As I’ve talked about before, getting in the habit of shopping store brands vs. the more expensive name brand is a smart and easy way to lower your grocery bill. This seems like even more obvious advice when you discover that many of the store brands are actually made by the more expensive name brand then simply repackaged. To give you an idea of what I’m talking about, here are several dozen actual name brand companies behind these store brands “generics”.

Kirkland Signature (Costco)

– Kirkland Dog Food: Made by Diamond Pet Foods, the same company that makes Taste of the Wild, Diamond Naturals, and Nutra-Gold.

– Kirkland Signature Vodka: Despite the claims, it’s not produced by Grey Goose, but instead by Gayant Distillery of France.

– Kirkland Signature Batteries: Manufactured by Duracell.

– Kirkland Signature Craft Beer: Gordon Biersch: I love Gordon Biersch beer, and guess what, I love Kirkland craft beer too. Go figure.

– Kirkland Signature Premium Small Batch Bourbon: Buffalo Trace: From Insider Louisville, “Kirkland is from Buffalo Trace and tastes like Jim Beam — a little bit, anyway.”

– Kirkland Scotch: Macallan 18 a great way to save on a quality Scotch is to buy the Kirkland brand.

– Kirkland Tuna: Turns out it’s made by none other than Bumblebee Tuna.

– Kirkland Diapers: These are made by Kimberly-Clark, the same outfit that makes all Huggies products.

– Kirkland Laundry Detergent: It’s made by a company called Henkel which makes the higher end brands All and Persil.

– Kirkland Canned Chicken Breast: This originally was made by Bumble Bee, but is now made by Costco in their Fremont, Nebraska chicken facility.

– Kirkland Signature Golf Balls: Made by Nassau Golf, a leading sports equipment manufacturer, which was bought by TaylorMade back in 2021.

Great Value (Walmart)

– Great Value Canned Vegetables: Sourced from various suppliers including Del Monte, Green Giant, and Libby’s.

– Great Value Bottled Water: Sourced from multiple bottling companies, including Niagara Bottling.

365 Everyday Value (Whole Foods Market)

– 365 Everyday Value Pasta Sauces: Produced by multiple suppliers, including Victoria Fine Foods and Silver Palate.

– 365 Everyday Value Snacks: Sourced from various health food companies, including Late July and Nature’s Path.

ALDI

– Millville Cinnamon Crunch Squares: Made by General Mills who also makes Cinnamon Toast Crunch.

– Tuscan Garden Restaurant-Style Italian Dressing: Rumor has it that it’s made by the same manufacturer as the Olive Garden Signature Italian Dressing.

Trader Joe’s

– Trader Joe’s Gourmet Cheeses: Made by various cheese producers, some undisclosed.

– Trader Joe’s Frozen Meals: Produced by multiple manufacturers, including Amy’s Kitchen and Conagra Brands.

– Trader Joe’s Pita Chips: These popular chips are made by the leading brand Stacy’s and repacked for TJs and sold at a discount.

– Trader Joe’s Pistachios: These are made by the Wonderful Pistachios company.

– Trader Joe’s Smoothies: These are made by the leading juice manufacturer Naked.

Amazon Basics

– Amazon Basics Electronics Accessories: Sourced from various name-brand manufacturers, often undisclosed.

– Amazon Basics Kitchenware: Produced by various suppliers, including Hamilton Beach and Fox Run.

Member’s Mark (Sam’s Club)

– Member’s Mark Bacon: Manufactured by multiple suppliers, including Smithfield Foods.

– Member’s Mark Paper Towels: Produced by various paper product companies, including Georgia-Pacific.

Publix Brand (Publix)

– Publix Brand Deli Meats: Made by various meat suppliers, including Boar’s Head and Hormel.

– Publix Brand Frozen Vegetables: Sourced from various frozen food manufacturers including Green Giant.

President’s Choice (Loblaws)

– President’s Choice Cookies: Made by multiple cookie manufacturers, including Dare Foods and Voortman Cookies.

– President’s Choice Frozen Pizza: Produced by leading pizza company McCain Foods.

Signature Kitchens (Safeway)

– Signature Kitchens Bread: Made by various bakeries, including Bimbo Bakeries USA and Flowers Foods.

– O Organics Baby Formula: Produced by Perrigo Nutritionals.

– O Organics Olive Oil: Sourced from Pompeian and California Olive Ranch.

