On Topic Discussion Does anyone use a no frills or store brand product thats quite good?

[Vannie]

I always buy the store-brand medicines like aspirin and whatnot. I figure it's just chemicals, so it's not like it's going to matter.

I'm usually fine with store-brand other-things, but there are some I'm just not a fan of. I hardly ever buy cereal, but when I do, it's name brand. Ditto soda and jam.

Years and years ago, I bought store-brand fabric softener, and my partner hated it. About a month later, we finally used up the last of it, and he left me a note. "Please buy Downy. Not Frowny. Not Clowny. DOWNY." We found this so funny that we incorporated it into our vernacular. Now, we use "Fr-" in front of the name brand to indicate the storm brand. Store-brand cough syrup? Frobotussin. Store-brand mayonnaise? Frellman's.

Lex

Thats cute ^

Yea...store brand pain relief,I feel work the same as brand names for a lot less money.Soda,jam and cereal we buy mostly name brand.ShopRite ginger ale tastes good to me tho.

Dukes is headquartered nearby and is something of a legend around here. I always buy Dukes. It was on sale today $3.00. I love it's sharper vinegar taste. It's great with homegrown tomatoes.

Yup...I used it to make blue cheese dressing the other day.Delicious

1 cup Duke's mayonnaise.
1/2 cup buttermilk.
2 tablespoons sour cream.
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
dash of Worcestershire sauce.
salt and pepper to taste.
1/2 to 3/4 cup blue cheese crumbles.

We get it online for $3.00-3.69)

 

[ronboy]

It seems as though many of the stores have really amped-up their store-brand products over the years!

I'm not a big Wally-World shopper, but I do like the Sam's Choice dinner hams, and some of the Great Value products like their frozen breakfast sausage patties.

When I go to Wegmans, almost any Wegmans brand product is equal or superior to national brands. Their canned veggies are actually better than Goya, Del Monte, and Green Giant. Their tomato puree is thick, tasty, and less than half the price of Hunts, Contadina, or some imported Italian brands. Wegmans has their own line of bronze die cut pastas, that are made in Italy! I buy Wegmans lactose-free milk, which is delicious. Their canned soups are better than Campbell's. Anything they have in their frozen foods department is wonderful. Even their K-cups are great!

Tops, Wegmans competitor in Western New York, has also improved their Tops house brand products. They are advertising cleaner, more healthful ingredients, and the quality is really great. I have tried many of their products, including instant mashed potatoes (cheaper and better tasting than Betty Crocker), canned fruits and veggies, their macaroni and cheese dinner (as good as Kraft) and less than half-the price, their frozen pierogies, and their dairy products (lactose free milk, ricotta, mozzarella cheese, cheese blocks, greek yogurt, etc..)

I have an Aldi's nearby, too, but I don't go in there very often, especially because Tops is literally around the corner from my house.

 

[mikey3000]

I live on no name brands and never had a problem. I even switched the dog food to Walmart's Ol' Roy brand and she barely flinched. I figured if no name is good enough for us, it's good enough for the dog.

 

[frankfrank]

I have once, ended up in the hospital. I don't buy cheap carp any more.

Always buy expensive carp.

Something like salmon is a lot better, anyway - carp is really crummy fish. But salmon, trout, etc. aren't cheap.

I always buy the store-brand medicines like aspirin and whatnot. I figure it's just chemicals, so it's not like it's going to matter.

You only have to look at the active ingredient, and it's invariably the same name and the same dosage on the "fake brand" as on the Big Pharma brand. So yes, I'll buy store brands like Equate (Walmart store brand) and such.

Acme fresh frozen stuffed cabbage

YOU KNOW WILE E. COYOTE???

If you've never been to Aldi...you need to know you have to bring your own bags, they charge for them.

Or you can "harvest" a carton from somewhere in one of the aisles. I'll see a box with maybe only three of something remaining in it (could be potato chips, could be soup), I'll empty those couple of items and set them with the rest of the stock, and I'll carry the box around. Shopping for myself and nobody else at Aldi, I pretty much NEVER buy enough to bother with a shopping cart anyway.

With the choice in this town between three supermarkets (I'm counting the one that's part of Walmart), a near-supermarket (kind of like an IGA but entirely independent and local), a couple pharmacies, and some convenience stores and such - and a small groceries selection inside a farm store - and Aldi, I'll get the Moser Roth dark chocolate bars at Aldi if I'm getting dark chocolate. They're actually better than any of the other dark chocolate offerings anywhere else in town.

I just discovered yesterday, in fact, that the "near-supermarket" unbranded beef and noodles that they sell (heat-and-serve), which are made on premises, are WONDERFUL!!! They're more than $6 for a mere pint of them, and I thought "OK, I'll try them this ONCE, and probably never again, because they're kind of expensive" - I was entirely surprised that they're probably the best I have ever had.

They had to be better than the ones I can make, for me to get them in the future...and they are.

 

[purina]

Yup...I used it to make blue cheese dressing the other day.Delicious

1 cup Duke's mayonnaise.
1/2 cup buttermilk.
2 tablespoons sour cream.
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder.
dash of Worcestershire sauce.
salt and pepper to taste.
1/2 to 3/4 cup blue cheese crumbles.

We get it online for $3.00-3.69)

Aldi sour cream is the best, and I think their shredded sharp cheddar cheese tastes more like blue cheese than it does cheddar.

 

[piano1]

Very rarely do I buy brand products. I stick to the store brand items to save money.

 

[Kahaih]

. . . .

