I Spent £30 Testing Every Supermarket's Fake Magnum - One Blew My Mind

By HOAR Team 4 July, 2025 5 mins read 75 Views

Look, I'll be honest. When my mate Dave told me M&S was making ice creams that taste identical to Magnum, I laughed in his face.

But here I am, £30 poorer and slightly sick from eating way too much ice cream in one afternoon, ready to admit I was wrong. Dead wrong.

The Which? taste test results came out last week, and they've basically confirmed what Dave's been banging on about for months. M&S chocolate sticks tied with actual Magnum at 82% in blind testing. Same score. Same creamy perfection. But here's the kicker - they're 46% cheaper.

Hear the Summary

The M&S Revelation (And My Wounded Pride)

Three sticks for £2.40 versus Magnum's eye-watering £3.50. That's 80p per lolly compared to Magnum's premium pricing that honestly makes me wince every time I'm at the checkout.

I grabbed both packs yesterday and did my own completely unscientific test. Blindfolded myself with a tea towel (yes, really) and had my partner feed me pieces of each.

Could not tell the difference. At all.

The M&S version nailed everything - that perfect balance of vanilla ice cream, the satisfying crack of thick chocolate coating, even that slightly indulgent feeling you get when you're eating something that's definitely not good for you.

Lidl's Sneaky Third Place Win

But wait, there's more. Lidl's Gelatelli sticks scored 79% and cost just 48p each. Forty-eight pence! That's mental.

Six sticks for £2.85 total. I mean, you could literally buy two packs and still spend less than one pack of Magnums. The texture isn't quite as luxurious, but honestly? For that price difference, I'm not complaining.

My kids couldn't care less about the subtle differences anyway - they just want something cold and chocolatey when it's 30 degrees outside.

The Budget Champions (And One Disappointment)

Aldi came fourth with their Gianni's range at 77%. £1.69 for four sticks sounds brilliant until you actually eat them. The ice cream feels a bit... chalky? Not quite creamy enough. Still decent for 42p each though.

Iceland's Belgian chocolate Majestics also hit 77%, but nearly a third of testers said they were too sweet. At £2 for four, they're middle-ground territory.

Then we get into the mediocre zone. Waitrose (74%) had weak vanilla flavour - disappointing for £2.25. Morrisons (73%) wasn't creamy enough. Asda (72%) was fine but nothing special at £2.10.

Tesco surprised me by being the cheapest at £1.39 for three, but the vanilla was practically non-existent. And Co-op... well, let's just say 69% tells you everything you need to know.

What This Actually Means for Your Wallet

Here's the thing that really gets me. We've been paying premium prices for Magnum because, well, it's Magnum. The brand. The marketing. Those ridiculously over-the-top TV ads.

But if M&S can match the taste for nearly half the price, what exactly are we paying for?

Jessica Carson from Which? put it perfectly: "While the Classic Magnum wasn't beaten in our test, one supermarket brand matched it and a bargain alternative from Lidl wasn't far behind - and is less than half the price."

I'm genuinely annoyed at myself for not trying these alternatives sooner. Could've saved myself a fortune over the years.

Next time you're standing in the freezer aisle, maybe grab the M&S pack instead. Your taste buds won't know the difference, but your bank account definitely will.

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Statistics

As of 2021, the average student loan debt for recent graduates was approximately $30,000, according to the Federal Reserve.
As of 2021, the average American household had approximately $8,400 in credit card debt, according to Experian.
The average cost of raising a child in the U.S. is estimated to be around $233,610, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
A study by the National Endowment for Financial Education found that 60% of Americans do not have a budget.
A report by Bankrate indicated that only 29% of Americans have a written financial plan.
Research by the National Bureau of Economic Research found that individuals who receive financial education are 25% more likely to save than those who do not.
According to a Gallup poll, 56% of Americans report that their financial situation is better than it was a year ago.
The average return on investment for the S&P 500 over the past 90 years is about 10% per annum.

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How To

How To Create a Personal Budget That Works

Creating a personal budget involves several key steps. First, assess your income by totaling all sources of revenue, including salary, bonuses, and side hustles. Next, categorize your expenses into fixed (rent, utilities) and variable (groceries, entertainment). Track your spending for at least a month to gather accurate data. Once you have this information, allocate a specific amount for each category while ensuring your total expenses do not exceed your income. Remember to include savings as a line item in your budget. Review and adjust your budget regularly to reflect changes in income or expenses, which will help you stay on track financially.

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