Food Dips Compared

ALDI Deli Originals double dips into winning spot in food dips ratings

Who doesn’t love a good ‘ol chips and dip? Whether you prefer the classic guacamole and corn chip duo, or the healthier carrot stick and hummus combo, we can all agree that there are more than enough options to keep our stomachs feeling full and happy.

To find out which brand makes the most drool-worthy dips, we asked more than 1,500 Aussies for feedback on the food dips they purchased (from a supermarket) and consumed in the last month. Manufacturers were rated on taste, texture and consistency, range variety, packaging appeal, value for money and overall satisfaction. Those which received the minimum sample size of 30 responses are featured in our report.

ALDI Deli Originals crunched into the competition for the second year in a row, after being rated best in most of the categories compared in Canstar Blue’s 2020 review. The only exception was range variety, where it achieved four stars.

Best Food Dips

Here are the best food dips in Australia, as rated by consumers in Canstar Blue’s 2020 review:

1. ALDI Deli Originals
2. ZoOsh
3. Obela
4. Chris’ Dips
5. Yumi’s
6. Black Swan
7. Red Rock Deli
8. Ritz
9. Coles
10. Willow Farm
11. Peckish

ALDI Deli Originals is clearly leaving a good taste in Aussies’ mouths, being rated best for overall satisfaction and in most of the other categories. Most brands landed on four stars, while Ritz, Coles, Willow Farm and Peckish rounded up the scores on three stars.

But that doesn’t mean ALDI’s supermarket label was the only brand to get the nod of approval. Obela and Red Rock Deli bit back when it came to range variety, being the only two brands to receive five-star reviews for the category. Obela also achieved a five-star rating for taste, alongside Yumi’s and ALDI Deli Originals.

Food Dips

ALDI Deli Originals

A homebrand of German supermarket chain ALDI, the ALDI Deli Originals dips offer those partial to an ALDI grocery shop an option when it comes to catering for home events and dinners. Offering a number of flavours, including guacamole, hummus, spicy pumpkin, tzatziki, spinach and more, ALDI Deli Originals dips are also cheaper than most big-name brands, delivering a solid budget-friendly option.

• ALDI Deli Originals earned five-star reviews across majority of the board, including for taste, value for money and overall satisfaction. It also got four stars for range variety.

ZoOsh

A subsidiary brand of Bega Foods, ZoOsh provides a number of food products, including salad dressings, chutneys and dips, allowing you to create a spread that will impress your next guests. ZoOsh’s dip range includes flavours such as sour cream and chives, smokey bacon, smoked salmon and dill, along with the classic French onion, giving you a few options to consider when it comes to whipping up something in the kitchen.

Generally priced at $3 per 185g tub, depending on which supermarket you visit, ZoOsh is competitively priced in the market, ideal for when you’re trying to stick to a budget on your next grocery shop. While ZoOsh may not offer the extensive product range of some brands, there’s still a few options to choose from if you’re in the mood for some chips and dip.

• ZoOsh moved up several spots since last year, after receiving four-star reviews for taste, overall satisfaction and most other categories. The only exceptions were value for money and range variety, where it got three stars.

Obela

Since being founded in 2011, Obela has grown to become a global brand which offers households a range of dips ─ including a few different takes on the classic hummus. Some combinations feature roasted pine nut, jalapeño, roast tomato and lime, caramelised onion or basil pesto. And if you can’t get enough, the brand even sells a 1kg bucket of hummus for $9! The products are claimed to be free from artificial flavours or colours, and are also said to be gluten free and dairy free. 

Other products include spreads and dips, including avocado and tzatziki, with Obela also offering split tubs, allowing shoppers to take home two different flavours in the one easy packet. Similarly, if you have a hummus craving while travelling, Obela offers a to-go pack, which includes wholegrain rice crackers in addition to a 100g tub of spread.

• Obela rated best for range variety and achieved another five-star review for taste. It landed on four stars for overall satisfaction and most of the remaining categories, except value for money where it got three stars.