– Signature Select Ice Cream: Produced by various ice cream manufacturers, including Dean Foods and Wells Enterprises.

– Signature Select Pasta: Manufactured by Barilla.

Market Pantry (Target)

– Market Pantry Cereal: Sourced from various cereal companies, including General Mills and Kellogg’s.

– Market Pantry Peanut Butter: Manufactured by Algood Food Company.

– Market Pantry Frozen Vegetables: Produced by Simplot and Pictsweet.

– Good & Gather Almond Milk: Produced by Blue Diamond Growers.

– Good & Gather Frozen Fruit: Sourced from Wawona Frozen Foods.

– Archer Farms Coffee: Roasted by multiple coffee companies, including Massimo Zanetti Beverage Group.

– Archer Farms Nuts: Sourced from various nut suppliers, including Diamond Foods.

– Up & Up Over-the-Counter Medications: Manufactured by Perrigo Company, a major pharmaceutical company.

– Up & Up Cleaning Supplies: Produced by various manufacturers, including Stepan Company and P&G.

– Simply Balanced Organic Pasta: Sourced from Dakota Growers Pasta Company.

– Simply Balanced Organic Granola Bars: Made by Annie’s Homegrown.

Signature Farms (Albertsons)

– Signature SELECT Sodas: Manufactured by Cott Beverages.

– Signature SELECT Frozen Pizza: Produced by Nestlé and Schwan’s Company.

Nature’s Promise (Giant Food)

– Nature’s Promise Organic Yogurt: Made by Stonyfield Organic.

– Nature’s Promise Organic Pasta: Sourced from Riviana Foods.

Private Selection (Kroger)

– Kroger Brand Cereal: Manufactured by General Mills and Kellogg’s.

– Kroger Brand Laundry Detergent: Produced by Sun Products Corporation and Church & Dwight.

Meijer Brand (Meijer)

– Meijer Brand Bread: Made by Bimbo Bakeries USA and Sara Lee.

– Meijer Brand Frozen Meals: Produced by Conagra Brands and Nestlé.

Food Lion Brand (Food Lion)

– Food Lion Brand Coffee: Manufactured by Kraft Heinz and J.M. Smucker Company.

– Food Lion Brand Ice Cream: Produced by Wells Enterprises and Blue Bell Creameries.

I’d love to build this article even further and have it become a go-to resource for smart shoppers.

Please let me know in the comments if you know of any other store brands that are actually made by popular name brands.

Happy savings.

By Kyle James

When it comes to saving money on groceries and everyday items, one of the most common strategies is choosing store brands over name brands. Many shoppers are often skeptical about the quality of store brands, which are typically priced lower than their name-brand counterparts. However, significant savings can be realized without sacrificing quality. In this article, we’ll compare store brands and name brands across various categories and stores, providing specific examples to illustrate where you can save the most.

The perception that name brands are of higher quality is often a result of extensive marketing.

Cost Comparison Breakdown

Store brands are typically 15% to 30% cheaper than name brands. This price disparity primarily stems from the marketing and advertising costs that name brands spend, which are then passed on to the consumer.

So I thought it would be interesting to do some price comparisons on some popular grocery items to give you an idea of the savings store-brands can provide.

Health and Beauty

– Pain Relievers: CVS Health ibuprofen sells for $7 for a bottle of 100 tablets, while Advil sells its version for $9.49. Choosing CVS’s brand saves 26%.

– Shampoo: At Walgreens, their store brand shampoo costs $3.99 for a 12.5 oz bottle, while Pantene Pro-V shampoo of the same size is priced at $4.79, making the store brand 17% cheaper.

See Also: Hate Coupons? Smart Ways to Save Without Using Them

Breakfast Items

– Oatmeal: Quaker Oats sells their instant oatmeal at $3.67 for a 10-pack, while Aldi’s Millville brand offers a similar 10-pack for $1.59. Choosing Millville can save shoppers approximately 57%.

– Cereals: At Walmart, Great Value corn flakes are priced at $2.48 for an 18 oz box, while Kellogg’s Corn Flakes cost $3.98 for the same size. This represents a savings of about 38%.

– Yogurt: Chobani Greek Yogurt typically costs $1.19 per 5.3 oz cup. In contrast, Trader Joe’s store brand Greek yogurt sells for $0.99 for the same size, offering a savings of 17%.

