Pizza remains one of the easiest go-to meals, whether it’s for a night off cooking or a low-effort dinner with friends. With supermarkets increasingly stepping up their game to compete with independent pizzerias, choosing the right one from the freezer or fridge aisle isn’t always straightforward. A recent taste test by The Independent compared eight of the most popular supermarket margheritas across dough, sauce, and toppings to see which ones deserve a place in the trolley.
The supermarket pizza taste test was done fairly.
To ensure a fair comparison, margherita pizzas from each supermarket were blind taste-tested side by side, with each one assessed against the same set of criteria. Dough quality was judged on flavour and texture, with particular attention paid to whether pricier sourdough bases genuinely justified their cost, and whether the crust delivered a satisfying crunch without becoming overly brittle.
Tomato sauce was judged on richness and depth of flavour, with the best examples offering a high quality, juicy layer spread right to the edge of the base. Toppings were assessed carefully too, particularly the cheese, since this tends to make or break a margherita pizza. How well it crisped and browned in the oven, its overall stringiness, and the generosity of the topping were all taken into account, alongside any additional touches like sun-dried tomatoes or pesto.
Tesco’s thicker, doughier option
Tesco’s Finest Margherita Wood Fired Pizza, priced at £5 for 410g, stood out for its soft, doughy texture and generous cheese, finished with fresh basil. The mozzarella balls felt like a premium touch, and the tomato sauce tasted high quality throughout. It may lean a little too bready for some, and would benefit from a crispier base, but it’s a solid pick for anyone who prefers a thicker style pizza.
Co-op’s wood-fired take
Co-op’s Wood-Fired Margherita, priced at £6 for 250g, delivered a crowd-pleasing result. The dough baked up soft in the centre with a satisfyingly crisp crust, giving it an artisanal look. Generous, tangy cherry tomatoes added freshness throughout, and the pesto drizzle brought a herby richness, though a little more of it would have gone a long way.
M&S’s classic, crisp-based option
M&S’s Classic Margherita Pizza, priced at £4 for 243g, delivered stringy, well melted cheese and a satisfyingly crisp crust and base. Toppings were spread evenly right to the edge, ensuring no slice missed out on flavour. That said, the tomato sauce lacked depth, and at £1.60 per 100g, it came out as the most expensive pizza in the entire test.
Sainsbury’s cheese-heavy pick
Sainsbury’s Stonebaked Margherita Pizza, priced at £4 for 265g, impressed with a generous blend of mozzarella and cheddar that melted and caramelised beautifully in the oven. The result was a satisfying, golden crisp top over a soft, fluffy base. Its main letdown was the tomato sauce, which came across as slightly too sweet and lacking the savoury depth needed to balance out the richness of the cheese.
Doughboys’ premium base
Doughboys Classic Margherita Pizza, priced at £5 for 340g, stood out specifically for its base, described as flavourful and moreish, setting it apart from more standard supermarket options. The cheese was rich and well-balanced, bubbling into a beautifully crisp layer once baked. A more generous helping of tomato sauce would have complemented the dough even further, and at £1.45 per 100g, it ranked among the pricier options tested.
White Rabbit’s vegan and gluten-free option
White Rabbit’s Gluten-Free Sourdough Vegan Margherita Pizza, priced at £4 for 430g, catered to both vegan and gluten-free diets. Its cheese alternative, made from sprouted brown rice, created a creamy, cheese-like topping, though it came across as slightly artificial in taste. The sourdough base was a real highlight, chewy and well textured, and the sun-dried tomatoes were rich and flavourful. A generous pesto topping added a strong herby punch, ideal for pesto lovers, though it may be a bit much for anyone less keen on the sauce.
Picard’s indulgent, Neapolitan-style pizza
Picard’s Superior Margherita Pizza, priced at £5 for 420g, came loaded with cheese, combining both grated and thick mozzarella balls. It baked up soft and floppy with a thick crust, closer to a Neapolitan style than a crisp finish, making it particularly indulgent and satisfying to eat. The base itself was a little underwhelming in flavour though, and a lighter than expected layer of tomato sauce left the overall balance feeling slightly one-note.
And the pizza that came out on top overall…
Morrisons’ The Best Margherita With Pesto, priced at £3.90 for 485g, topped the entire lineup. The sourdough and Italian rye base was described as pillowy soft with good thickness, while the tomato sauce brought a peppery, flavourful kick. Fresh cherry tomatoes, pesto and oozy mozzarella made it visually appealing too, with only a wish for a touch more pesto holding it back from a perfect score.
Combining strong flavour, an appealing sourdough base and the lowest price of the entire lineup, it stood out as the clear overall winner, with Co-op’s Wood-Fired Margherita following closely behind as the strongest runner-up.
