Buy Chocolate

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Walk into any UK supermarket and the chocolate spread aisle hits you with options — Nutella, Meridian, Biona, supermarket own brands, and a dozen more I can’t name without checking. But which ones are actually good? I’ve spent the last month working through the UK’s chocolate spread selection so you can skip the jars that disappoint.

The UK market is different from the US or Europe. Our chocolate spreads tend to be less sweet, more hazelnut-forward, and — in the case of the health food brands — genuinely functional. Here’s what’s worth buying in 2026.

Nutella: Still the UK’s Favourite

Nutella holds about sixty percent of the UK chocolate spread market. A 400-gram jar costs around £3.50 in Tesco, £3.00 in Aldi or Lidl. The formula is identical to the rest of the world — sugar, palm oil, hazelnuts, skim milk, cocoa.

Per serving: 200 calories, 21 grams of sugar, 11 grams of fat. The same story as everywhere else. It’s fine. It’s familiar. But it’s not the best thing in the UK aisle.

What I find interesting is how many British households buy Nutella by habit rather than choice. When I ask friends why they buy it, the answer is always “it’s what we’ve always bought.” There are genuinely better options now.

Meridian Hazelnut & Cocoa Spread

Meridian is the surprise winner in the UK market. A 280-gram jar costs £3.99 — slightly more than Nutella by weight. But the ingredient list tells a different story: hazelnuts (forty percent), agave syrup, cocoa powder, coconut oil, vanilla.

Per serving: 145 calories, 6 grams of sugar, 13 grams of fat. That’s fifteen fewer grams of sugar per serving than Nutella. The hazelnut content is more than triple Nutella’s. It’s also palm oil-free and vegan.

The taste is less sweet, more nutty, and honestly more grown-up. It spreads well, works on toast, and doesn’t leave that sticky sugar-film on your teeth. I genuinely prefer it to Nutella now.

Meridian is available in Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Ocado. If you see it, buy it.

Biona Organic Hazelnut Cocoa Spread

Biona is the premium organic option in UK supermarkets. A 350-gram jar costs £4.99. It’s certified organic, fair-trade, and palm oil-free. The ingredients: agave syrup, hazelnut paste (twenty-five percent), cocoa mass, coconut oil, vanilla.

Per serving: 155 calories, 10 grams of sugar, 12 grams of fat. The flavour is deeper than Meridian — almost dark chocolate territory. The agave gives it a different sweetness profile, cleaner and less cloying.

This is my pick if you want something that feels genuinely premium. It costs more, but the organic certification and fair-trade sourcing justify the price. I use it on crumpets and it’s revelatory.

Supermarket Own Brands: The Value Picks

Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Morrisons all have their own chocolate hazelnut spreads for around £1.50 to £2.00 for 400 grams. The quality varies significantly.

Tesco’s own brand is the best of the budget options — 15 grams of sugar per serving versus Nutella’s 21, and a taste that’s about ninety percent of the way there. Sainsbury’s is comparable. Asda’s version is noticeably sweeter and thinner. Morrisons’ spread has an odd aftertaste I can’t quite identify.

If you’re on a tight budget, buy Tesco’s. It’s not amazing, but it’s competent and costs less than half of Nutella.

Lidl’s Alpenmarke and Aldi’s Choceur

Both discount supermarkets have excellent own-brand options. Lidl’s Alpenmarke Hazelnut Spread comes in at £1.99 for 400 grams with 17 grams of sugar per serving. Aldi’s Choceur is £2.49 for 400 grams with 16 grams of sugar.

The Choceur version tastes noticeably better. It’s closer to Meridian in quality than Nutella, with a real hazelnut flavour that doesn’t get buried by sugar. I’d pick it over Nutella and save a pound.

Our Aldi chocolate spread guide covers the full Choceur range in detail.

UK-Specific Considerations

British consumers are more aware of palm oil concerns than many other markets. The movement toward sustainable sourcing has pushed brands like Meridian and Biona to the front. If palm oil matters to you, avoid Nutella and look for the palm oil-free labels.

Another UK quirk: crumpets. Chocolate spread on a warm, buttered crumpet is a British institution. The best spreads for crumpets are the thicker ones — Meridian and Biona hold up better than Nutella, which tends to melt and run off.

Vegan options are also more prominent in the UK market. Most premium spreads are now vegan by default since they use plant-based oils instead of milk fat. Check the label, but you’ll find plenty of choices.

My 2026 UK Rankings

After testing everything available, here’s my honest ranking. meridian hazelnut & Cocoa takes first place for the best balance of taste, price, and ingredients. Biona Organic wins for premium quality and ethics. Choceur from Aldi is the best value. Tesco own brand is the budget champion. Nutella comes in fifth — and I say that as someone who grew up on it.

The UK chocolate spread market has genuinely improved over the last five years. You no longer have to choose between taste and better ingredients. Brands like Meridian and Biona deliver both. Next time you’re in the aisle, skip the familiar and try something better. It might change your breakfast permanently. For more chocolate buying advice, visit buychocolate.org.

Chocolate Hazelnut Spread Guide