I was a Food Brand Name Snob

[Brett]

I will try the "house" generic brand - sometimes it's OK, --- many times not

 

[wackymother]

I can tell you that Acme's store-brand shredded wheat is not nearly as good as brand-name shredded wheat. I love shredded wheat, and I'm forcing myself to go through the store-brand version.

 

[pittle]

Back when I managed the employee cafeteria, we would do "can cuttings". The company had 5 employee cafeterias and all the managers attended to determine the results. Various vendors would send us canned veggies (later they added frozen too). We had someone number all the green beans, corn, tomatoes, etc and then take the labels off and have those also numbered and put those in a folder. We did the same with the frozen ones. Then we opened the cans/bags and checked the products. We checked the amount of water in the cans, look of the green bean slices, how equal the assortment of mixed veggies were, how the frozen broccoli was cut etc. Then the staff would vote on the one we thought was best and it became the one we would all use until the next time we did this. Sometimes the less expensive brands won out and other times the most expensive one did. We also learned that many of the name brands also had various labels at different prices, including store brands.

I tend to buy Great Value, Members Mark, and Kirkland store brands. I do use Prego Spaghetti sauce that I "kick-up" a notch or two, KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce, Ghiradelli Brownie Mix, and a couple other name brands.

 

[Glynda]

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.

We prefer Dollar Tree too. We "doctor up" a can of Hunts traditional spaghetti sauce with our own Italian sausage, hamburger, onions and garlic. Can't beat a big can of the spaghetti sauce for a dollar! We also get canned chili beans, Cambells pork and beans and sliced peaches for cobbler there. They are great for take away food containers too.

 

[stmartinfan]

I have not been impressed with the couple of Aldi stores I visited in my area, although the parking lots seem full and I know others who shop there. Messy and such limited choices.

For many items I use frequently, I tend to prefer brand names. I worked for two of the big food companies that made a variety of different types products and know that their policy was not to make generic items. Their philosophy: Why would we want to compete against ourselves?

 

[WalnutBaron]

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.

As a consumer, I would probably love Aldi and Lidl. As a supplier, not so much. Folks here may or may not be aware that both chains are based in Germany and are huge powerhouses in Northern Europe. They're big--and they do throw their weight around. Our company is fortunate because we sell a very high quality product and have loyal customers who treat us as well as we treat them. With Aldi and Lidl, we noticed that they required their suppliers to adhere to 75-day payment terms--and then they didn't even abide by that. It was not unusual to get paid more than 100 days after date of invoice. In addition, they have no loyalty. They buy purely based on price. So if you've been supplying them for 20 years and in a given year a competitor bids a lower price to them, it's bye-bye, traditional supplier. Some of our larger competitors are actually "hooked" on the volume they do with Aldi and Lidl. Both sides know that the supplier is almost compelled to sell to the German chains because--if they miss the business--there are no other buyers who can absorb that much volume. It's an advantage for us to be a mid-sized supplier. We command a premium price for a premium quality product, and, because of that superior pricing, we are able to pay our growers a much better price for their crop.

 

[normab]

Happy you like ALDI. It took me a while to get acquainted but over several years now I have tried lots of their foods and will buy their fresh veggies, meats, many dairy products and cheeses. I use lots of their items for baking? Their bread products are good but they don’t have rye bread here. They also don’t have some less commonly used veggies so I have to shop elsewhere. I used to make my own meatballs but we like theirs so much I only serve their brand now.. don’t tell....

I can’t find my favorite canned tomato products right now, so am making do with theirs, but they are much thinner and have more water, there is definitely a difference in quality. I also like their plain Greek yogurt but not their flavored yogurts. Their mayo is fine but not a fan of their ketchup...DH like sugar free ice pops and we've never seen them at Aldi...it’s been trial and error trying things but overall they do a good job.

In summary, I like ALDI but also shop at Publix and Walmart to get the brand names things they either don’t have or we just don’t like...

