Is there a big difference between the regular products and store brand counterpart (eg. Quaker oatmeal and alberson/ralphs oatmeal or dove shampoo and target brand shampoo of similar comparison)... The store brand products are considerably cheaper and have more deals/offers (almost half the price) than regular products. My grocery bill goes down by 50%.

I dont see a change in the ingredient listing or the taste of food or the quality of home products like shampoo/lotion.

The store brand products also specify which regular brand is most comparable to their product so I am guessing that its the same (except the packaging) because its not possible for the store to manufacture almost all the products by their own!?!

There is no difference between the store brands and the national brands. However, there may be a difference between the stores. We have one grocery store in which the in-house brand has always been top quality (vegetables, etc). The other grocery store is quite a bit cheaper, but I find the quality is not there (discoloured vegetables, etc).

There are a number of companies that manufacture foodstuff and toiletries, then package them differently for the different contracts they hold. The same holds true for appliances also.


For foodstuffs, check labels carefully. Some of the cheaper in-house brands have more trans-fat added to them, so I would pay the extra for the better quality brand. Some cheaper brands also have more sodium. But, if the list of ingredients are the same, then go for it.

For shampoos, soaps, lotions, etc, it would all depend on what you like. I think that basically the formulas are the same, and it's just the scents that vary.

northernbelle, good advice. I find that if you check labels, you can see what is the same or similar. From everything I've read, a lot of the store brands are national brands in their own packaging. Seems kind of silly to pay the national brand price if you can find the same thing in "generic". I think you have to experiment and see what you like and if the substitution works for you.

In general no. When I used to buy sodas though, I noticed that store brands tended to have flat sodas while name brands didn't. I don't buy sodas anymore so it isn't a big deal.

Buy whatever is cheapest as long as the ingredients are good.

Depends on the product. There are some things I'll only buy the national brand. Then other things I'll go ahead and pick up the store brand.

Oatmeal and other cereals, I can't really tell a difference. Canned vegetables, I'll buy whatever is cheaper. Shampoo and conditioner, however, is a different matter. I have long, thick hair and I need a good conditioner especially. I don't really care about the shampoo. The conditioner is the most important and the cheaper brands just don't 'get it' with my hair.

Definitely depends on the store brand, for me, and the product itself.

I won't go store brand on, say, ketchup. It's gotta be Heinz flavor for me! And the store brand salad mixes just don't do it for me at my Publix, they always seem of lesser quality. Now, frozen veggies and canned stuff, I go store brand almost always. But not on frozen meals and pizzas.