across the UK. Amazon said that the event will offer shoppers savings 'on products for every room of the home, and for every member of the family – from baby wipes, shampoo, and toilet roll, to coffee pods, pet food, and fabric softener.' Bargain fans will also be pleased to learn that there will also be up to 15% off Amazon's own brand lines, including Amazon Basics and Amazon Essentials. Whilst the sales are exciting, they've also caught the attention of vile scam artists. Experts have revealed the most common Amazon scams and how to avoid them during the shopping frenzy. The first being the Prime membership scam, where criminals contact victims via email or text to alert members of an 'issue' with the account. They then send an email with a link, prompting users to 'verify' their account details. "To avoid this, always check the sender of any email or text you receive," the QR Code Generator team told The Sun. "As convincing as scammers can be, Amazon will never ask you to share sensitive information via phone, text or email. "If you receive one of these messages, don't engage with it. Instead, go directly to the Amazon app or website to check the status of your account." Another to look out for is the fake order confirmation scam, where criminals send fake emails claiming there was an issue with the order. These emails usually contain links to fraudulent websites designed to steal personal details and payment information. The experts told us: "If you receive an email regarding an issue with your order, do not click any links. Instead, check the status of any orders through the Amazon app or website. "It is also advisable to enable two-factor authentication for extra security." The third scam is the fake listing scam where scammers create false shop fronts on Amazon, offering high-demand items at unbeatable prices. Shoppers will then be sent a counterfeit product or nothing at all. The experts said: "It is important to always check a seller's reviews and be cautious of deals that seem suspicious. Stick to well-reviewed sellers or those marked as 'Amazon Verified.' "If you do fall victim to a fake listing scam, you can often resolve this by contacting Amazon. "Click 'I have an issue with a seller' on the Amazon app or website to start the refund process. However, while you may get your money back, it is safest to avoid this scam altogether." 'Haul' was unveiled in the UK last week, after being launched in the US last year. The service is initially being trialled among select customers before being rolled out for all customers "in the coming weeks".
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Amazon slashes prices of huge chocolate boxes from Cadbury, Nestle and more
Amazon has slashed the prices of nearly all of its chocolate boxes as part of the online retailer's Everyday Essentials week, and they make the perfect Father's Day gift Finding the perfect gift for dad can be a challenge, but one thing that's sure to bring a smile to his face is a box of chocolates. Whether he's a fan of Cadbury, Nestle, or something a bit more luxurious, Amazon has got you covered with its Everyday Essentials week, featuring discounts on a wide range of chocolate boxes. Amazon's offerings at a glance: Nestle's 1.3kg The Big Chocolate Box (£18.40, down from £22.16) Nestle's 1.36kg KitKat and Friends Big Biscuit Box (£15.35, down from £21.78) Mars' 1.4kg Variety Chocolate Box (£18.99, down from £23.18) Cadbury Heroes 2kg Box (£19.99, down from £25) Celebrations' 2.4kg Chocolate box (£26.97, down from £40) Cadbury's 1.04kg Dairy Milk Big Night In Deluxe Hamper (£9.99, down from £15.07) If you're looking for something a bit more special, Hotel Chocolat's Everything Sleekster is a great option. This beautifully presented box contains 27 of Hotel Chocolat's most popular treats, including Billionaires Shortbreads, Eton Mess Truffles, and Dizzy Praline. And with its Father's Day sleeve, it makes a thoughtful and indulgent gift. For a truly luxurious treat, Fortnum and Mason's 196 Piece Assorted Napolitains is a must-consider. Weighing in at 1.2kg, this stunning box contains a wide range of delicious chocolates, including Venezuela dark chocolate squares, lemon milk chocolate, seasalt milk chocolate, ginger dark chocolate, and mint dark chocolate, reports Bristol Live. Amazon shoppers, however, have been raving about it's selection of chocolate bulk boxes. For a classic treat, consider Nestle's 1.3kg The Big Chocolate Box, now £18.40 (down from £22.16). This massive box contains six KitKats, six KitKat Chunky, six Yorkies, six Munchies, and six Aero Peppermint, all individually wrapped and perfect for snacking. Inside the box is six KitKats, six KitKat Chunky, six Yorkies, six Munchies and six Aero Peppermint. These are all individually wrapped and come in a box, with one reviewer saying: "Brilliant deal and brilliant items couldn't fault it full size bars and plenty