CHANGE YOUR PERCEPTION

Keep in mind that the lower price of store brands does not necessarily mean lower quality. Many store brands are actually manufactured in the same facilities as name brands, using similar or identical formulas. This is especially true with the Kirkland brand at Costco.

Baking Supplies

– Flour: A 5 lb bag of King Arthur Flour typically costs around $4.79. Compare this with Walmart’s Great Value brand, priced at $2.26 for the same quantity, providing about 53% in savings.

– Sugar: Domino Sugar, a popular name brand, sells its 4 lb bag for about $3.29, while Kroger’s store brand sugar costs just $2.19 for the same size bag, offering a 33% cost reduction.

Dairy Products

– Cheese: Kraft Cheddar Cheese (8 oz block) retails for approximately $2.69. ALDI’s Happy Farms cheddar cheese, also 8 oz, is priced at $1.89, saving customers 30%.

– Butter: A pound of Land O’Lakes butter typically costs $4.49. In contrast, Trader Joe’s store brand butter sells for $2.99 per pound, cutting the price by 33%.

– Milk: A gallon of Kroger brand milk costs around $2.59, compared to $3.49 for a gallon of Horizon Organic. Shopping Kroger’s own brand saves about 26%.

– Ice Cream: Häagen-Dazs vanilla ice cream (pint) retails for around $4.39. However, Safeway’s Signature Select vanilla ice cream, also a pint, is priced at $2.99, saving consumers approximately 32%.

Condiments

– Ketchup: Heinz Ketchup (20 oz bottle) is priced at around $2.59. Walmart’s Great Value ketchup of the same size costs $1.00, presenting a 61% saving.

– Mayonnaise: Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise (30 oz) is generally sold for $4.29. Costco’s Kirkland Signature Real Mayonnaise of the same size is $2.89, offering a saving of about 33%.

See Also: Ultimate Cheat Sheet: All The Store Brands Made By Name Brands

Pasta, Veggies & Rice

– Spaghetti: A 16 oz package of Barilla spaghetti usually costs $1.29. Compare this with Target’s Market Pantry spaghetti, priced at $0.95 for the same size, saving shoppers 26%.

– Rice: Uncle Ben’s Original Rice (2 lb bag) is priced at $3.48, whereas Kroger’s store brand rice of the same weight costs $1.99, yielding a savings of 43%.

– Canned Vegetables: Target’s Market Pantry canned green beans are $0.55 for a 14.5 oz can, whereas Green Giant’s equivalent is $1.19. The store brand offers more than 50% savings.

Snacks and Sweets

– Cookies: Oreo cookies (standard pack) are typically $3.67. Publix’s store brand cookies of the same type are $2.29 per pack, offering about 38% in savings.

– Potato Chips: A 9 oz bag of Lay’s Classic Potato Chips costs $3.29 at most stores. Compare this with Publix’s store brand, which offers a 10 oz bag for $2.00, saving customers around 39%.

– Chocolate Bars: Hershey’s Milk Chocolate bar (1.55 oz) is priced around $0.89, while Dollar General’s Clover Valley brand is only $0.50 for the same size, representing a 44% savings.

Beverages & Coffee

– Coffee: Starbucks 12 oz ground coffee sells for $7.99 at most supermarkets. The equivalent from Walmart’s Great Value brand is only $3.88, yielding more than 51% in savings.

– Tea Bags: Lipton Black Tea (100 count) is often priced at $4.99, while ALDI’s Benner Classic Tea Bags (100 count) cost $1.89, showing a cost reduction of 62%.

MANY STORE BRANDS TASTE BETTER

In blind taste tests conducted by several consumer advocacy groups, many store brand products actually OUTPERFORM their name brand counterparts. For example, Trader Joe’s O’s cereal has been frequently rated higher in taste and quality compared to Cheerios.

Frozen Foods

– Frozen Pizza: DiGiorno Original Rising Crust Pepperoni Pizza typically costs $6.99, but Target’s Market Pantry version sells for $4.50. That’s a saving of about 25%.

– Frozen Vegetables: Birds Eye Steamfresh Frozen Mixed Vegetables (10 oz) cost around $2.19, whereas Walmart’s Great Value brand offers the same amount for $1.00. Customers save approximately 54% by choosing the store brand.

Personal Care

– Toothpaste: Colgate Cavity Protection (6 oz) is usually around $1.67. Costco’s Kirkland Signature Fluoride Toothpaste, which offers two 6.4 oz tubes, costs $4.49. This breaks down to roughly $1.11 per tube, saving about 34%.

