Man sparks debate after showing ‘proof’ Aldi snack is better than the original

The Australian was quick to share his love for the popular snack, but others weren’t as convinced.

3 min read

August 12, 2024 - 1:10PM

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In the midst of a cost of living crisis, any chance you get to find a cheaper alternative to a family favourite is always welcome.

We’ve seen dupes for Stanley cups and accessories, making Maccas from home and plenty of delicious dupes from the discount supermarket chain Aldi.

Now, they’re back again with a snack that is going viral online, but are they worth the hype?

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Michael is convinced the Aldi dupes are better than the originals. Picture: Reddit

“Un-Australian behaviour in my opinion”

It all started when a guy named Michale shared a picture of his late-night snack to Reddit.

In his hand was a barbecue “Snako”, the affordable alternative to the Australian favourite snack, Shapes.

“Undeniable proof Aldi’s Barbecue Snakos are better than Barbecue Shapes,” he said.

Woah now, that’s a bold claim, Michael.

In his post, the Australian man listed his reasons for loving the snack.

“They’re not only cheaper, but they also have heaps of red powder [on] each biscuit.” You’re selling me on this, Michael.

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Online, others were torn about the Shapes dupe, with some comparing them to the originals way back in the day.

“Looks like Shapes in the ‘90s,” someone said.

“This looks like the one Shape that you hope you find in the whole box!” read a comment. “That’s why I eat the whole box in one sitting… because they never have enough flavouring on them, you have to keep going to get that ‘flavour hit’.”

“Aldi home-brand knockoffs punch way above their weight,” a fan wrote. “They're also saltier tasting than BBQ shapes and have more flavouring,” another added.

Others weren’t as convinced, with some wondering if they’d had a taste makeover.

“Last time I tried them they tasted like depression in a box,” someone said. “I tried them based on a recommendation … and was horribly disappointed,” another agreed.

“Un-Australian behaviour in my opinion,” someone wrote.

Snako's VS. Shapes. Picture: Reddit

The verdict

Now don’t get me wrong, I love a handful of Shapes (or two), but honestly, I was a bit burned after the whole “New + Improved” Shapes fiasco from 2016. Dark times, my friends.

And considering a box of Shapes will typically set you back $4 at the supermarket, I’d be more than happy to try my hand at a cheaper alternative.

So, I headed to my local Aldi to see if I could get my hands on a box to try.

Before we get into the taste, let’s take a look at the key differences between the two.

A box of Shapes is 175g and will usually set you back $4 at the supermarket (when it’s not on special).

However, Aldi’s dupe will only cost you $1.69 and you get 200g in the same-sized container.

Now, onto the ingredients. The original version by Shapes has a two-star health rating, which is better than Aldi, which is sporting half a star health rating. They're both oven-baked, so I'm expecting to feel a soft yet crispy texture.

And finally, onto the taste. After all, this is the bit that really matters.

First up, I tasted the Snako's barbecue biscuits. At first taste, I was really impressed. Then I was hit with an overwhelmingly salty flavour, which was a bit overpowering.

The biscuit itself was a bit too hard for my liking, and I missed the crucial buttery texture the original had. The flavour ratio was pretty good, but I couldn't get past the saltiness of the biscuits.

Next up are the Shapes, which immediately have more flavour packed on each biscuit. The taste is far more complex and softer without that huge pack of salt hitting my tastebuds.

So, are Aldi’s Snako’s really better than Shapes? Not really. Sorry, but I’m team Arnott’s here. (But that won't stop me from devouring the entire box to myself in the early hours of the morning.)