I was a Food Brand Name Snob

[Panina]

I was a Food Brand Name Snob.

Before this crisis I only purchased the most popular brand named foods. I never purchased private label brands or went into the no name brand groceries like Aldi’s

With the challenge of finding food I became a Newcomer to Aldi’s. With necessity I changed and was willing to eat foods with unfamiliar packaging without nationally-known logos. Eating was now my primary concern.

This one change taught me a lot. I am now thinking I could have saved so much more money. I have always been savvy with my timeshares. How could I miss this?

I am actually surprised how good the quality of the food is and am surprised how much less it costs.

My other half tried the bread, cereal and chicken which he said tasted as good as the name brands he previously ate. The bread saved $2.74, the cereal $3.70, the chicken $4.00. I couldn’t taste them as they weren’t gluten free and I don’t eat chicken. These three items alone saved over $10.

I also ordered eggs, milk, salmon,mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, lots of different vegetable, and every item was great quality. They also have a line of gluten free foods that I haven’t tried yet but will.

So I am no longer a Food Name Brand Snob, actually now I know I was a Food Name Brand Fool. Now I am looking forward finding other stores in the future I was ignoring.

Interesting article on Aldi’s, how they are able to offer their own label food with good quality and affordable prices.

Why You'll Almost Never See Name Brands At Aldi - Mashed

Newcomers to Aldi will find all kinds of foreign labels and unfamiliar packaging. The reason Aldi doesn't carry name brands is more complicated than you think.

www.mashed.com

 

[slip]

I was never a snob in that way but we used to shop at Aldi when we lived on the mainland. Some of there brands don’t cut it though. I always tried one box or container just as a test. Some were good others were not. But we always thought it was worth trying.

 

[b2bailey]

I've been a willing purchaser of house branded food items for a long time. I figured most likely it was something prepared at name brand factory but given a different label.

 

[amycurl]

I like Aldi's but I LOVE Lidl. Unfortunately, all the Lidls near me are really inconveniently far away. *sigh*

 

[Panina]

I like Aldi's but I LOVE Lidl. Unfortunately, all the Lidls near me are really inconveniently far away. *sigh*

I have a Lidls near me and did go once to look at the produce. I wasn’t impressed. Most of it didn‘t look good. I will try again at some point.

 

[geekette]

Never heard of Lidl. So many region by region stores!

My first experience with Aldi's was a couple decades ago and they lost me for good on just one visit to a filthy "store". I won't go in one ever again. I have enough choices that I don't need to.

Target has a good store brand, I think Archer Farms or Market Pantry? Haven't been to Target in a while, but I am really keen on the store brand trail mix selection. I have tried many of them and there are many more I haven't yet. Kroger brands are fine with me. Costco Kirkland has my complete trust.

A few things, I am brand loyal - peanut butter - I am a Choosy Muther, it has to be Jif. Ketchup, it should be Heinz. Other than that, name brand doesn't do a lot for me and I don't want to pay for it. In grade school we did a zillion field trips and I did learn that many generics are actually overstock from name brand processors.

 

[DaveNV]

Some store brands are better than others. Aldi's brands may be as good as name brands in other stores, but I don't think they're all created equal. I've had some store brands that were not so great, and some that were downright poor. Time and experience will tell you which are the ones to buy.

Dave

 

[rboesl]

I remember when store/generic brands were first introduced. The labels were bright yellow with bold black lettering announcing what the product was. Things like BEER and GREEN BEANS. However, at that time the product quality did leave a little something to be desired.

 

[VacationForever]

I have only gone to 1 Aldi and it was in Palm Desert CA earlier this year. I thought I would check it out. The store smelled moldy, the display was not appealing and generally sparse. We left after 5 minutes. We are fans of Trader Joe's but definitely not Aldi.

 

[Panina]

I have only gone to 1 Aldi and it was in Palm Desert CA earlier this year. I thought I would check it out. The store smelled moldy, the display was not appealing and generally sparsed. We left after 5 minutes. We are fans of Trader Joe's but definitely not Aldi.

It will be interesting how the store will be when I go in person. Have been using instacart.

 

[pedro47]

I like Aldi's but I LOVE Lidl. Unfortunately, all the Lidls near me are really inconveniently far away. *sigh*

I liked both. Lidl has some great frozen food products and fresh vegetables.
Aldi has good and cheap snacks, can goods and cereal products.
Both are within a 8 miles radius from my home.

 

[Big Matt]

Never heard of Lidl. So many region by region stores!

It's a German supermarket chain as is ALDI.

The same family who founded ALDI also founded Trader Joe's. ALDI in Europe split into two parts (Nord and Sud). Sud is the company who runs ALDI in the United States. Trader Joe's was part of what is now Nord.

 

[geekette]

I remember when store/generic brands were first introduced. The labels were bright yellow with bold black lettering announcing what the product was. Things like BEER and GREEN BEANS. However, at that time the product quality did leave a little something to be desired.

Ours were white containers with big black letters.