Chris’ Dips

Chris’ Dips has been operating in Australia since 1982, selling a variety of dips, yoghurts and other snacks ─ all of which are said to be locally made.  You can pick these up at major supermarkets and independent grocers. Recipes, storage instructions and ingredients are also available on the brand’s website. 

Prices for Chris’ entire dips range start from $3 for three 60g tubs, and reach up to $8 for Chris’ Heritage line. In addition to the regular Chris’ Dips collection, there are also several other ranges to choose from. Some include Flip & Dip, Homestyle and Plant-Based.

A number of flavours include avocado, French onion, spicy capsicum, spring onion, corn relish, three olives and tzatziki, goat’s cheese and black truffle. All flavours are available in 200g tubs, with ‘lite’ options and 100g snack tubs also available in select flavours.

• Despite receiving three stars for value for money, Chris’ Dips bumped up its score to a respectable four stars for overall satisfaction and in all other categories.

Yumi’s

Australian brand Yumi’s started in Melbourne before expanding into all areas of Australia, with dips found at supermarkets and local grocers. Offering a wide variety of flavours, Yumi’s is also competitively priced in the market. You may even have seen Yumi’s handed out as a free treat on Virgin Australia flights.

Yumi’s classic dip selection includes hummus, sweet corn, red capsicum, olive, sweet potato & cashew, spinach, roasted beetroot, and avocado, along with additional flavours, all priced at around $4 per 200g tubs. If you’re a big fan of its dips, Yumi’s also offers a range of 2kg tubs for selected flavours, although they may not be available at all stores. Yumi’s provides a range of recipes on its website, plus ingredient lists and nutritional information.  

• Yumi’s rated best for taste, before ending on a four-star review for overall satisfaction and most of the remaining categories. It also got three stars for value for money.

Black Swan

Founded over 30 years ago, Australian brand Black Swan is available at supermarkets and local grocers around the country. It offers a wide range of products including yoghurts and dips available for consumers to load up their shopping trolleys with. Black Swan’s dip range is split between the Classics range, as well as the Crafted range, each with plenty of variety.

The Classics range contains fan favourites like French onion, spring onion, hummus, capsicum, avocado, caviar, corn relish, olive and tzatziki. For those looking for something a bit different, the Crafted range has flavours including sweet potato & cashew, baby spinach & feta, beetroot tzatziki, as well as bacon & caramelised onion, along with a number of additional flavours. Prices are around $4 per 200g tub. Black Swan outlines ingredients and nutritional information on its website, as well as ideas for what to pair with your dips, giving you options for when it’s your turn to host.

• Black Swan received four stars in majority of the categories, including taste and overall satisfaction. Similarly to many of the brands featured this year, it also scored three stars for value for money.

Red Rock Deli

Red Rock Deli might be better-known for its chips, but did you know it expanded its range in 2011 to include a number of dips? Operating under the Smith’s brand, Red Rock Deli dips can be found at most supermarkets and local grocers.

While it may not have the traditional range that other brands offer, Red Rock Deli provides a number of flavours to keep you coming back. Flavours include basil pesto, roast pumpkin and caramelised onion, roast tomato and feta, spicy mango and lime, along with Thai chilli and lemongrass, offering customers a different take on the traditional chips and dips. Priced at just under $5 per 150g tub, Red Rock Deli may be more expensive than some brands, but could be the choice for those after something a bit more adventurous.

• Red Rock Deli was one of two brands which earned a five-star review for its range variety. It ultimately landed on four stars for overall satisfaction and most other areas. The only exception was value for money, where it got three stars.

Ritz

Ritz has teamed up its popular selection of crackers with its own line of dips. The small range of flavours includes smokey bacon, French onion, smoked salmon & dill, sour cream & chives and gherkin. Ritz is one of the most affordable brands to check out, with a 185g pot costing $2.75.

• Ritz earned four-star ratings for taste and value for money, plus three stars everywhere else.