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

You need to use your judgement. One thing I have noted with store brands in major grocery chains is that the products contain more water. Not a huge amount, but enough to be noticeable. I see that with pasta sauces, soups, and cheese. If the cheese is softer and less dense, that means that the price difference could be the water. Denser cheese means more milk solids in the product, and milk solids cost money.

I know enough about the french fry and dehydrated potato business to tell when a processor is cutting corners. I generally avoid store brand products frozen and dehydrated potatoes because almost every time I have tried them they have been notably inferior. They're cheaper for a reason.

On the other hand, I don't have qualms to buy store brand milk and eggs. Some of the Safeway store brand salsa are good (though some are watered down).

Trader Joe's store brands are almost always high quality, and I have little hesitation grabbing their product vs the branded product.

 

[b2bailey]

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.

Mayonnaise. That's the one item I've been disappointed with. I'm Best Foods all the way. Recently tried a healthy, organic version featuring avocado oil, but it was disappointing as well. Can't being myself to throw it out, so will suffer through it until it's gone. No more experimental mayonnaise purchases.

 

[dioxide45]

I do most of our shopping at Aldi. Aldi tries to carry about 80% of the products you would want/need. They also try to position their locations near other major grocery stores. You go to Aldi and then head over to the other store for what they don't carry. It has worked for us for many years. I generally buy all of our produce there, but they don't sell individual items like lemons and limes, so I get those at the other grocery stores. I may use one or two lemons from the whole bag before the others are rotten. I used to have issues with their produce years go, think over 10-15 years ago. But haven't had problems in a long time. I also like their cheese selections, not nearly what Trader Joe's has, but certainly it meets our needs and much cheaper than conventional stores. There are only a few products we won't buy. Their refrigerated cookie dough tastes like fish. Not sure if it is shipped or stored near seafood, but we don't buy it anymore. Their standard ice cream by the half gallon (okay more like 1.5 or 1.75 quart) are poor quality. We always go to the regular grocer for ice cream. We do like their specialty flavor ice creams when they get them in which seems to be less and less often these days (see below).

One thing I am disappointed with Aldi lately is that they are putting a lot more non grocery garbage in their stores. Clocks, exercise gear, homeware, etc. Some things we have bought, some good and some not good. I suspect the margins are higher on this non grocery crap, so they keep cramming more and more of it in and carry fewer and fewer specialty or special buy items. Up till a few years ago, our old Aldi had a whole isle of just special buy products; great candy, cookies, sauces, different potato chip flavors that they would rotate through. They replaced that isle with non grocery crap. I miss those specialty items. I don't think I have seen speculoos cookie butter in an Aldi for several years and they never carry chorizo anymore.

 

[geekette]

I can tell you that Acme's store-brand shredded wheat is not nearly as good as brand-name shredded wheat. I love shredded wheat, and I'm forcing myself to go through the store-brand version.

I am hoping to not ever get so desperate as to buy the big sack of generic loops or flakes or, ack, puffs. Mom used to buy cardboard cereal for us and not allow addition of sugar. blech.

My generic raisin bran is ok, and most "flakes with nuts and/or berries" have been fine.

I was planning to try some generic Triscuits if I can find them. Bet it will be same "not quite" like the shredded wheat cereal. Just a pressed formulation but possibly same stuff.

 

[geekette]

Back when I managed the employee cafeteria, we would do "can cuttings". The company had 5 employee cafeterias and all the managers attended to determine the results. Various vendors would send us canned veggies (later they added frozen too). We had someone number all the green beans, corn, tomatoes, etc and then take the labels off and have those also numbered and put those in a folder. We did the same with the frozen ones. Then we opened the cans/bags and checked the products. We checked the amount of water in the cans, look of the green bean slices, how equal the assortment of mixed veggies were, how the frozen broccoli was cut etc. Then the staff would vote on the one we thought was best and it became the one we would all use until the next time we did this. Sometimes the less expensive brands won out and other times the most expensive one did. We also learned that many of the name brands also had various labels at different prices, including store brands.

