I tried seven own-brand Coco Pops against Kellogg’s – the winner isn’t Aldi or Sainbury’s and saves you £150 a year

EVEN if you've not tried Kellogg's Coco Pops, you've likely heard of them at some point.

According to the cereal maker, around 21million kilos of the breakfast staple are sold every year.

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But branded isn't always best - sometimes going for a supermarket's own version can save you money without sacrificing flavour.

So we put seven own-brand coco pops up against Kellogg's to see how they fared and if you could cut costs by downshifting.

Kellogg's

• £3.95, 420g (Waitrose)
• Price per 100g: 94p

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The first thing I noticed when the Kellogg's Coco Pops hit my taste buds was the instant rush of flavour.

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It was definitely the most intense and chocolatey out of all eight cereals I tried.

I though it might be because of a higher sugar content.

But when I looked the cereal actually came out lower compared to Waitrose and Tesco - with 17g per 100g.

The texture made them stand out too, with the pops light and airy with a nice crunch. It was just the price that let them down overall.

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• Taste and texture: 8/10
• Price: 4/10
• Sugar content per 100g: 17g (7/10)
• Overall: 19/30

M&S

• £1.30, 375g
• Price per 100g: 34.7p

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M&S is known for its higher quality produce so I was anticipating its choco pops to really hit the mark.

And although the initial taste was a bit bland, the chocolate tang did come through after a few bites.

The flavour of the rice balanced well with the chocolate dusting too, even if the texture was a bit spiky.

Their sugar content was joint lowest out of all the cereals I tried as well - ideal for any health-conscious parents.

• Taste and texture: 6/10
• Price: 5/10
• Sugar content per 100g: 16.1g (9/10)
• Overall: 20/30

Lidl

• £1.05, 500g
• Price per 100g: 21p

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Lidl was up next and I had high hopes - the brand tends to fair well in other taste tests I've done.

And I wasn't left disappointed. I instantly noticed the choco rice's velvety smooth and malty flavour, albeit with a slightly jagged texture.

The sugar content came in higher than some of other cereals, but considering all factors, these came out on top for me.

And opting for this pack instead of Kellogg's coco pops could save you £150 over the course of a year - based on buying one box a week.

• Taste and texture: 8/10
• Price: 9/10
• Sugar content per 100g: 17g (7/10)
• Overall: 24/30

Waitrose

• £1.25, 375g
• Price per 100g: 33.3p

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One of the high street's posh supermarkets, I was expecting Waitrose to fare well in the test. And I wasn't let down.

In terms of texture, they were crunchy while melting in my mouth after a few bites.

They were super chocolatey as well, and flavour-wise, the second best for me after Lidl.

But the sugar content was surprisingly high, coming in at 24.4g per 100g - the highest of all the coco pops I tested.

• Taste and texture: 7/10
• Price: 6/10
• Sugar content per 100g: 24.4g (5/10)
• Overall: 18/30

Morrisons

• 95p, 375g
• Price per 100g: 25.3p

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The Morrisons choco crackles had one of the most distinctive flavours out of all the coco pops I tried, and for the better.

The underlying taste was more like corn than rice, but it balanced nicely with the chocolate.

Their texture was crunchy without being too scratchy on the palate too, and their sugar content was one of the lowest I tried.

• Taste and texture: 7/10
• Price: 7/10
• Sugar content per 100g: 16.8g (8/10)
• Overall: 22/30

Aldi

• 89p, 375g
• Price per 100g: 24p

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Aldi used to stock choco rice but has now replaced the boxes with a 30% less sugar version which I still included in the test.

The German discounter usually fairs well when I have done taste tests too, so I was expecting good things.

However, the rice was a bit bland and the texture a bit soil-like too.

The sugar content was joint lowest out of the list though, coming in at 16.1g per 100g.

• Taste and texture: 6/10
• Price: 8/10
• Sugar content per 100g: 16.1g (9/10)
• Overall: 23/30

Sainsbury's

• 89p, 375g
• Price per 100g: 24p

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Sainsbury's have done well in previous cereal taste tests but performed poorly in this one.

The flavour was quite bland and the texture was the toughest out of the lot, although it did soften a bit in the milk.

The sugar content was joint lowest though, making them a potential option if you're health-conscious.

• Taste and texture: 5/10
• Price: 8/10
• Sugar content per 100g: 16.1g (9/10)
• Overall: 22/30

Tesco

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The first flavour that came to mind when trying Tesco's choco snaps was soy sauce - not what you'd hope for.

But after the initial shock the chocolatey taste did come through.

The texture was a bit tough on the pallet compared to the other cereals I tested though, and the sugar content was a big surprise.

• Taste and texture: 6/10
• Price: 8/10
• Sugar content per 100g: 21.2g (6/10)
• Overall: 20/30

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