Coles

Offering one of the cheapest ranges available on the market, Coles brand food dips start from just $2 per 200g tub, making them ideal for those on a budget, as well as those who frequently shop at Coles.

With classic flavours such as hummus, avocado, tzatziki, French onion, cheese and chive, spicy capsicum and dried tomato, Coles also offers a gourmet range. Gourmet flavours include basil pesto, trio of olives, and roasted capsicum, along with baba ghanoush, all priced from $3 per 150g tub. If you’re a big fan of the avocado dip, Coles also provides a 3-pack mini tub packet, containing three 60g tubs for $2.50. Coles outlines ingredients and nutritional information on its website, with no artificial colours or flavours added into their dip products, according to the supermarket.

• Coles was one of the few brands which earned a respectable four-star review for value for money. It received three stars in the remaining categories, including overall satisfaction.

Willow Farm

Operating under Kaiser Foods along with stablemate Chris’ Dips, Willow Farm may not offer the range of some competitors, but could be worth looking at if you’re trying to stick to a budget, with 200g tubs going for $2 at supermarkets. With the Willow Farm range gluten-free, low-sugar and containing no artificial colours or flavours, it may also be an option for those with allergies, or for those looking to enjoy some supposedly guilt-free dip. 

The Willow Farm range includes French onion, hummus, sun-dried tomato and tzatziki, with a 1kg tub of hummus also available at supermarkets, ideal for big parties, or if you’re just a really big fan of hummus. For the 1kg tub, expect to pay under $6 at the checkout, making it one of the more affordable options on the market.

• Willow Farm dug up four-star ratings for taste, texture & consistency and value for money. But it ultimately finished on three stars everywhere else, including overall satisfaction.

Peckish

With Peckish already selling a popular range of crackers, it only makes sense the brand also offers a range of dips to go with it. The selection isn’t as large as some of its competitors, but Peckish does still serve up family favourites like sweet chilli and French onion & pepper. Peckish dips are fairly affordable, typically costing $3.60 for a 180g tub.

• Peckish rounded up the scores on a solid three stars across the board, including for taste, value for money and overall satisfaction.

Drivers of Dip Satisfaction

Ever shared a store-bought dip with friends and family and pretended it was homemade? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one ─ just ask the 3% of respondents who admitted to doing the same thing. But we won’t blame you, dip is seen as the ‘go-to’ by 21% of Aussies whenever they’re asked to bring something to an event. So, what tickles everyone’s tastebuds?

Rather than settling for the cheapest pot of French Onion or tzatziki, a third (32%) of our respondents showed that nothing is more important than taste. Texture and consistency (25%) came in as the second biggest driver of customer satisfaction, followed by value for money (21%), packaging appeal (13%) and range variety (9%). No wonder nearly one in four (23%) admit to be regular double dippers!

It also seems that more people buy dips as part of their usual grocery shop (33%), with 20% usually picking up multiple packs. A slightly smaller number of people save dips for special occasions or when entertaining (28%). Our research shows 32% of shoppers stick to the same brand, and 27% opt for the cheapest option available or whatever is on sale.

Which dip should I buy?

While dips are often a party-favourite for many households, narrowing down your options for which one you ultimately scan through the supermarket checkout can take away from the excitement of munching down on some chips and dips. Especially considering they’re not the cheapest of products and the costs can quickly add up.

Ultimately, whichever brand of dip you end up stocking up on will depend on your personal preferences, as well as those you’re catering for. With most brands offering a number of different flavours, as well as sizes and textures, it may also come down to how much you’re willing to spend on a tub.

About the author of this page

This report was written by Canstar Blue’s home & lifestyle journalist, Tahnee-Jae Lopez-Vito. She’s an expert on household appliances, grooming products and all things grocery and shopping. In addition to translating our expert research into consumer-friendly ratings reports, Tahnee spends her time helping consumers make better-informed purchase decisions on all manner of consumer goods and services, while highlighting the best deals and anything you need to be aware of.

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Photo Credit: Alexandra Anschiz/Shutterstock.com, Olga Miltsova/Shutterstock.com.