As many of us are counting our pennies a little more closely these days, what if we told you that you could keep costs down without sacrificing quality taste when it comes to your food shop?
To show just how some of its quality goods stack up against luxury retailers, Asda pitted itself against Harrods, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Fortnum & Mason (a bold move for anyone!) and found just because its food is low in price, it doesn’t mean it’s low in quality.
In fact, in independent taste tests, the majority of people said Asda tasted as tasty as, or tastier, than a luxury shop equivalent.*
Hey, what do they say about ‘if you can’t beat ‘em, you might as well join ‘em?’ It’s a pretty complimentary pedestal to be on, and one Asda worked hard to join.
The brand is upping its game on its range of food, and, when it comes to its breakfast offerings at least, is doing things as well as Harrods and Harvey Nichols – both renowned for their super high quality.
Asda’s delicious wares were Cambridge Benchmarked with over 100 testers and the reviews are sparkling. We’re talking honey, jam and bread – some of the staples you can now afford to go a little fancier on.
Asda then had their own testing – with ‘real’ experts. And who knows a good artisan loaf better than a hipster, eh?
Remarking on the ‘delicious’ White Sourdough Boule, which was voted up there with Harrods’ baked option, taste tester Will enthused: ‘I don’t think I’d be expecting Asda to be making sourdough that tastes that good.’
And while Ollie mused on the ‘artisinal’ packaging, Ramona noted all it needed was a ‘little bit of butter and it’d be perfect’.
This bread is hardly your standard supermarket fare, with a craft process going back to its century-old heritage. We’re not dealing with a run-of-the-mill baker’s yeast, but sourdough starter with an eight-year heritage and made with flour from the Cotswolds, fermented for 18 hours and stonebaked.
We’re evidently not alone when we say ‘break us off some of that’.
While Ramona may count butter as a spread of choice, what if you teamed it with a sweet Extra Special Orange Blossom Honey?
’Real’ experts, B&B owners stepped up to the plate to taste test the honey and, when compared with Harvey Nichols’ luxe offering, Asda’s honey was playing in the same league.
This smooth and fragrant honey is sourced from bees that feed on orange blossom in Spain and Mexico and perfectly blended in Oxfordshire to give a sweet and fruity flavour with a delicate citrus and floral backnote.
Natalie got our own taste buds tingling as she added: ‘The texture was perfect, imagine that on your pancakes.’
You really can’t complete a breakfast table without a good raspberry jam or conserve and taste testers from The Women’s Institute actually said they preferred Asda’s Extra Special Raspberry Conserve and Extra Special Blackcurrant Conserve to Harvey Nichols’, cementing it as a real player in the market of luxe food.
This jammy heritage dates back to 1873 when two enterprising brothers’ Robert and William Scott started harvesting strawberries before moving on to other fruits and then jam and marmalade production. Now RW Scott creates high-quality products using traditional methods and the finest ingredients.
Describing the jams as having ‘more substance’, another ‘real’ expert noted the consistency, which seemed to win over the panel.
‘Very fruity,’ WI member, Lynn noted, adding: ‘It’s got quite good texture this one.’
How has Asda managed to rival the luxury shops, you ask? It’s due to the strides it’s made to improve quality, focusing the origin and sourcing of these products and most importantly the overall taste.
Why not taste for yourself?
Discover the whole range and see all the taste test results at ASDA.com/FoodRevolution
*Selected stores. Subject to availability. Serving suggestion. Independent tests May 2023. 67 of 106 people preferred the taste or equally liked the taste of both Asda Extra Special Orange Blossom Honey compared to Harvey Nichols’ Spanish orange blossom honey, 64 of 106 people preferred the taste of Asda Extra Special Raspberry Conserve compared to Harvey Nichols’ Fruity Raspberry Jam., 66 of 103 people preferred the taste of Asda Extra Special sourdough boule compared to Harrods’ signature sourdough. Delivery, collection and minimum basket charges may apply. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability. May exclude small stores: asda.com/smallstores. For verification see ASDA.com/FoodRevolution
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