Cheap cooking sauces

[legal girl]

A friend has just come back from the supermarket with a jar of their own "Basics" range curry sauce for 9p - can anyone explain how supermarkets can make moey out of these products? Not convinced about the taste of these things but I just don't know how they make their money.

[boxtops]

Sheer volume of production, and probably cheaper ingredients, I expect - these things don't cost much to make, but it's the advertising and "label name" which mean that companies get away with charging much more.

[RAV1D]

It's probably the rubbish left over from the better products and it's cheaper to sell then pay waste disposal company to get rid of it.

[snags]

Or perhaps they can still make a profit and all curry sauces only cost 6p to make and they're fleecing us...

[Buenchico]

Not so long ago, Tesco were selling their 'Value' curry sauce (in 390g) tines, for 4p. It was an excellent product, producing a mild, creamy curry, packed with sultanas and onions. Alas. it's no longer stocked, but if Sainsbury's (who, I seem to recall use the 'Basics' name for their cheap stuff) are selling something similar for 9p, I'll certainly be giving it a try!

It's also worth noting that the 'Value' (or similarly-labelled) pasta sauces, in jars, which the supermarkets stock are an excellent base (on their own) for a cheap pasta meal, or they can be used as the starting point for something extra tasty (by adding additional herbs or spices, for example). Morrisons do a really nice one with mushrooms in it.

Chris

[marval]

I use that basics sauce, not the best but it is not too bad.