I tend to buy Great Value, Members Mark, and Kirkland store brands. I do use Prego Spaghetti sauce that I "kick-up" a notch or two, KC Masterpiece BBQ Sauce, Ghiradelli Brownie Mix, and a couple other name brands.

Way OT.... but memory trigger from the blind taste test ...

both of my parents come from pranksters, so it should not have been a surprise that when they returned home from their honeymoon, dad's brother and cohorts had removed labels from every can of food in the cabinets. Since they had not previously lived there, dad had just brought stuff over that his family said they would "take care of" for him, it was a total crapshoot. Uncle also included some cans of stuff he knew his brother hated, like lima beans or spinach.

Mom said it was lucky that dad was never a picky eater as she didn't usually know what was going to be for dinner until she opened a can here and a can there. I think it's lucky that she is a creative cook.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Campbell's Tomato Soup. I have had some contact with Campbell's, trying to see if it might be feasible to source some tomatoes to them from the Guatemalan foundation I"m involved with. It was an education.

They are very specific about the tomatoes they will use in their tomato soup, and it's a very arduous process to get approved - first as a suitable growing region, and then as growers within the region. And I have to admit, Campbell's tomato soup has something distinctive. There is no tomato soup I've found that goes as well with a grilled cheese sandwich as Campbell's. Some the Pacific aseptically packaged soups come close. As much as I like Progresso soups, their tomato is down the list. (But Progresso's Boston Clam Chowder beats Campbell's clam chowder by a considerable margin.)

 

[bbodb1]

I am hoping to not ever get so desperate as to buy the big sack of generic loops or flakes or, ack, puffs. Mom used to buy cardboard cereal for us and not allow addition of sugar. blech.

My generic raisin bran is ok, and most "flakes with nuts and/or berries" have been fine.

I was planning to try some generic Triscuits if I can find them. Bet it will be same "not quite" like the shredded wheat cereal. Just a pressed formulation but possibly same stuff.

This post made me think of our experiences with Kroger's house brand cereals - I always wondered why Kroger did not arrange for some of the food sample stations in their store to offer samples of the Kroger branded cereals. Some of them are pretty good while others not so much so. But if samples were offered where people could try their house branded products, I thought it would help build customer loyalty. That may not be possible any more....

 

[amycurl]

I don't really buy produce--with the exception of avocados, and onions, and small tomatoes out of season--from the grocery store. Almost all of my produce comes from local farmers, either from our farmer's market, or our CSA. The items that don't tend to come from Costco. What I like about Lidl is their fresh bakery.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

If you like Waffle House hash browns ......

the items below are pretty much the same thing, I eat them regularly. I will admit - they are not quite as good as peeling and shredding a fresh potato, rinsing it thoroughly to remove potato starch, and then putting on a hot griddle. But if you are willing to trade a slight bit of quality for added convenience and simplicity (as Waffle House has done), it's an excellent proposition. You can do the Waffle House variations - scattered, smothered, diced, etc. - the key is that you have to start with a hot and adequately lubricated skillet.

They are available on-line at Amazon. They are often available at Costco. One time when I was at Costco, they had them for tasting, mixed with some Kirkland Bacon Bits. Hooked me, they did. And that was a product that I had known for years before hand.

 

[dioxide45]

If you like Waffle House hash browns ......

the items below are pretty much the same thing, I eat them regularly. I will admit - they are not quite as good as peeling and shredding a fresh potato, rinsing it thoroughly to remove potato starch, and then putting on a hot griddle. But if you are willing to trade a slight but of quality for added convenience and simplicity (as Waffle House has done), it's an excellent proposition. You can do the Waffle House variations - scattered, smothered, diced, etc. - the key is that you have to start with a hot and adequately lubricated skillet.

They are available on-line at Amazon. They are often available at Costco. One time when I was at Costco, they had them for tasting, mixed with some Kirkland Bacon Bits. Hooked me, they did. And that was a product that I had known for years before hand.

