We test the best budget tomato ketchups against leader Heinz and the winners are more than a third of the price

FOR decades Heinz has been the UK’s most popular ketchup, with sauce purists claiming there’s no substitute for the real thing.

But Tesco customers are facing empty shelves in a row over pricing with Heinz, which has seen the supermarket removing the brand’s beans, classic soups and tomato sauce.

Sauce purists claim there’s no substitute for HeinzCredit: WENN

Latest figures showed an estimated 15million Brits bought Heinz tomato ketchup in 2020 – down a million on the previous year.

And with the soaring cost of living, even more of us are turning to cheaper alternatives.

They come in at up to a SIXTH of the price of the original.

In our saucy taste test, Alison Maloney discovers that you don’t always have to sacrifice the taste to save your pennies.

HEINZ, £2.79, 360g

60.7p per 100g

Heinz has the nation convinced of its superiorityCredit: Lucy North – Commissioned By The Sun

THE top brand has the nation convinced of its superiority and, as a lifelong fan, I still love the tangy, tomato hit of the classic.

But I was shocked by the difference in price between the market leader and near rivals.

Plus the sugar level is high at 22.89g per 100g.

TASTE: 9
VALUE: 1
TOTAL: 5

TESCO, 65p, 555g

11.7p per 100g

Tesco's ketchup has a good consistency and a slightly lighter feel compared to the Heinz — Tesco’s ketchup has a good consistency and a slightly lighter feel compared to the HeinzCredit: Lucy North – Commissioned By The Sun

THIS has a good consistency and a slightly lighter feel compared to the Heinz.

The taste is also sharper, with a vinegary tang and a bit of a bite.

It’s less sugary, with 18.5g per 100g but really tasty.

TASTE: 8
VALUE: 7
TOTAL: 7.5

STOCKWELL, 52p, 540g

9.7p per 100g

Stockwell ketchup seemed thicker and more gelatinous than the restCredit: Lucy North – Commissioned By The Sun

SOLD at Tesco, this seemed thicker and more gelatinous than the rest.

The vinegar was very strong, maybe because, at 11.5g of sugar per 100g, it has half the sugar content of the others.

The cheapest but not the best.

TASTE: 4
VALUE: 8
TOTAL: 6

MAYOR, 70p, 450g

15.6p per 100g

Mayor is a thick, dark ketchup from Asda that is tangy and tasty and similar to HeinzCredit: Lucy North – Commissioned By The Sun

THIS thick, dark ketchup from Asda is tangy and tasty and similar to Heinz.

While slightly dearer than most of the other own-brands, this still works out at a fraction of the price of classic Heinz, with a big saving of £2.09.

TASTE: 9
VALUE: 7
TOTAL: 8

ASDA, 64P, 550G

11.7p per 100g

The texture of Asda's ketchup is grainy and lumpy – less smooth than the rest — The texture of Asda’s ketchup is grainy and lumpy – less smooth than the restCredit: Lucy North – Commissioned By The Sun

THE texture is grainy and lumpy – less smooth than the rest.

It had a sharp taste with more of a kick than the others tested, coming from the cayenne pepper and garlic.

But it had the most salt, with 1.7g per 100g compared to Heinz’s 0.3g.

TASTE: 2
VALUE: 6
TOTAL: 4

SAINSBURY’S, 65p, 460g

14.1p per 100g

The colour of Sainsbury's ketchup is deep and the consistency is good — The colour of Sainsbury’s ketchup is deep and the consistency is goodCredit: Lucy North – Commissioned By The Sun

THE colour is deep and the consistency is good.

The initial taste was similar to Heinz, with a good vinegary tang, but then there was a slight aftertaste that had something slightly artificial about it.

TASTE: 6
VALUE: 6
TOTAL: 6

BRAMWELLS, 65p, 650g

10p per 100g

LIKE Heinz, Aldi’s ketchup uses 148g of tomatoes per 100g of product, and the result is a fruity tang in which you can really taste the tomatoes, plus a smoky note.

A similar sugar content to Heinz, but with a good distinctive taste.

TASTE: 9
VALUE: 9
TOTAL: 9