Best Places to Buy Butter & Margarine in the UK: Supermarket Guide, Brands, and Savvy Buying Tips

Why butter and margarine still matter in every kitchen

Butter and margarine are more than pantry staples — they're the difference between a floppy cake and a bakery-worthy sponge, between a bland sauté and a glossy finish. Whether you're spreading on toast, folding into pastry, or frying up a Sunday fry-up, the fat you choose affects flavor, texture, and even nutrition. Think of butter and margarine as the paint for your culinary canvas: they set the tone, and choosing the right shade matters.

Big supermarket chains: what they offer and how to choose

When you’re stocking up, the major supermarkets are the first places most of us think of. They combine convenience, variety, and frequent promotions — perfect if you want familiar brands or specific pack sizes like 8-ounce tubs or 250-gram blocks (remember to stick to imperial units like ounces and pounds when shopping by weight). Here’s a quick tour of what the big names usually bring to the butter and margarine aisle.

Tesco

Tesco tends to carry a broad range, from budget own-brand spreads to premium butters such as Lurpak and Kerrygold. Their larger stores often stock specialist butters — like cultured or unsalted — and multi-packs for families. Tesco Clubcard deals make it easy to grab a familiar 8-ounce tub at a discount, so keep an eye on the weekly flyers if you love a bargain.

Sainsbury’s

Sainsbury’s sits nicely between premium and value. Their Taste the Difference line offers high-quality butters and spreads that work brilliantly in baking and finishing sauces. They also rival competitors on selection for dairy-free spreads and reduced-fat margarines if you’re watching calories but still want spreadable texture.

Asda

Asda often wins on price, with frequent rollbacks and multipack offers. Their private-label butter and margarine deliver decent quality for the price-conscious shopper. If you’re buying in bulk — say a couple of 8-ounce or 12-ounce blocks for frequent bakers — Asda is a solid stop.

Morrisons

Morrisons usually offers a wide selection of dairy, including single-ingredient butters and a thoughtful range of spreads that suit different needs: baking, spreading, and low-salt options. Their “Market Street” approach in larger stores means you can sometimes find artisan butters or regional varieties alongside everyday staples.

Discounters that punch above their weight

If you love value without sacrificing taste, the discounters have become surprising butter and margarine destinations. They rotate lines frequently, so you can find excellent deals — and often new brands — at a fraction of the price.

Aldi

Aldi’s seasonal and regular ranges include both branded and surprisingly high-quality own-brand butters. You can often find an 8-ounce block or a 12-ounce tub that rivals more expensive alternatives. Pro tip: Aldi occasionally runs limited-time premium dairy items that are perfect for trying something new without a long-term commitment.

Lidl

Lidl mirrors Aldi’s approach with cost-effective choices and occasional premium lines. Their "Specialbuys" sometimes include butter or regional spreads that would normally cost more elsewhere. If you’re a foodie who enjoys hunting for bargains, these stores are like treasure islands for dairy discoveries.

Premium & online options: Waitrose, Ocado and niche retailers

Looking for something special? Premium supermarkets and online specialists stock a deeper selection of artisanal butters, cultured varieties, and plant-based margarine alternatives. These options are ideal for people who bake often, host dinners, or prefer organic and grass-fed choices.

Waitrose

Waitrose focuses on quality and provenance. Their shelves often include European butters, grass-fed and organic blocks, and specialty salted/unsalted options. If you prize buttery flavor for recipes that hinge on fat — think laminated pastry or buttercream — Waitrose is a safe bet.

Ocado

Ocado excels at online variety. You can filter by brand, fat content, and pack size to order the exact item you need — from 8-ounce single-portion butter to bulk packs for bakers. It’s also handy if you live in an area where big supermarket branches are a drive away; Ocado brings the shelf to your doorstep.

Convenience stores and the Co-op: quick fixes and local picks

When you need butter or spread in a hurry — maybe for an impromptu bake or to top off a late-night snack — smaller stores are lifesavers. They stock standard blocks and tubs in single-serving sizes that are excellent for emergencies or one-off recipes.

Co-op

Co-op shops often stock a balanced range of reasonably priced butters and margarine tubs, including some fair-trade or ethically sourced options. For shoppers who want convenience without compromising on ethics, Co-op is an appealing middle ground.

Local corner shops

Corner stores and independent grocers carry the essentials and sometimes local dairy products you won’t see in major chains. Expect to pay a bit more for convenience, but you may discover regional butters or small-batch spreads that add a unique touch to your cooking.

Brands to watch: from classic to modern alternatives

Brands bring identity: Kerrygold for rich, grassy flavor; Lurpak for a clean, melt-in-your-mouth feel; Anchor for consistent dairy quality. Margarine brands like Flora or Stork offer great baking functionality and spreadability. Then there are plant-based spreads designed to mimic butter’s texture, useful if you’re dairy-free but still want that golden crust on baking.

Kerrygold and Lurpak

If you prize taste, Kerrygold’s Irish grass-fed butter delivers a deep, buttery profile that shines in finishing dishes and baking. Lurpak offers a more neutral, slightly tangy flavor that melts beautifully for sauces and pastries. Both are readily available at most supermarkets and premium stores.

