Aldi's premium food range from 49p 'nicer than M&S'

We decided to see how some of Aldi's Specially Selected products compare with M&S version

Die-hard M&S shoppers may not consider the products to be on par with Aldi's. The cost difference is often significant, and while M&S has been making strides with its budget 'Remarksable' range, it remains one of the pricier options for many groceries.

We decided to compare some of its products with Aldi's premium own-label Specially Selected range, which is currently outpacing other products in growth - a trend that's becoming common across the broader grocery market. Aldi suggests that some customers are more inclined to splurge on pricier items - 'trading up' to premium own-label products like Wagyu steak, high-end cheese, ready meals, and brioche buns - as they swap dining out for eating in.

It's also probable that some shoppers are choosing big name brands less, especially if they've switched to Aldi from another store. So how does Specially Selected, starting at 49p for its Steak Fajita Tortilla Chips, stack up against M&S?

We embarked on a mission to find out. With Wagyu steaks unavailable in the Aldi stores we visited - perhaps another indication of their popularity - we chose fillet steaks from both retailers. At Aldi, a 28-day matured fillet steak weighing 170g costs £4.99, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Meanwhile, at M&S, a 10-day matured fillet steak weighing 190g costs £8. This equates to £7.16 for the same size as Aldi's.

Both were scrumptious, but it was the Aldi ones that really shone in terms of flavour and texture. The additional maturing time clearly makes a difference, enhancing the beefy taste and tenderising the meat.

Aldi's Wagyu Beef Burgers are another hit from their premium range, retailing at £3.49 for a pack of two, weighing 340g.

The closest equivalent we found at M&S were the Fully Loaded Steak Burgers, priced at £5 for a 380g pack, although they're included in a 3 for £12 deal.

While both burgers were enjoyable, we weren't fans of the chewy bits in the 73% beef M&S ones, and much preferred the overall taste and texture of Aldi's 95% beef ones - not to mention the sweeter taste of its brioche burger buns, which cost £1.05 for a pack of four from Aldi, compared to a whopping £3 for four from M&S.

Almost every product we sampled from Aldi tasted either just as good as M&S, or even better. We favoured the taste of Aldi's Vintage Cheddar over the M &S West Country one and the Specially Selected sausages - infused with herbs and a touch of ginger - were a massive hit.

Many of them, including the Canadian Maple Syrup, extra virgin olive oil and Parma Ham tasted virtually identical and it's no shocker that Aldi's Specially Selected Superseed Farmhouse loaf tastes just like the M&S Super Seeded loaf, both packed with sunflower, millet, linseed, poppy and pumpkin seeds. But while the M&S one will cost you £1.60, Aldi's version is only £1.09.

There were also significant price differences with other products we tested. For instance, Manuka Honey cost £4.39 for a 225g jar at Aldi, compared to £10 for a slightly larger 250g jar from M&S.

Aldi's Extra Fine Beans were priced at £1.29 for 200g, while the same size at M&S was £2.50. Premium ready meals have seen an increase in sales at Aldi and the ones we sampled - Lasagne Al Forno and Mac and Cheese - were a big hit with the kids.

Aldi's Specially Selected Spicy Italian Salami and 'Nduja pizza, Steak Pie and Pesto Alla Genovese, another best seller, were also well received.

Even the products that weren't part of Aldi's premium range, such as the tenderstem broccoli priced at £1.39 for 200g, were no different to the M&S version, which cost £3 for a larger 350g bag, but still worked out more expensive per kg.

The most challenging product to compare was alcohol. Among Aldi's most popular premium products is its Castellore Organic Prosecco Rose, priced at £7.99 a bottle.

M&S doesn't offer a rose organic prosecco, so we compared it with their white organic Colle Del Principe Prosecco, priced at £9.

I'm not usually a fan of rose, but I must admit the Aldi one is particularly nice and definitely had a fresher taste than the pricier M&S bottle. My usual choice is Aldi's best-selling £5.45 Costellore Prosecco, so I'm not particularly fussy or an expert when it comes to wine.

There were a few products that didn't quite meet the M and S standards in our opinion.

We found ourselves favouring the M&S Collection Potato Dauphinoise, priced at £3.50 and fresh from the fridge, over Aldi's £2.75 freezer pack - mainly due to the taste, but also the presentation.

The lemon drizzle cake was another area where Aldi couldn't quite match up. While Aldi's version is perfectly enjoyable and a steal at £2.25, it's the softer sponge and lemon juice icing that gives the £4 M&S one the advantage.

I might be able to justify the additional cost for that one. However, when so many of the other items were virtually on par in terms of taste and quality, it demonstrates that you don't necessarily have to pay more to get the good stuff.

With a trend towards celebrating at home, this year Aldi's Specially Selected range will constitute more than 50% of its overall Christmas offering for the first time. Based on what we've sampled so far, it'll be well worth exploring.