Margarine & Table Spread Ratings

Tablelands going down well on Aussie tables

No matter what you spread on your morning toast, whether it’s vegemite or jam, margarine is likely to be the first layer. But the wrong margarine or table spread can leave you with a sour taste, and that’s no way to start a day. So, which margarine or table spread brand do Aussies love most? Our 2019 customer ratings have the answer!

We surveyed more than 1,600 Aussie consumers and asked about their recent purchase of margarine or table spread to identify which brands make up the perfect blend of quality and price. Respondents rated their brand on several factors, including taste, texture, value for money and packaging, which is all reflected in the star ratings table above. A healthy 12 brands received the minimum sample size to be included in the results, but only one achieved five stars for overall customer satisfaction – Tablelands, knocking over last year’s winners Bertolli and Nuttelex. Tablelands got five stars for taste, texture and packaging as well as four stars on value for money.

The 12 brands in our 2019 margarine & table spread review were rated in the following order for overall satisfaction:

• 1^st Tablelands
• 2^nd ALDI Sunnyvale
• 3^rd ALDI PureVita
• 4^th Olive Grove
• 5^th Meadow Lea
• 6^th Flora
• 7^th Nuttelex
• 8^th Logicol
• 9^th Woolworths Homebrand
• 10^th Coles
• 11^th Bertolli
• 12^th Woolworths Select

ALDI Sunnyvale, ALDI PureVita, Olive Grove, Meadow Lea, Flora, Nuttelex, Logicol, Woolworths Homebrand, Coles and Bertolli all achieved four stars for overall satisfaction, while Woolworths Select was left with three stars. ALDI Sunnyvale was the only brand to get five stars on value for money.

What actually is margarine?

A ‘true’ margarine, according to food standards agencies, contains a minimum of 80% fat (80g of fat per 100g of margarine). This being the case, there are very few true margarines available in Australia today – most fall under the category of oil-based, reduced fat, or another type of ‘spread’. Therefore, our customer ratings refer to margarines AND table spreads. Ultimately, we’re talking about that stuff you put on your toast and sandwiches, which isn’t butter.

What to consider when buying margarine or table spread

Aside from identifying which margarine or table spread brands Aussie consumers prefer, our review also revealed some key findings. One in three respondents to the survey (31%) said they have margarine or table spread every day, making it a staple on the shopping list. In addition, two in five (40%) have tried multiple margarine or table spread brands and types. Here are some of the other key findings from our survey.

Taste

Taste is the most important factor when it comes to determining customer satisfaction with margarine or table spread. With vegemite being a staple for many on their morning toast, or in an afternoon sandwich, margarine or table spread helps enhance the taste and provide the perfect balance to the palette.

• Tablelands achieved five stars for taste. Supermarket brands Woolworths Homebrand, Coles and Woolworths Select got three stars, while the rest got four stars.

Texture

Texture was found to be the second most important variable identified from the 2019 research. Having soft and smooth margarine is essential, as any sandwich artist would attest.

• Tablelands was the only brand to get five stars for texture, with the rest securing either three or four stars.

Value for money

In our budget savvy world, getting good value for money is important to many. With Tablelands scoring four stars in this category, yet coming out on top for both taste and texture, it might suggest that consumers are happy to a pay bit more for their favourite margarine or table spread brand. Our survey found that only one in five shoppers (21%) buy the cheapest brand.

• ALDI Sunnyvale was the only brand to receive five stars on value for money. Tablelands, ALDI PureVita, Olive Grove, Woolworths Homebrand and Coles all got four stars apiece for value for money, with the rest on three stars.

Packaging

The supermarket dairy aisle is filled with different brands, so one that stands out from the crowd might convince you to try one brand over another. While it shouldn’t change the taste, having a tub that’s easy to open and store is a bonus.

• This year’s winner, Tablelands, got five stars on packaging, with the rest on either three or four stars.

So, why be spreading bad margarine or table spread on your sandwich? If you’re not satisfied with your brand, help yourself to another one from our review.

Butter Ratings

Picture credits: Marietjie/shutterstock.com, Olesya Kuznetsova/shutterstock.com, Ian Francis/ shutterstock.com