Flora, Stork and plant-based spreads

Margarines like Flora and classic bakers’ brands like Stork are engineered for consistency — they’re great in cakes and for spreading without relying on refrigeration as much as butter. Newer plant-based spreads aim to offer buttery textures while using oils like olive or sunflower as the base, making them a strong choice for vegan cooks.

How to choose: salted vs unsalted, block vs tub, and pack sizes

Choosing the right format depends on use. Unsalted butter is your friend for baking — it gives you control over salt content — while salted butter adds a finishing punch for toast or roasted veg. Blocks (typically 4 to 8 ounces) are firmer and great for precise baking; tubs or spreads are softer, ideal for spreading on bread.

Pick by recipe and habit

Ask yourself: do you bake weekly, or do you mostly spread on bread? Bakers benefit from unsalted blocks and larger quantities; casual users might prefer 8-ounce tubs that last a week or two. If you cook in bulk, consider buying 1-pound (16-ounce) blocks when on promotion and freezing extras for later.

Watch the pack sizes

Stores label sizes differently. If you want to compare price-per-ounce, divide the price by ounces. Bulk buys like 16-ounce or multi-pack 8-ounce blocks can be a bargain, especially when butters are on special.

Budget strategies: how to save without losing flavor

Butter doesn’t have to break the bank. Timing and a little planning can reduce the cost of your weekly dairy haul significantly. Promotions, loyalty schemes, and store brands often match or come close to big-brand quality — and simple swaps in usage can stretch your butter supply further.

Plan, freeze, and rotate

Buy in bulk when your preferred brand is reduced, then freeze unopened blocks. Butter freezes well and thaws reliably, making it easy to snag deals. Keep a rotation system: use older blocks first so nothing gets forgotten at the back of the freezer.

Use margarine smartly

For everyday spread and some types of cooking, a good margarine or plant-based spread can be a cheaper alternative to butter. Reserve real butter for finishing sauces, pastries, and recipes where flavor matters most — it’s a bit like using an artisan brush only for the final strokes of a painting.

Cooking and baking tips: get the best from your fat

Understanding how butter and margarine behave under heat is half the battle. Butter browns and adds nutty depth; margarine gives consistent texture and is often formulated to behave predictably at high temperatures. Use these traits to your advantage depending on the final dish.

Browning and flavor

Want a nutty, caramelized flavor? Brown butter is your secret weapon. Gently melt butter until the milk solids toast and release rich aromas — perfect for sauces and finishing vegetables. Margarine won’t brown the same way, so reach for butter where flavor complexity matters.

Work with temperature

For flaky pastry, keep butter cold in 4-ounce or 8-ounce chunks so it creates steam pockets as it bakes. For spreading, room-temperature soft butter (in a tub or softened block) distributes evenly. If a recipe calls for “softened” butter, that usually means firm but pliable, not melted — aim for texture like soft clay.

Label reading: what to look for on packs

Labels tell you a lot: fat percentage, ingredients, and sometimes origin. Butter should list cream or milk as the primary ingredient, while margarines vary in oil types. If provenance matters, look for “grass-fed” or “organic” on the front for stronger animal welfare and flavor cues.

Understand the jargon

“Cultured butter” means a tangier, more complex taste because it’s made with fermented cream. “Spreadable” indicates added oils to keep the product soft straight from the fridge. Knowing these terms helps you match the product to the task at hand.

Sustainability and dietary choices

More shoppers care about the environment and animal welfare. Choose brands that highlight sustainable farming or buy organic if that aligns with your values. Plant-based spreads are evolving rapidly, offering lower environmental footprints and a dairy-free option for vegans or those reducing animal products.

Make choices that fit your values

If pasture-raised or organic is important, be ready to pay a premium — but you’ll often notice a flavor difference. For others, a well-made plant-based spread balances ethics and practicality. Either way, supermarkets increasingly label these traits clearly, so you can vote with your wallet.

Practical final tips before you checkout

When you’re standing in the dairy aisle, a few small habits can make shopping smarter: compare price-per-ounce, choose pack format based on use, and check for promotions. Don’t be afraid to try store brands — many now rival big names for taste and bakeability.

Try before you commit

If an unfamiliar butter or margarine catches your eye, buy a small size first. It’s cheaper than committing to a large pack and lets you test it in baking or on toast without risk. Think of it as a tasting spoon before ordering the whole dessert.

Conclusion

Finding the right butter or margarine in the UK blends taste, budget, and purpose. Big supermarkets like Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Morrisons offer reliable selections and regular deals, while discounters Aldi and Lidl provide surprising quality at lower prices. Premium stores and online shops like Waitrose and Ocado cater to those who want specialty or artisanal choices. Match your choice to the job — baking, spreading, frying — and remember simple strategies like freezing extras, checking price-per-ounce, and experimenting with store brands to get the best results without overspending. With a little know-how, your next loaf, pastry, or roast will be transformed by the right fat — and you’ll shop like a pro.