of dates on them. Really happy with it." With a 4.5-star rating from 687 reviews, you can trust that this is a gift that will go down well. Nestle KitKat and Friends Big Biscuit Box The Nestle KitKat and Friends Big Biscuit Box is also an ideal companion for your tea or coffee break, containing a generous 69 bars with favourites such as KitKat Original and Toffee Crisp has been drawing attention on Amazon. Despite one customer pointing out "Not the box pictured but a clear white cardboard box hence the three stars. That said. Good selection of chocolate bars and good value for money", the selection still seems to be good value for money, earning an impressive 4.4 out of 1,183 reviews. A satisfied buyer mentioned: "Ideal for the kids to take a treat. Just the right size when you need a sweet fix. Brilliant value for money long shelf life." Meanwhile, another commented: "This has a good variety of the pictured chocolates and at a reasonable price for the mix. However the size of the toffee crisp was much smaller than I expected which takes one star off. Chocolate was of usual standard." Mars' Mixed Bulk Chocolate Box For those looking for variety, the Mars' Mixed Bulk Chocolate Box offers a tempting mix including Snickers, Twix, and Maltesers - a total of 1.4kg of individually wrapped treats. It boasts an excellent 4.6 rating out of 13,198 reviews on Amazon. One chocolate lover raved: "Got this box for a present and it was such great quality and a great gift idea for someone who loves chocolate, great tastes, and a brilliant variety." However, one customer did comment: "I ordered these thinking they were good value, but the only ones I felt were the proper size were the Twix and Bounty, the others seemed to be on the small size, what you would actually buy in the shop." Cadbury Heroes Box Filled with 2kg of their classic chocolates, customers can look forward to Fudge, Twirl, Cadbury Creme Egg, Eclairs, Dairy Milk Caramel, Dairy Milk, Wispa, Double Decker and Crunchie Bits. The box has received a 4.6 out of 9,334 reviews. One satisfied customer wrote: "What a fantastic find. The quality, condition, appearance and taste are. The size, texture and variety are great. This is definitely excellent value for money. I am very happy with my purchase." One person did note: "The chocolate were great and had an even mix of different types . The only delay was how long the item took to be sent out." Celebrations Bulk Box The largest of the lot, the Celebrations 2.4kg box, contains Twix, Galaxy Caramel, Maltesers, Milky Way, Galaxy, Bounty, Mars and Snickers. It also has stellar reviews, boasting a 4.6 out of 20,972 reviews. Chocoholics have been raving about the value of a bumper box of chocolates, with one delighted buyer exclaiming: "I bought these when they were on offer. Opened the box and it was filled to the top! Well worth the money. Every time my family and friends came to my home, out came the box with everyone's favourite. I took a few of my favourite chocolates out first before though and hid them. Can't fault them at all. Even right now, while I am doing the review, I have a few Snickers chocolates. 10/10!" However, not all feedback has been so sweet, as one customer expected a more decorative presentation, remarking: "I expected a box of Celebrations that I could put out on the table, as shown in the picture on the listing. It arrived as a plastic bag of sweets in a standard wholesale box, not in any way decorative. Amount of chocolates is good value but the photo is very misleading. I'll have to decant them into something else." Cadbury Dairy Milk Big Night In Collection For those looking for a cosier treat, the Cadbury Dairy Milk Big Night In Collection packs a range of choccie delights into a hamper-style package, boasting ten selections including Dairy Milk Orange Giant Buttons and Whole Nut amongst others. Scoring high in customer satisfaction, this chocolate selection holds a 4.6 rating from 1,793 reviews, with satisfied customers like the one who shared: "Bought as an extra Christmas present. The recipient loved the box and was pleasantly surprised by the large amount of chocolate contents. Well worth it." However, a disgruntled customer remarked: "It came with a lot of chocolate and definitely a good deal for money but the box came with a hole in which I was not very happy about as was meant to be a Christmas present." Join our Shopping & Deals WhatsApp for the best bargains and fashion news WHATSAPP: Get the best deals and exclusive discount codes straight to your phone via our WhatsApp group. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in. All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group. We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. Some of these articles will contain affiliate links where we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from them. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our .
