Coco Pops have long been a beloved breakfast treat, with every crunchy, chocolatey bite evoking nostalgic childhood memories. Whether enjoyed with hot or cold milk, the best part of this cereal is undoubtedly the sweet, chocolaty milk left behind once the bowl is empty.
But as the cost of living rises, many families, including my own with five hungry children, are searching for affordable alternatives to iconic brands like Kellogg’s. Curious to see if supermarket own-brand cereals could match—or even surpass—the original, I set up a blind taste test featuring M&S, Sainsbury’s, and Aldi.
To ensure unbiased results, I enlisted my nieces and nephews—known for their discerning and sometimes picky palates—along with my brother. Using an empty box with a cut-out window, each participant sampled four cereals poured into identical white bowls, guessing the brand based on taste alone.
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The youngest taster, my seven-year-old nephew, was delightfully inconsistent—guessing everything from “Lidl” to “from around the corner.” Despite the confusion, his favourite proved to be the M&S cereal, even though he initially believed it was Kellogg’s.
My niece was the most critical, rejecting Aldi’s version outright and unimpressed by Sainsbury’s. Although she struggled to place M&S correctly, she admitted it had a distinct flavor, yet maintained that the classic Kellogg’s taste couldn’t be beaten.
My 13-year-old nephew was reserved and stoic, making it hard to gauge his reaction. He mistakenly identified Kellogg’s as M&S but ultimately favoured the Sainsbury’s bowl.
My cereal-savvy brother quickly identified Kellogg’s but mixed up the other brands—admitting he peeked at the cereal’s colour to help his guesses. Despite his extra scrutiny, the fussy kids were eager to continue testing, eventually letting me take a turn.
For my palate, the Aldi cereal lacked flavor, confirming others’ impressions. Sainsbury’s was distinct but not my favourite. Surprisingly, M&S’s variety stood out with its richer, more decadent chocolate notes, even edging out Kellogg’s, which tasted slightly bitter to me.
Priced at £1.70 for a larger box than Kellogg’s £2.35 offering, M&S delivered better value and taste. Even my seven-year-old selected M&S as his top pick, with my niece and brother ranking it second.
For families balancing fussy eaters with tight budgets, M&S Coco Pops represent a delicious and affordable alternative to Kellogg’s—saving you around 65p per box without compromising on flavour.