What name brand grocery items do you buy over store brand?

[BurnItDwn]

There's store-brand beer?

Yes,
Here is an example: https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/big-flats-1901-beer/ID=prod6111375-product?reactjs=true

But I more or less interpreted it loosely ... I'll buy imperial or double stouts or quads or oude geuzes or a gose or a porter or whatever instead of "generic bland adjunct macrolager."

 

[Carson Dyle]

I missed this first time around, but I think the question is an odd one. The logical question to ask would be exactly the opposite, as I think the vast majority of consumers are brand oriented, if only out of laziness and an unwillingness to try different brands to save a few dollars or cents.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Yes,
Here is an example: https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/big-flats-1901-beer/ID=prod6111375-product?reactjs=true

But I more or less interpreted it loosely ... I'll buy imperial or double stouts or quads or oude geuzes or a gose or a porter or whatever instead of "generic bland adjunct macrolager."

Even more amazing, there was at one time honest-to-god generic beer. In the late 70s and into the 80s it came in a plain white can labeled "Beer" and it was no worse than the other cheap stuff like Carling or Pabst. Which seems fitting because it probably was a cheap beer like Carling or Pabst. Any retailer that wanted to have private label beer could easily have it. It's been done and it doesn't sell, so most won't bother with it. It might taste the same as the cheaper brand names, but alcohol is one category where almost all people pay more for a brand based on perception. Nobody wants to be seen drinking "Wal-Mart Lager".

 

[Mayne]

Thats my predicament right now. I can't buy discount condiments or stuff like that. I hate paying 4 bucks for a thing of mustard. the other closest store is 10 km away. not feasible.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Even more amazing, there was at one time honest-to-god generic beer. In the late 70s and into the 80s it came in a plain white can labeled "Beer" and it was no worse than the other cheap stuff like Carling or Pabst. Which seems fitting because it probably was a cheap beer like Carling or Pabst. Any retailer that wanted to have private label beer could easily have it. It's been done and it doesn't sell, so most won't bother with it. It might taste the same as the cheaper brand names, but alcohol is one category where almost all people pay more for a brand based on perception. Nobody wants to be seen drinking "Wal-Mart Lager".

Only philistines drink beer out of a can or bottle.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Even more amazing, there was at one time honest-to-god generic beer. In the late 70s and into the 80s it came in a plain white can labeled "Beer"

Yep. I remember drinking that on a road trip to New York, circa 1981. Like something out of Repo Man.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Only philistines drink beer out of a can or bottle.

Sure, you gotta chug down a gallon of Pabst from a keg to preserve that magical taste. A bottle completely ruins the experience.

 

[Brainonska511]

Even more amazing, there was at one time honest-to-god generic beer. In the late 70s and into the 80s it came in a plain white can labeled "Beer" and it was no worse than the other cheap stuff like Carling or Pabst. Which seems fitting because it probably was a cheap beer like Carling or Pabst. Any retailer that wanted to have private label beer could easily have it. It's been done and it doesn't sell, so most won't bother with it. It might taste the same as the cheaper brand names, but alcohol is one category where almost all people pay more for a brand based on perception. Nobody wants to be seen drinking "Wal-Mart Lager".

Walmart has its own line of beers. They're not obviously branded and they're made up to look like craft beers. From what I've heard, they're pretty mediocre.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Sure, you gotta chug down a gallon of Pabst from a keg to preserve that magical taste. A bottle completely ruins the experience.

Pabst, Bud, Lite, Light and, Ultra aren't suitable for consumption in any form.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Pabst, Bud, Lite, Light and, Ultra aren't suitable for consumption in any form.

And the myth of packaging changing flavor has been dispelled in every form. Beer drinkers fare as poorly as audiophiles in legit double blind testing. Even the most pretentious poseurs can't distinguish between can, bottle and keg.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

And the myth of packaging changing flavor has been dispelled in every form. Beer drinkers fare as poorly as audiophiles in legit double blind testing. Even the most pretentious poseurs can't distinguish between can, bottle and keg.

You don't drink out of a glass or mug because of better taste, you do it to decrease carbonation, allow you to better smell the beer and, because it's classier.

 

[Brainonska511]

And the myth of packaging changing flavor has been dispelled in every form. Beer drinkers fare as poorly as audiophiles in legit double blind testing. Even the most pretentious poseurs can't distinguish between can, bottle and keg.

Yeah, no difference if you pour it into a cup or glass, but people can definitely tell a difference when consuming directly. Either because you smell the top of the can or the cold glass bottle feels different on your lips...

 

[bononos]

Toilet paper, Tide.

