Anyone looking for a classic comfort eat as winter draws in knows the value of a good macaroni cheese.

Unfortunately, the Asda (two stars) meal wasn't good - the pasta was chewy, and the sauce both oddly shiny and bland. Morrisons' (two stars) lacklustre offer had far better pasta, but even less taste.

Happily, a better meal was to be bought from Sainsbury's (three stars), thanks to a mild but pleasant cheese sauce, of a good consistency. Tesco (three stars) had the best pasta of any of this week's retailers, but alas was let down by a sauce more akin to skimmed milk than cheese sauce.

Waitrose's offering (four stars) was definitely worth the extra pennies this week, for its flavoursome, thick sauce and chunky pasta.