– Body Wash: Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash (22 oz) sells for $6.88. Comparatively, Walgreens’ store brand, Complete Home, sells a similar product for $4.99 for the same quantity, saving 27%.

Household Items

– Laundry Detergent: Costco’s Kirkland Signature Ultra Clean is $17.99 for 152 loads. Comparatively, Tide Original, which offers 96 loads, costs $19.99. Per load, Kirkland costs about 12 cents, while Tide costs about 21 cents – a savings of 43%.

LOYALTY HAS A PRICE

Despite the potential savings and comparable quality, some consumers remain loyal to name brands due to habits or perceived prestige. But it’s TIME TO CHANGE your mindset. Many are making a permanent switch after realizing the value and it’s time for you to consider the same.

Environmental and Ethical Considerations

In some cases, store brands also offer better value in terms of ethical considerations, such as organic certification and eco-friendly packaging, at a lower price point than name brands.

For example, Whole Foods’ 365 Everyday Value products often meet or exceed the environmental and ethical standards set by more expensive name brands.

10 Name Brands That Can Be Cheaper:

Finding instances where name brands are cheaper (or nearly as cheap) as store brands can be a bit challenging.

However, during sales, promotions, or with the use of coupons, name brands can indeed come close to or even undercut the prices of store brands.

Here are 10 examples where this often occurs:

1. Cereal: During a promotional sale, a name brand like General Mills Cheerios might be on sale for $2.50 for a large box, which could be less expensive than the store brand equivalent at a regular price of $2.75.

2. Pasta Sauce: Name brands like Prego or Ragu often offer coupons that reduce their price significantly, potentially making them cheaper or comparable to store brands. For instance, with a $1 off coupon, a jar of Prego could come down to $1.50, similar to or less than a store brand priced at $1.75.

3. Diapers: Major brands like Pampers or Huggies sometimes offer bulk purchase deals or discounts through loyalty programs, making them more cost-effective per diaper compared to store brands, especially when also considering rewards points or cash back.

See Also: 14 Cheap Grocery Stores You Need to STOP Driving Past

4. Soft Drinks: Coca-Cola or Pepsi products are frequently on sale, especially during holiday weekends or major sporting events, where the price per can or bottle could drop below the store brand soda prices.

5. Bottled Water: Name brands like Aquafina or Dasani often have sales that price them competitively with store brands, particularly at big box stores or during summer promotions.

6. Toothpaste: Colgate and Crest frequently have coupons available that can make their prices comparable to or less than those of store brand toothpaste, particularly for the basic varieties.

7. Laundry Detergent: Tide and Gain, known for their effectiveness, occasionally offer manufacturer coupons or store-based loyalty discounts that make them a good deal compared to store brands, especially per wash calculations.

8. Peanut Butter: Jif and Skippy often go on sale and can be cheaper with a coupon or during a BOGO (buy-one-get-one) sale compared to store brands.

9. Chicken Broth: Swanson’s chicken broth is sometimes sold at a lower price than store brands when bought in bulk or on sale around major cooking holidays like Thanksgiving.

10. Baking Mixes: Betty Crocker cake mixes and brownie mixes often go on sale for $1.00 or less, which can be as cheap as or cheaper than store brand mixes.

These scenarios are typical examples of how strategic shopping, taking advantage of sales, using coupons, and participating in loyalty programs can make name brands as affordable as—or even cheaper than—store brands.

Always keeping an eye on weekly ads and digital coupons can help shoppers make the most of these opportunities.

While brand loyalty and preferences might still sway some, the economic benefits of switching to store brands are evident.

TAKE THE LEAP

The next time you’re at the grocery store dive-in and buy a couple store brands that you’ve never tried before. It’s really the only way to figure out if they’re a quality substitute as personal tastes vary wildly. The potential for savings is undeniable in a time where every dollar counts.

Ask the Reader: What store brands are you most fond of, both in terms of taste and price? Let me know in the comments.

By Kyle James

Every time I go to a big-box store, or the grocery store, I need someone to help me lift my chin off the ground after I look a the prices. Is there no end to this? The news say inflation is slowing down, but the truth of the matter is that these prices are the new norm, we’ll never go back to pre-pandemic prices. So instead of complaining about it, I’m fighting back and these 12 retail hacks are a nice start. I hope you find them as helpful as I have.

1. Know Target’s Markdown Schedule

Target does department specific markdowns throughout the week.

