A staple condiment at family dinners, tomato ketchup divides households—but which bottle delivers the best flavour, and which should stay on the shelf? Our tasting panel examined ten supermarket varieties to find the winners and the also-rans. Spoiler alert: the answer may surprise those loyal to the market leader.
Growing up, ketchup was my gateway to eating almost anything. Vegetables, chips, even sweet breakfast items—they all benefited from a generous squeeze of red sauce. Though my childhood sugar cravings have mellowed, I still find myself stirring ketchup into peas. This tasting exercise proved encouraging because even the most budget-conscious options performed admirably.
Tomato content emerged as a key variable across the range, though price did not always correlate with fruit quantity. The highest-tomato products contained nearly double the fruit of the lowest. Manufacturers disclose this in two formats: the weight of raw tomato used before cooking down to puree (above 200g per 100g of finished sauce indicates high content; below 150g is low), and the percentage of tomato puree in the final product (above 50% is considered high). Some lower-tomato formulations rely on modified maize starch as a thickener. Sugar levels also varied considerably across the selection.
Every product fulfilled its basic function, and while none would win praise eaten straight from a spoon, all paired excellently with chips. Premium options appeal to more sophisticated tastes, offering richer, spiced profiles, yet they retain that signature balance of umami, sweetness and sourness that defines the category.
Which ketchup performed best overall?
Rubies in the Rubble Ketchup but Gooder emerged as the standout performer. Presented in a squeezy bottle, this vivid red sauce carries a sweet and layered aroma. Its formulation includes an exceptionally high fruit content—242g per 100g, combining tomatoes with surplus pears and apples—which contributes both sweetness and fruity complexity layered with spice notes. The product contains potassium sorbate as a preservative and registers 20% total sugars.
What represents the best value for money?
Bramwells Original Tomato Ketchup delivers the strongest bargain credentials. Supplied in a squeezy bottle, this thin, smooth puree offers a straightforward, inoffensive and unremarkable taste profile—sweet-sour tomato notes—making it an ideal choice for younger palates. The formula contains no additives and measures 16.4% total sugars, keeping it among the lowest-sugar options tested.
How do other supermarket options compare?
Co-op On the Side Tomato Ketchup arrives in a squeezy bottle with a thick, deep red appearance. The aroma registers as sharp initially but develops into a savoury character. On the palate, it tastes sweet and approachable, with a notably higher sugar content of 22% and a tomato ratio of 167g per 100g sauce. Modified maize starch features in the ingredient list.
Sainsbury's So Organic Tomato Ketchup presents a squeezy bottle format with a clean tomato puree aroma and rich colour. The flavour profile captures that classic sharp-yet-sweet umami character. Total sugars reach 20.9%, though the tomato puree percentage remains relatively modest at 38%. The product carries organic certification.
Mr Organic Italian Organic Tomato Ketchup stands apart in a glass bottle rather than plastic. The ketchup itself is very thick and smooth, with a comforting, uncomplicated aroma of cooked tomatoes. The flavour proves lively yet classically simple, dominated by sweet-and-sour tomato notes. A high tomato percentage of 80% and restrained sugar at 16% distinguish this option.
M&S Only 8 Ingredients Tomato Ketchup delivers a thick puree with slight separation. The palate experience is sharp and lively with subtle spicy undertones. This emerged as the sweetest sauce in the test, with 23.9% total sugars—achieved through agave syrup sweetening. It also boasts a high tomato content of 281g per 100g, the highest among all products tested.
Heinz Tomato Ketchup, the category benchmark, presents the classic fire-brick-red appearance in a thick yet very smooth puree. The aroma carries spiced, acidic and tomatoey notes. The flavour reads as candy-sweet with a sour twang and good depth, though it registers 22.8% total sugars and a relatively low 148g of tomatoes per 100g sauce. The formula remains simple and additive-free.
Essential Waitrose & Partners Tomato Ketchup comes in a squeezy bottle with a thick, mousse-like texture and classic sweet taste paired with clear sharpness. At 75%, the tomato puree percentage ranks among the highest. Modified maize starch is present, and total sugars measure 21.5%.
Asda Classic Tomato Ketchup fills a squeezy bottle with Venetian-red, perfectly smooth and thick puree. The mousse-like texture accompanies a plain, sweet-forward flavour with that characteristic sour twang. Sugar content sits at 21%, while the tomato ratio of 148g per 100g ranks on the lower end. Modified maize starch features in the formulation.
Tesco Tomato Ketchup presents a sweet aroma but thin consistency and slimy texture derived from modified maize starch. It registers low in total sugars at 17.9%, while the tomato ratio of 148g per 100g also falls toward the lower end of the range.
What do independent taste tests reveal?
Recent independent testing corroborates several findings from this review. According to a consumer testing organisation's August 2026 assessment, Waitrose Essential Tomato Ketchup, Co-op On the Side Tomato Ketchup, Heinz Tomato Ketchup and Asda Classic Tomato Ketchup all ranked in the top tier. That evaluation drew on a blind-taste panel of 60 people conducted in July 2026, with satisfaction scores of 77% for Waitrose, 76% for both Co-op and Heinz, and 74% for Asda.
A particularly striking finding emerged regarding value. Testing published in August 2026 found that Asda's Classic Tomato Ketchup matched Heinz on taste in consumer trials while costing substantially less—Heinz retailed at £3.00 for 460g, whereas Asda's own-label version sold for £1.13 for 550g, representing less than half the price for a larger bottle.
How does ketchup fit into broader food trends?
Condiments and spreads have become increasingly significant in tracking household food patterns. Everyday items like ketchup now feature in official inflation measurements, reflecting their role as staple purchases. Meanwhile, brands like Rubies in the Rubble have expanded their portfolios beyond ketchup into new categories, signalling continued innovation in the condiment market.
Key facts
- Tomato content varies dramatically across supermarket ketchups, with the highest-tomato products containing nearly twice the fruit of the lowest
- Sugar levels range from 16% to 23.9%, with budget options not necessarily higher in sugar than premium alternatives
- Independent taste testing confirms that supermarket own-brand ketchups can match or exceed branded alternatives in consumer preference
- Price differences are substantial—own-brand options can cost less than half the price of leading brands for equivalent or larger quantities
- Modified maize starch appears in many formulations as a thickening agent, particularly in budget and mid-range products