 

[thebestMAX]

Yep. I remember drinking that on a road trip to New York, circa 1981. Like something out of Repo Man.

Drank a lot of that. In Kansas City I was told It came from the same canning plant as Miller Lite back when Miller Lite was the best. Know it tasted just as good.

ONLY JIF Super Chunky peanut butter. (You dont like it? Fine)
Second Philly cream cheese.

 

[DigDog]

Heinz ketchup, Maille or Grey Poupon mustard, Kikkoman soy sauce (although i use Pearl River chinese soy sauce for cooking), Barilla, DeCecco, Buitoni, generally speaking my pasta is always name brand. When it comes to food, i'm quite picky.
Also i will only exclusively use Fairy dish washing liquid. Here in the UK any other soap is just garbage.

i do buy other ketchup-like sauces, such as Jufran banana sauce, or HP Spicy BBQ Sauce, but when it comes to ketchup, it's got to be Heinz.

 

[JM Aggie08]

Heinz Ketchup
Charmin Toilet Paper
Cottonelle Ass Wipes
Qtips

H-E-B is next-level with their store-bran items. Most is comparable if not higher quality. Same for Kirkland - QUALITY.

 

[Smoblikat]

Magic Stars are better than Lucky Charms.............there............I said it

 

[Riverhound777]

I've found that store brand mouth wash sucks. Gotta go with the real thing.

 

[Carson Dyle]

I'm not a brand name consumer, by any means, but the list would be a long one because I always buy exactly the same things at the grocery store, week in and week out, year after year. There's no reason to buy anything else, because I can always find them in pretty much any store. And it's only because I know that I like them, not because I compare brands or need to try saving 17 cents on a store brand.

Brand Name Products
California Olive Ranch olive oil
Hunt's Crushed Tomatoes (w/basil if making a pasta sauce)
Del Monte Petite Cut Diced Tomatoes (with Zesty Jalapeños for chile)
Kuner's Southwest Jalapeño Black Beans with Lime Juice
Kuner's Pinto Beans
Rosarita Refried Beans
Jif Crunchy Peanut Butter
Smucker's Natural Chunky Peanut Butter
Heinz Ketchup
Heinz Yellow Mustard (better than French's)
Wish-Bone Red Wine Vinaigrette
Newman's Own Sockarooni Pasta Sauce (when I'm not making my own)
Cottonelle Ultra ComforCare toilet paper
Bounty paper towels
Kleenex Trusted Care facial tissues (no lotion, 160 per box)
Chobani Greek Yogurt
Fage Greek Yogurt
Greek Gods Greek Traditional Plain Yogurt
Eldorado Springs Spring Water
Tortillas Mexico tortillas (local, inexpensive)
Edge Shaving Gel
Crest Toothpaste
Oral-B Toothbrushes
Reach Dentotape

Specific Store Brands
Signature Select (Safeway/Albertson) coffee
Great Value (Walmart) whole wheat pastas (nothing but 100% whole wheat)
Lucerne (Safeway/Albertson) and Kroger extra sharp cheddar cheese
Equate (Walmart) Flushable Wipes

Any Store Brand, Generic or Bulk
honey
almonds and walnuts (raw)
brown rice
chia seeds
all purpose flour
frozen vegetables
fig bars
aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen
trash bags
eggs
butter (although I like Land O'Lakes half sticks and buy them on sale)
milk

 

[ponyo]

Hellman's or Duke's mayo
Pasture raised eggs only. Vital Farms Pasture Raised eggs being our favorite brand. I haven't seen any store brand generic pasture eggs yet.

 

[Chaotic42]

My only items would be the red branded toilet paper with bears on the front and Viva paper towels. The cat gets a certain variety of Iams I took a pic of because I don't want her diet to change.

 

[brianmanahan]

oreos
miracle whip
mt dew
doritos

 

[gorcorps]

I remember a thread like this a couple years ago, and one or two people convinced me bounty paper towels were worth it. Well I either have a great store brand or a terrible batch of bounties, because the only difference I saw was to my bank account. They weren't bad, but certainly not worth any more than what I was already using. Not sure why there's so much love there

 

[Skunk-Works]

Tillamock or Sargento cheese. Sometimes the Boars head product meat. Often times better than Kroger private selection. Not always though. Or Pillsbury crescent rolls and cinnamon rolls.

 

[Brainonska511]

I don't have particular brand preferences, but I do almost always wait till there is a weekly special in the circular before buying most brand name things, otherwise, they'd be kind of expensive. Weekly sales often make brand names cheaper than the store brand.

The only time I tend to default to store brand/cheapest is with simple things like baked beans (I tend to add my own stuff to them anyway to spice it up), tomato paste, flour, and milk.