Generics Preferred Over Name Brands??

[Sweety_tweety]

With the economy so tight, I thought it might be interesting to share generic items (food, toiletries, etc.) that are actually preferred over name brands.

Unfortunately, the only one I can think of is the Pathmark brand fudgesicles--they were the best, but the have been replaced with America's Choice.

Any thoughts?

 

[Tiffer]

Shope Rite Iced Tea!

 

[momof1princess]

my DD loves the great value (wal-mart brand) pop tarts. i also use their decaffeinated tea, frozen waffles (DD loves these too!) and canned veggies. all are just as good, if not better, than the brand names.

 

[sherry7]

Pretty much any food product from Aldi...with the exception of their ketchup and salsa. All of the rest of the products I have tried have been just as good, or better than, the brand name variety.

 

[decaff38]

Target brands - Market Pantry or Archer Farms.
Great products and prices. Haven't found anything I don't like.

 

[ReneeA]

I have not had any of Target brand products that aren't great. In fact, Target brand spaghetti sauce is much prefered by my family over any of the name brands (and I've tried them ALL) and they were only 79 cents a jar last week.

Meijer brands are all great, and most of what I get at Trader Joe's or Aldi is really good.

There are actually very food food producers in this country that do ALL of the packaging for all of the companies. For instance, Betty Crocker pays a big corporation to produce and box all of their products. Then the grocery store chains go right along to the same corporations to box the same exact product, only box it in their generic labels. There just aren't that many food producers in our country to say that the products are all different.

So basically, with the majority of packaged foods, you are paying more for the label. It's all the same product inside the box. I read an article on this very thing years ago...before I started buying many name brands. At that point I switched over, and everything tasted very similar, if not exactly the same. Plus, I cut my food budget by over a third.

 

[Kae]

I do not care for Target/Archer Farms Salsa. That is about the only off brand thing I can think of. Have you had their Buffalo Wing Potato chips OMG

Kae

 

[woodkins]

I agree with the Target brands..they are excellent. I recently bought the UP brand of paper towels, fabric softener, dishwashing detergent and their version of Visine. My husband liked their eye drops better & I really like the quality and scents of the Up products!

 

[YukiPhnx]

I generally like all President's Choice brands. They apple turnover cake is HEAVENLY.

@sherry7, I LOOOVE your baby counter!

 

[sherry7]

I generally like all President's Choice brands. They apple turnover cake is HEAVENLY.

@sherry7, I LOOOVE your baby counter!

Thanks! I was going to change it to pink (we found out she's a girl), but I keep forgetting to do it.

 

[worm761]

My dad has driven a semi for over 20 years. I promise you that the generics come from the same factory as the name brand. Plus whenever a box is damaged (this could just be a crushed corner) they cannot accept it. So he brings the stuff home to me! I wish he still hauled grocery type stuff but usually he hauls candy. Not that I am complaining about him bringing home cases of chocolate. Most of my family up north does or has worked in the Heinz plant and I can tell you that they manufacture generics there as well. There are a few products I am brand specific on and I usually prefer the generic.

And I sooooo wish we had a Trader Joe's or an Aldi's within a hundred miles of here! Some of you guys are so lucky.

 

[sharlon]

The cashier at Walmart told me that their brand of butter is actually Land o Lakes. I have been very happy with Walmart's Great Value brand as well.

 

[2Tiggers]

I prefer save a lots taco seasoning. I love tacos made with it and I can tell when it is not used...They also have wonderful fudge bars and ice cream bars!

I find a lot of Aldi brands are great too. Although I don't think this is true for the cereal. But, that is just me.

 

[PiperPizzaz]

We LOVE the Meijer brand pancake mix. The one in the green box...not sure if it is buttermilk or what. I forget. Delicious!

 

[OntFamily]

While a manufacturer can make a generic product (as well as their own), they frequently use different recipes for the generic label.

 

[toddlers_mom]

While a manufacturer can make a generic product (as well as their own), they frequently use different recipes for the generic label.

You can just as easily check the ingredients though, right?

I actually have some Walmart brand paper towels I love! Just as thick and under $1! I buy generic as much as possible; there are very few things that I have to have name brand for.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

I really like A LOT of Wal-Mart's generic products. Off the top of my head:

frozen waffles
syrup
instant oatmeal
cereal bars
shredded cheese
wheat bread
tater tots
french fries
milk
butter
frozen pizza
cheese slices for sandwiches
Popsicle
Tylenol
Tylenol PM's
advil
canned beans
canned veggies
canned tomatoes
salsa
biscuits in a can
fruit snacks
granola bars
chicken/beef broth
rice

My family doesn't notice a difference between these and the name brand, some I think are even better.

 

[disfan07]

The only store brand items we buy are from target and trader joes.

We have to be extremely careful because we cant buy anything that has even been made in the same factory as peanuts and we've noticed that a lot more of the generic stuff has this warning than the name brand items.

 

[PrincessMama605]

I love Publix brand stuff, I haven't found anything yet that I didn't like.


Also love Target brand-usually get otc meds and vitamins. My dd likes the taste of theirs better than the name brands we've tried.

 

[hsmamato2]

Pretty much any food product from Aldi...with the exception of their ketchup and salsa. All of the rest of the products I have tried have been just as good, or better than, the brand name variety.

yeah that....... except we LOVE the ketchup and salsa too! Aldi rocks