Waitrose No 1

From my years of comparing supermarket products for my column, I can attest that Waitrose does its premium range much better than its budget Essential line, so it’s worth pushing the boat out as far as you can. The No 1 puds are excellent, and the bread is some of the best across all the supermarkets, while at this high end meat welfare standards are good.

No 1 White Sourdough Bread £2.20 for 500g

Made with the craft-baker staple, Shipton Mill flour, this has the proper bouncy texture and hefty chew, and a nice tang as well. Other than flour, there’s just water and salt in there, and no added yeast, making it true sourdough, not sourfaux.

No 1 Madagascan Vanilla Custard £3 for 500g

Close to a homemade crème anglaise, with a rich eggy flavour and plenty of natural vanilla. It’s a big step up from the heavily starch-thickened Essential Waitrose fresh custard, although it could be a bit less sweet.

No 1 Red Choice Tomatoes £2.70 for 300g

While the vegetable aisles have plenty of high-end cherry tomatoes, posh large toms are few and far

between. These aren’t huge but big enough to slice, and being a slowergrowing, lower-yielding variety, they’re softer textured with a fuller, tangier flavour than regular Waitrose tomatoes.

No 1 Greek Yoghurt £2.35 for 500g

Proper strained Greek yoghurt, with a higher protein content and creamier, denser texture than “Greek style”. The real deal, and what your breakfasts have been waiting for.

No 1 Free Range Chipolatas £4.50 for 12

Shell out for these and you get straightforward, well-balanced sausages with a thin skin and a good meaty texture. What’s more, the pork is all from fully free-range pigs, not just outdoor bred or reared, so there’s a high welfare dividend.

BEST FOR BREAD