 

[nerodog]

For me, it depends upon the item. Oftentimes like you said, a brand name supports the store brand and sometimes you can get an inside tip ?!? Peanutbutter , yes I'm fussy and ketchup too, mustard.. what I find is I really enjoy the Stonewall kitchen mustards. But, popcorn, chips pretzels, store brand is ok. I find iced tea to be something I go for name brand.

 

[RX8]

Congrats for detoxing off of brand name foods and putting money back in your pocket!

Do you also need help with brand name only non-food items like paper towels, shampoo, dishwashing soap, laundry soap, clothes, TP, gasoline, and pharmaceuticals, to name just a few?

Heck, with all the money saved you will be able to buy more timeshares!!!

 

[Glynda]

Like Trader Joe's, Aldi has awesome cookies and nuts. I liked their organic bagged popcorn too. However, I found the staff at the Mt Pleasant, SC, store rude and practicing unsafe (to customers) cleaning and stocking procedures. Some of the vegetables have been OK. Their pre-made pizza to take home and bake was awful. My mother bought their condensed milk and brownie mix but I can't say the brownies were great. Let's just say that Aldis is one of the stores I'm glad we can't go to right now as I dreaded taking my mother in there.

 

[Glynda]

We do buy a lot of store brands at Publix and Harris Teeter. We buy branded canned beans and spaghetti sauce at Dollar Tree. There are brands I have to have. Heinz ketchup, Hellman's mayo. Mt Olive's sweet pickle relish. Motts applesauce. But overall, will buy the cheaper alternative for many products.

 

[bbodb1]

Count us as more fans of store branded items. Kroger's store branded items are our usual choice as the bulk of our shopping is at Kroger.
The best store brand we have come across is Publix. Too bad we don't have Publix in Arkansas though....

 

[dayooper]

Ours were white containers with big black letters.

I remember those. My mother always used to get the canned corn.

 

[dayooper]

Kirkland brands are a complete trust, even the spirits! Meijer is big here in Michigan and we buy many of their products. Their Grilled Steak and Onion chips are actually my sons favorite.

Some products we still buy name brand. Condiments seems to be our sore spot. Heinz ketchup is on that cones to mind along with BBQ sauce (when we don’t make our own). It’s either Kirkland or Hellmans for mayo and salad dressings seem to be name brand as well. Funny though, yellow and Dijon mustards we buy store brand.

 

[bluehende]

I have always had a philosophy that if it saves money I will give it a try. I am the same way with low and non fat foods for a different reason. Some I like some I go back to my original brands. I will say that over the years store brands have upped their quality. I find very few never agains and sometimes actually prefer the store brands. I have also been impressed with Aldi house brands. Since our store is brand new it is clean and bright. So far the instacart time slots have been much better at Aldi than other stores too. I am guessing this is because it is a small store that shoppers can learn where everything is quickly. This means they can shop an order a lot quicker than a big store.

 

[geekette]

We do buy a lot of store brands at Publix and Harris Teeter. We buy branded canned beans and spaghetti sauce at Dollar Tree. There are brands I have to have. Heinz ketchup, Hellman's mayo. Mt Olive's sweet pickle relish. Motts applesauce. But overall, will buy the cheaper alternative for many products.

Dollar Tree is my absolute favorite dollar store (I assume there are still others?)

I usually look for one on my timeshare adventures as it helps me not overbuy, especially condiments.

 

[geekette]

Kirkland brands are a complete trust, even the spirits! Meijer is big here in Michigan and we buy many of their products. Their Grilled Steak and Onion chips are actually my sons favorite.

Some products we still buy name brand. Condiments seems to be our sore spot. Heinz ketchup is on that cones to mind along with BBQ sauce (when we don’t make our own). It’s either Kirkland or Hellmans for mayo and salad dressings seem to be name brand as well. Funny though, yellow and Dijon mustards we buy store brand.

Meijer is one of my favorites! Before March, I could do my shopping between 2 and 4 am to avoid people. I look forward to their going to 24 hrs again.

Their produce is almost always Outstanding. I also miss their fried chicken. I haven't been to a KFC in a very long time because I have found grocery store offerings Better (KFC seems to add a layer of goo between crisp and chicken). Kroger, too, on the chicken. Miss their salad and soup bar.

 

[dayooper]

Meijer is one of my favorites! Before March, I could do my shopping between 2 and 4 am to avoid people. I look forward to their going to 24 hrs again.

Their produce is almost always Outstanding. I also miss their fried chicken. I haven't been to a KFC in a very long time because I have found grocery store offerings Better (KFC seems to add a layer of goo between crisp and chicken). Kroger, too, on the chicken. Miss their salad and soup bar.

Yes, I love Meijer produce, too. It’s much better than Kroger or ALDI. Haven’t had Meijer fried chicken, but do like our Kroger’s offering. I will have to try that sometime.

 

[VacationForever]

It's a German supermarket chain as is ALDI.

The same family who founded ALDI also founded Trader Joe's. ALDI in Europe split into two parts (Nord and Sud). Sud is the company who runs ALDI in the United States. Trader Joe's was part of what is now Nord.

Actually the history is that Aldi bought Trader Joe's in 1979. TJ was founded in 1967.