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Best deals in Amazon's first Everyday Essentials sale, from toilet roll to dishwasher tablets
Whether you need to replenish your cleaning essentials like dishwasher tablets or laundry detergent, or replace your bathroom stash of body wash and cleanser, there are plenty of deals on offer in Amazon's Everyday Essentials sale. This is the first time the online retailer has run a sale focused on everyday items, and some of our favourite tried and tested products have seen big discounts. To save you combing through the deals, we've hand-picked the best offers. On top of that, we've taken the time to compare Amazon's deal prices with supermarkets, so we can tell you if you're actually making a saving. The offers are available until Tuesday 27 May 2025, so you've got just under a week to grab a discount. If you miss out, or you're already stocked up on everyday essentials, I've also predicted the best Prime Day deals to expect on household items. You can bookmark that page and check back closer to the mid-July sale to see the best deals on cleaning, kitchen and bathroom essentials. Here's our pick of the best deals: Andrex ultimate quilts toilet paper 24 pack: Was £18, now £12.31, Now's a good time to replenish your toilet roll supply with this Amazon deal on Andrex's ultimate quilts loo roll. With a 32 per cent reduction, it's the lowest the 24-pack has ever been at the online retailer, and it's cheaper than the prices you'll find on your weekly shop. The online retailer has also slashed the price of dishwasher tablets in its Everyday Essentials sale, including this jumbo pack of Finish tablets. A pack this size will set you back £19 at Ocado right now, so this is a decent saving on the household staple. As with many everyday items on Amazon, subscribing to a regular delivery can also help you save. This laundry detergent is formulated for sensitive skin, so it doesn't contain any fragrance, enzymes or colouring. Our tester of the best laundry detergents, Zoe, found that 'it tackled food stains, wet towels and sweaty sports kit with ease.' Though odourless, it still managed to neutralise the smell of sweat left on her gym kit. A double-pack of the detergent has been reduced by a huge 45 per cent at Amazon, so now's the perfect time to stock up. Grind is one of our favourite coffee brands for an at-home brew, with its house blend making our round-up of the best coffee subscription services. The house blend is made from a blend of Colombian and Brazilian beans, and makes a delicious flat white. You can save 20 per cent on the coffee beans in Amazon's sale on everyday essentials, and you won't currently find it cheaper elsewhere. If you like the taste, you can save even more if you use Amazon's subscribe and save service. If you like to start your day with an oat flat white, you can stock up on oat milk using Amazon's deal on Oatly's barista edition drink. You get six cartons included in this bumper order, with each drink coming to £1.42. This beats current supermarket prices, so it's worth taking advantage of this Amazon offer. Need a cuppa in the morning? This deal is a good chance to top up your tea stash, with 25 per cent off 160 tea bags. A box this size is only available at a select few supermarkets, so if you spot it on offer, it's worth adding to your basket. It's not just household products that are reduced in Amazon's Everyday Essentials sale; there are plenty of deals to be found on beauty essentials too. We're big fans of Faith in Nature's vegan shampoo and conditioner, so we're pleased to see its body wash reduced in the sale. It contains oat extract, designed to soothe skin, as well as anti-inflammatory limeflower. It's a modest saving, but it's the cheapest price for this body wash right now. CeraVe's hydrating cleaner topped our list of the best CeraVe products, and for good reason. Beauty writer Lucy Partington said it 'works to remove makeup and cleanses quickly and easily' without drying out your skin. Its combination of ceramides and hyaluronic acid helps skin to retain moisture, and it's suitable for all skin types. Right now, you can save 30 per cent on the cleanser in Amazon's Everyday Essentials sale. WaterWipes's products are made of 99.9 per cent water and a little bit of fruit extract, so they suit sensitive skin. We know how quickly wipes disappear when you've got kids around, so now's a good time to top up your stash with this Amazon deal on a huge 720-pack. We never seem to have batteries handy when we actually need them, so now's a good time to buy some back-ups with this Amazon deal. You can save 17 per cent on this 18-pack of Duracell Plus, so there'll be plenty to keep the TV remote, kids' toys and more running, with some still to spare.
