Day 17 of 31 Days to Slash your Grocery Spending: Compare Store Brand vs. Name Brand
Buying store brand products is one of the easiest ways to save money on groceries. A store brand is a product line manufactured specifically for a particular store and often bears the store name, but not always. Examples include Giant Food Stores’ Nature’s Promise and Giant brand, Walmart’s Great Value, Target’s Market Pantry, or Harris Teeter’s own line.
There is a misconception that national name brand products are superior to store brand versions. At one time that might have been true, but in recent years, stores are focusing on expanding their store brand products and improving the quality and packaging. The consumer is benefiting with better quality foods and products at competitive prices.
Personally, I purchase a lot of store brand products and it is a strategy that you should consider too as you’re trying to slash your grocery shopping.
Why you Need to Compare Store Brands vs. National Brands.
Try your own test and compare the price per unit of a store brand product to the name brand version when making a buying decision. A recent comparison of store products and the name brand counterparts of few items on my shopping list reflected a savings of 20% – 40%.
- Canned, diced tomatoes, 15.5 oz, store brand 59 cents vs. $1.00 for the national brand.
- Canned red kidney beans, 15.5 oz, store brand 59 cents vs. 95 cents for national brand.
- O’s cereal, 12.9 oz, store brand $1.99 vs. $2.79 for national brand.
- aluminum foil, 75 square foot, store brand $2.69 vs. $3.29 national brand.
- Organic milk, 1 gallon, store brand $3.99 vs. $6.19 for national brand.
It doesn’t hurt to try the store version of a product; if you don’t like it, go back to the brand name.
I buy store brand versions of many things from dairy, flour and sugar to pretzels, bread, canned tomatoes, and aluminum foil, because of price. There are a few instances where I went back to the name brand, like Heinz ketchup and yogurt. (I don’t know what Heinz does, but I have never found a substitute!)
My main grocery store is Giant Food Stores and I have rarely had a problem with the quality and/or taste of Giant store brands. Recently to promote their store brand, Giant has offered a Buy a Name Brand and Receive the Giant Brand version FREE. It is a great opportunity to try store brand products.
Do you buy a lot of store brand products? What has your experience been like?
Follow along daily on Facebook where I share the posts and pictures from my own challenge.
Also bookmark the 31 Days to Slash Your Grocery Spending category page so you can check in daily.