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These are great. I bought the Golden Grill ones at Costco several times based on your recommendations of using dehydrated potatoes. They work great. IMO better than fresh potatoes as I can never get enough water out of them to get them crispy. These things turn out perfect every time and keep for much longer.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

These are great. I bought the Golden Grill ones at Costco several times based on your recommendations of using dehydrated potatoes. They work great. IMO better than fresh potatoes as I can never get enough water out of them to get them crispy. These things turn out perfect every time and keep for much longer.

I have friends who are backpackers who love these. A raw potato is about 80% water. These are about 5% water. So then can pack a container and they are the equivalent of five or six potatoes, at a fraction of the weight and volume. They eat them dry, like trail mix or added to trail mix, or if they want to be a bit more formal, rehydrate them with some boiling water.

 

[wackymother]

Mayonnaise. That's the one item I've been disappointed with. I'm Best Foods all the way. Recently tried a healthy, organic version featuring avocado oil, but it was disappointing as well. Can't being myself to throw it out, so will suffer through it until it's gone. No more experimental mayonnaise purchases.

You can use mayo in different ways you might not have thought of. Like you can put it on steak before grilling. And I've heard you can use it with cake mixes and it gives a nice soft texture.

 

[wackymother]

Campbell's Tomato Soup. I have had some contact with Campbell's, trying to see if it might be feasible to source some tomatoes to them from the Guatemalan foundation I"m involved with. It was an education.

They are very specific about the tomatoes they will use in their tomato soup, and it's a very arduous process to get approved - first as a suitable growing region, and then as growers within the region. And I have to admit, Campbell's tomato soup has something distinctive. There is no tomato soup I've found that goes as well with a grilled cheese sandwich as Campbell's. Some the Pacific aseptically packaged soups come close. As much as I like Progresso soups, their tomato is down the list. (But Progresso's Boston Clam Chowder beats Campbell's clam chowder by a considerable margin.)

My father was a professor at Rutgers in the 1970s. He brought home some Rutgers tomato plants, which were developed at Rutgers in the 1930s to supply Campbell's with tomatoes for soup. I will never forget the amazing tomatoes I grew that summer--they were so good, and there were so many of them! My husband grows tomatoes and they're good, but none are like the tomatoes from that summer.

 

[elaine]

Not our sole grocery store. But lidl is great for gourmet inexpensive cheeses, frozen seafood, sangria (when they have it), bakery items, and their French or Italian week specials. Cheap cheese fondue and frozen escargot-we buy 6 of each when they have them.

 

[geist1223]

You can use mayo in different ways you might not have thought of. Like you can put it on steak before grilling. And I've heard you can use it with cake mixes and it gives a nice soft texture.

Actually one of my family's traditional cakes is a Chocolate Mayo Cake. Flour, sugar, chocolate, water, and Mayo. Add home made caramel icing.

You can also use mayo vice butter for Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

 

[wackymother]

Actually one of my family's traditional cakes is a Chocolate Mayo Cake. Flour, sugar, chocolate, water, and Mayo. Add home made caramel icing.

You can also use mayo vice butter for Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

I need that recipe, please! Birthday next week!

 

[geist1223]

Maybe he (or more likely, someone in his administration) read the Constitution and realized he doesn't have "total authority" over the states?

Kurt

I need that recipe, please! Birthday next week!

I will have to get family approval.

 

[stmartinfan]

My father was a professor at Rutgers in the 1970s. He brought home some Rutgers tomato plants, which were developed at Rutgers in the 1930s to supply Campbell's with tomatoes for soup. I will never forget the amazing tomatoes I grew that summer--they were so good, and there were so many of them! My husband grows tomatoes and they're good, but none are like the tomatoes from that summer.

I've bought heirloom tomato plants identified as Rutgers tomatoes before - interesting to learn the origins of the plants. I always think the heirloom plants produce much tastier tomatoes that most of other hybrids.