I tried seven own-brand Coco Pops against Kellogg's – the winner isn't Aldi

EVEN if you haven't tried Kellogg's Coco Pops, you've probably heard of them.

According to the cereal manufacturer, approximately 21 million kilos of the breakfast product are sold annually.

We tried own brand coco pops from the supermarket and compared them to Kellogg'sCredit: Gary Stone

But branded products are not always the best. Sometimes opting for a supermarket's own version can save you money without sacrificing taste.

So we pitted seven own-brand coconut pop-ups against Kellogg's to see how they fared and whether you could cut costs by downshifting.

Kellogg's

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

Kellogg's may be the better known brand, but it is by far the most expensiveCredit: Gary Stone

The first thing I noticed when the Kellogg's Coco Pops hit my taste buds was the immediate burst of flavor.

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

I thought it might have to do with higher sugar content.

But when I looked, the grains actually came out lower compared to Waitrose and Tesco – at 17g per 100g.

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

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

MRS

£1.30, 375g
Price per 100g: 34.7p

M&S's chocopops were one of the more expensive of the eightCredit: Gary Stone

M&S is known for its higher quality products, so I expected the chocopops to be a real hit.

And while the initial taste was a bit bland, the chocolate note came through after a few bites.

The flavor of the rice was also well balanced with the chocolate dust, even if the texture was a bit prickly.

Their sugar content was also the lowest of all the cereals I tried – ideal for any health-conscious parents.

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

Lidl

£1.05, 500g
Price per 100g: 21p

Lidl was next and I had high expectations – the brand does quite well in other taste tests I've done.

And I was not left disappointed. I immediately noticed the velvety and malty flavor of the chocolate rice, albeit with a slightly jagged texture.

The sugar content came out higher than some other grains, but all factors considered, these came out on top for me.

And if you choose this pack instead of Kellogg's Coco Pops, you can save £150 over the course of a year, buying one box a week.

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

Guard rose

£1.25, 375g
Price per 100g: 33.3p

I was shocked by the sugar content in Waitrose's choco popsCredit: Gary Stone

As one of the upmarket supermarkets on the high street, I expected Waitrose to do well in the test. And I was not disappointed.

Texturally, they were crunchy while they melted in my mouth after a few bites.

They were also super chocolatey and the second best for me in terms of taste, after Lidl.

But the sugar content was surprisingly high, at 24.4g per 100g – the highest of any coconut I tested.

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

Morrisons

95p, 375g
Price per 100g: 25.3p

The Morrisons choco crackles had one of the most distinctive flavors of any coconut I tried, and for the better.

The underlying flavor was more like corn than rice, but paired nicely with the chocolate.

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

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

Aldi

89p, 375g
Price per 100g: 24p

Aldi used to have chocolate rice in stock, but has now replaced the boxes with a 30% lower sugar version that I included in the test.

The German discounter usually does well when I have also done taste tests, so I expected good things.

However, the rice was a bit bland and the texture also a bit earthy.

However, the sugar content was collectively the lowest on the list, coming in at 16.1 g per 100 g.

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

Sainsbury's

89p, 375g
Price per 100g: 24p

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

The flavor was quite bland and the texture was the chewiest of all, although it did soften a bit in the milk.

However, the sugar content was the lowest, making them a potential option if you are health conscious.

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

Tesco

The first flavor 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 chocolate flavor came through.

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

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

In other news, we tested own-brand rice crispies with Kelloggs – here's what we thought.

Plus coca-cola dupes from the supermarket, where the winner is just like the real thing, for a fraction of the price.

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