Chicken soup has long been hailed as a comforting remedy for winter ailments. To find the best option for your shopping basket, we conducted a detailed comparison of fresh chicken soups from leading UK supermarkets, pitting them against the well-known Covent Garden brand.
The Supermarket Soup Line-Up
Our investigation included fresh soups from Tesco, Morrisons, Aldi, Sainsbury's, Lidl, and Marks & Spencer. We scrutinised each product on several key factors: the list of ingredients, stated shelf life, overall flavour, nutritional content, and crucially, the price point. The aim was to see how the supermarket own-brand offerings measured up to the market leader.
Price Per Pot: A Clear Cost Divide
The price differences across the board were significant. The benchmark Covent Garden Classic Chicken Soup was priced at £2.35 for a 600g pot. Asda's Chicken and Vegetable Soup came in at £1.93, while Tesco's equivalent was £1.85. Morrisons sold its Chicken Vegetable Broth for the same £1.85 price tag.
Sainsbury's, offering a broth on the day of purchase, was cheaper at just £1.49 for 600g. This worked out to 25p per 100g, matching the value offered by Aldi. Lidl's Creamy Chicken Soup was slightly higher at £1.59 for 600g.
At the top end of the scale, M&S Chunky Country Vegetable Soup cost £2.75 for 600g. This equated to 46p per 100g, which was identical to the price-per-100g of the Covent Garden soup.
The Taste Test Verdict
Beyond the price labels, the most revealing part of the test was the flavour comparison. Interestingly, one budget option stood out from the crowd. Our tasting panel found that Aldi's Creamy Chicken Soup was rated better than the Covent Garden version. This highlights that a higher price does not always guarantee superior taste, and value-for-money gems can be found on supermarket shelves.
The test considered the soup's texture, the balance of chicken and vegetable flavours, and the overall seasoning. While Covent Garden set a high standard, the competition from own-brand products was fierce, with several offering a compelling and delicious alternative for a fraction of the cost.
This fresh soup taste test proves that savvy shoppers have more choice than ever. With a leading discount supermarket beating a premium brand on flavour, and significant price variations between retailers, it pays to look beyond the familiar labels.