For example, shop on a Monday for fresh deals on electronics and kid‘s clothing.

Tuesdays are great for women’s clothing and pet products.

Thursday is the day for deals on housewares, shoes, and toys.

Use this insider info to your advantage and save money on stuff you’d be buying anyways.

2. Amazon Package Arrive Late? Score a FREE $10

If Amazon Prime does NOT hold up their end of the bargain of 2-day shipping, hit up Amazon live chat and let them know.

Chat reps are handing out a $10 credit or 1-month of free Prime for the inconvenience.

Late delivery happens to me all the time and it basically pays my annual fee for Prime.

PRO TIP

Many Amazon Business account have been getting deliveries in 2-days since day one. If you’ve ever considered a free business account, this may be the time to give it a try and potentially get much faster delivery.

See Also: Shrinkflation is REAL and Here’s How to Fight Back

3. Save Big On Meats at Walmart

When shopping for meats at Walmart, look for packaged meat that has a Sell By Date of today or tomorrow’s date and politely ask an employee if they can mark it down for you.

99% of the time they‘ll print out a yellow Clearance price tag to put on the meat, which will save you a whopping 40% off the original price.

If you have the freezer space, this is a great time to stock up and save BIG.

4. Become an Expert Price Negotiator at Lowe’s

I recently saved $110 at Lowe‘s by negotiating the price on a washer/dryer.

They WANT you to do it.

The KEYS are to look for imperfections, bundle Items when possible, and to look for returned special orders.

Managers want all 3 out of the store ASAP making them great chances to save.

5. Save By Knowing the Best Values at Trader Joe’s

I talked to over a dozen TJ employees and was told in NO uncertain terms that the best buys include their specialty cheeses, frozen meals, dried pasta, 5 seeds almond bars, private label beer, wine, bananas, and coffee.

Check out the full list here.

6. Shop on Tuesday Mornings at Costco

I interviewed several Costco employees and was told TUESDAY mornings is the best time to shop.

You avoid the Monday business owners, the Wednesday coupon users, and of course the busy rush that comes with shopping on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

7. Learn TJ Maxx Price Tag Secrets

Learn how to read price tags at TJ Maxx to determine what kind of a deal you’re getting.

For example, if you see an item with a red price tag sticker, it means the item has been marked down at least once, sometimes 2 or 3 times.

If you see an item with a yellow price tag, it means the item has been reduced to FINAL markdown and is the lowest the price will go.

8.Get Creative and Save BIG at Starbucks

A 24 oz. Venti Frappuccino at Starbucks is about the size of a gas can.

When indulging with a friend, order a Venti with 2 Tall cups (12 oz each) and split it yourself.

Politely ask for two cups and they’ll happily oblige.

You’ll pay $6.25 for the Venti instead of a ridiculous $10.90 for two Talls.

ALWAYS opt for the Venti and split it and save money.

If you don’t have anyone to split it with then save half in the fridge.

9. Vets and Active Military Get 10% Discount at Home Depot

The best part about this little-known 10% Home Depot military discount is that it‘s good for spouses as well.

It’s all done through the Home Depot app and requires you to show a QR code via your phone when checking out.

10. Amazon’s Hidden Coupon Page

Did you know Amazon has a page full of coupons?

They keep it hidden for a reason as they’d rather NOT have every shopper know about it.

The coupons will save you up to 40% off baby and child care products, home and kitchen stuff, and even name brands electronics.

Always start your shopping on this page and save every time you shop.

11. Negotiate a Lower Price at Best Buy As Well

The stuff at Best Buy you can always ask for a lower price on includes open-box products, damaged packaging, clearance items, and bundled items.

Bundled items include things like buying a TV and soundbar together and asking for a 15% discount.

PRO TIP

Also try to negotiate at Best Buy towards the end of the month when managers are trying to meet sales goals. So you know I’m not blowing smoke, I personally talked to a manager who gave me this tip.

12. Over 55? Shop at Ross on a Tuesday

Every Ross store offers seniors a 10% discount on Tuesdays and the discount can even be used on clearance merchandise.

If you‘re not 55, be sure to shop on a Monday.

I had an employee tell me that Monday is the day they do their markdowns so you‘ll get FIRST DIBS on the new clearance deals.

Ask the Reader: Give me your favorite little unknown “hack” at any of these spots or maybe a different retailer or restaurant. Would love to look into it and potentially add it to my article.

By Kyle James