I just discovered yesterday, in fact, that the "near-supermarket" unbranded beef and noodles that they sell (heat-and-serve), which are made on premises, are WONDERFUL!!! They're more than $6 for a mere pint of them, and I thought "OK, I'll try them this ONCE, and probably never again, because they're kind of expensive" - I was entirely surprised that they're probably the best I have ever had.

. . . .

You know, I sometimes wonder if that 'Trump wall' isn't so much about keeping people out, as it might be to keep [undocumented] Mexicans from escaping the meat industry.

Just a thought.

 

[Benvolio]

Kroger has three ketchups which are very good; a 50% fewer calories catsup with a little heat, a sriracha ketchup. And a curry ketchup.

 

[Vannie]

It seems as though many of the stores have really amped-up their store-brand products over the years!

It's true.Out local ShopRite does a great job with many products.Their greek yogurt is thick and all natural ingredients.We like it just as well as Chobani or Fage.I have heard Wegmans was very good from other people,but I have never been in one.

With the choice in this town between three supermarkets (I'm counting the one that's part of Walmart), a near-supermarket (kind of like an IGA but entirely independent and local), a couple pharmacies, and some convenience stores and such - and a small groceries selection inside a farm store - and Aldi, I'll get the Moser Roth dark chocolate bars at Aldi if I'm getting dark chocolate. They're actually better than any of the other dark chocolate offerings anywhere else in town.

Oh wow...I didn't know IGA was still around.The last time I was in one was the late 70's in Woodridge NJ. We would stop to pick up cookies or cake on our way to visiting relatives.I remember it being a long narrow store with those miniature shopping carts that hold one gallon of milk

I will have to try those Moser Roth dark chocolate bars.

Aldi sour cream is the best, and I think their shredded sharp cheddar cheese tastes more like blue cheese than it does cheddar.

I know what you mean.We had two bags of Black Bear cheddar cubes,that I thought might not have any flavor.But it was very good cheddar.

Kroger has three ketchups which are very good; a 50% fewer calories catsup with a little heat, a sriracha ketchup. And a curry ketchup.

Curry ketchup sounds different.We had Heinz Sriracha Ketchup on potato wedges the other day.Was good but too mind.

Thanks Guys....

 

[gsdx]

Oh wow...I didn't know IGA was still around.

Seriously? We've got 3 of them here in Peterborough.

 

[swerve]

I absolutely do not buy store brands.

And, for those of you shopping at Walmart -- you're getting ripped off even when buying name brands. They are such a large retailer, that they can set their own spec's.

If you don't believe me -- but a can of Popeye chopped spinach at Walmart, than at another grocery store. You will see that the walmart can is only around 60% of Kroger or Publix.

Or -- try Planter's lightly salted peanuts -- they look identical, but are poorer quality from Walmart.

Lindsay olives are smaller --- regardless of the "size" you buy.

I could go on and on. Your savings at Walmart are deception.

I'm not opposed to TRYING store brands -- it is just that in the past, I've been sorely disappointed.

 

[Vannie]

Seriously? We've got 3 of them here in Peterborough.

After checking locations,there is one in Ridgefield Park NJ (Bergen County)not that far from me. I have not seen one in a long time.Looks on the smallish side.

 

[Vannie]

I absolutely do not buy store brands.

And, for those of you shopping at Walmart -- you're getting ripped off even when buying name brands. They are such a large retailer, that they can set their own spec's.

If you don't believe me -- but a can of Popeye chopped spinach at Walmart, than at another grocery store. You will see that the walmart can is only around 60% of Kroger or Publix.

Or -- try Planter's lightly salted peanuts -- they look identical, but are poorer quality from Walmart.

Lindsay olives are smaller --- regardless of the "size" you buy.

I could go on and on. Your savings at Walmart are deception.

Well blow me down! I have never really noticed any of that.I will keep a lookout now tho,that you mentioned it.We really only buy from Walmart for very specific items.

Parmalat quarts of shelf stable 2% milk in case of an emergency. $1.87

Vitamins and medicine cabinet items we buy are better priced.

Thanks swerve

 

[offthewall14420]

I don't trust "brands" and all their "branding". An off-brand is always superior to a branded product.

Everything about a brand is a lie.

 

[FPNY]

I love our local IGA markets, they are mostly family owned and operated. Sad part is they are closing one by one as big biz takes them over. There used to be three of them around now we are down to one and it's a hike...they always had nice local produce and the kids who work there were all local.

 

[rareboy]

I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't have President's Choice available to them.

 

[gsdx]

I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't have President's Choice available to them.

It's a bus ride for me. It would cost me $5 just to buy a jar.

 

[NotHardUp1]

Two things. Kroger's brands have generally been reliable but I won't give them any props for canned produce nor some items like saltines. But, in general, their house brands are decent.

I was amused as I went to research Mt. Olive pickles, as I like some of their recipes, but learned that they are the largest pickle company in the U.S. All these years I thought they were just regional.

 

[Vannie]

I feel sorry for anyone who doesn't have President's Choice available to them.

I think A&P carried President's Choice products in North Jersey a while back.

Two things. Kroger's brands have generally been reliable but I won't give them any props for canned produce nor some items like saltines.

ShopRite don't bake their saltines enough.White as driven snow Taste like raw flour.Back to Nabisco Premium with nice browned edges. Or a nice crisp browned Matzo

 

[Harke the Boeotarch]

For my own experience I know that some store brands have the exact same composition as name brands... e.g. Aldi (in The Netherlands) used to stock an energy drink that tasted exactly like red bull, but at a much cheaper price.

Some store brands are very good, but I tend to buy name brands like Heinz Ketchup when they have a unique taste. I will also give storebrand pasta that wasn´t made with durum wheat a wide berth.

Used to buy grey anus-rending toilet paper, but the women in my life won´t let me anymore.