DiningBuzz! - The Store Brand Just Won't Do, I'll Splurge & Buy The Name Brand.

Best Foods/Hellmann's Mayonnaise
Campbell's Tomato Soup
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
Heinz Ketchup
Hebrew National Hot Dogs
Oscar Mayer Bacon


All trademarks ITT are the property of their respective owners.

*All


...unless I'm at whole foods or earthfare. I just don't trust those store brands as we know virtually nothing about the quality of fabrication. I know 90% of them are fine, but I know we'll eventually find out Kroger is recalling their store brand corn cereal because it was made on the same machine as Alpo somewhere in Mexico without a cleaning between runs.

Best Foods/Hellmann's Mayonnaise
Campbell's Tomato Soup
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
Heinz Ketchup
Hebrew National Hot Dogs
Oscar Mayer Bacon


All trademarks ITT are the property of their respective owners.
Not a dedicated person when it comes to mayo. Dukes then Hellmans then kraft then store brand IF I have a choice.
Soup is soup
There can only be one blue box! Seriously I've tried a few 'Store Brand' and they were so nasty the dog wouldn't even eat them. Velveeta is the only acceptable substitute.
Hunts then Heinz then all others
I'll just say this, All Beef, natural casings and national name brand only.
The local butcher shop is my fix for bacon.

Coke. Not a fan of store brand pop....

Agree with Heinz Ketchup.


I also avoid store brand peanut butter.

Hellman's Mayo
Heinz Ketchup
Diet Coke
(English) Heinz baked beans
(English) Heinz cream of tomato soup
Philly Cream Cheese
Laughing Cow Cheese Triangles
Jacobs Cream Crackers
Tropicana OJ (although I am going through a Trop50 phase at the moment, and one of my grocery stores does a good 'fresh tasting' 100% juice OJ now which is perfectly acceptable, most own brand juice is not good).
Nordica Cottage Cheese

Or, from the opposite perspective:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/diningbuzz/1113140-foods-where-generic-house-brand-better-than-name-brand.html

I think the only two things I've never bought the store brand-equivalent are...

Soda
BBQ Sauce

I agree with most of the foods already listed, but how about cleaning items and paper goods?

Charmin TP
Bounty paper towels
Huggies/Pampers diapers
Laundry detergent (I'll buy lots of different name brands - Tide, Gain, Arm & Hammer, but just not generic ones)
Saran Wrap or Glad Wrap

Or, from the opposite perspective:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/diningbuzz/1113140-foods-where-generic-house-brand-better-than-name-brand.html

Your humble OP did search on (store brand) and slog through 8 pages of results; but not on (generic brand) or (house brand).

OMG I fear I may have inadvertently spawned a Consolidated Thread.

I'd add Thomas' English Muffins. Nothing compares ...

Agree with the Coke and muffins


Pellegrino
Most cat litters
Cat food and dog food
bird seet, the store brand is all fillers
detergents
glad or zip lock bags
tires and batteries
paint


On the other hand, I have found many of BJ's brands of clothing, garbage bags, and other products to be excellent.

Dried pasta.

Best Foods/Hellmann's Mayonnaise
Campbell's Tomato Soup
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese
Heinz Ketchup
Hebrew National Hot Dogs
Oscar Mayer Bacon


All trademarks ITT are the property of their respective owners.

I agree with all of those, store or generic brands just won't do.

Agree on the:
Best Foods/Hellman's Mayo
Kraft (Deluxe) Mac & Cheese
Heinz ketchup
Thomas English Muffins

Also:
Van Camps Pork & Beans. Nothing else compares.

Mrs. braslvr insists on French's yellow mustard. I can't tell the difference.

I'd add Thomas' English Muffins. Nothing compares ...

Not generic but if you can get Wolferman's English Muffins (online) you will never again be satisfied with any other brand. Pricey though.

Kellogg's Raisin Bran has more raisins than most generic brands.
Never buy generic hot dogs.
Land O'Lakes butter
Kraft Mac and Cheese
Lay's potato chips for the best basic chips
Mountain Dew
Heinz Ketchup
Stouffer's frozen mac and cheese

Heinz Ketchup
Best foods/Hellmans Mayo
Frito's Corn chips
Quaker Oats Oatmeal
Reynolds Heavy duty Foil
I used to have alot longer list but as I get older I guess I am no longer so picky

I would've said Lays regular potato chips until about a month ag when I discovered Safeway's brand. Nearly as good but half the price.

Cereal, I really don't like the house brands
Heinz Ketchup
Gouldens Spicy Brown Mustard
Orange Juice, Minute Maid is as low as I'll go
Eggo Waffles
Poptarts.

Also, not food, but Duracell AA batteries.

Combining two threads.

VELVEETA

The off-brand versions just taste fake. :D:D

Combining two threads.

VELVEETA

The off-brand versions just taste fake. :D:D

How can you tell?;)

Reynolds Foil...

Dukes > Hellmann's

This should not even be a question.

Ziploc bags
Heinz Ketchup (anything else is just wrong)
Diet Coke

For other things, it depends on price, but with coupons and store sales, I can usually get brand names at a similar or lower price than most store brands.

Tillamook Cheese
Diet Coke
Dr. Pepper (sorry, Mr. Pibb just won't do, either!)
Kraft Mac & Cheese
Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Tide Stain Lifter packs
Cascade Dishwasher packs

Glad to see someone mentioned bounty paper towels. I hate cheap feeling paper towels

Also would add:
frenchs mustard
Pop tarts
Dish soap palmolive or dawn

Would Rather Go Without Than Buy Off-Brand:

Coke (no other brand, named or generic/house)
Mayo (Best Foods/Hellemans)

Strongly Prefer:

Heinz Ketchup
Claussen Pickles
JIF Peanut Butter (Extra Crunchy)

Jif Peanut Butter for me too (Creamy though)
Potato chips, I like any name brand, just not store brands
Jelly/Jam

I agree with most of the foods already listed, but how about cleaning items and paper goods?

Charmin TP
Bounty paper towels
Huggies/Pampers diapers
Laundry detergent (I'll buy lots of different name brands - Tide, Gain, Arm & Hammer, but just not generic ones)
Saran Wrap or Glad Wrap

TP - used to be me, but H-E-B has a great store brand 3 ply now, good stuff.

Papertowels, they have a great store brand as well, but in most stores yes bounty or viva only.

Laundry detergent, mostly correct, however I spring for the natural ones sometimes and they are good, 7th generation is good stuff and going downa lot in price since more market now.

Saran Wrap. YES! I have not found even ONE store brand, including the more reilable store brands that work, even the other well known brands that make plastic wrap can't make wrap that actually CLINGS. I am sick of it, sometimes even I am having problems with select rolls of saran wrap!

Not generic but if you can get Wolferman's English Muffins (online) you will never again be satisfied with any other brand. Pricey though.

I've gotten catalogs in the mail that sell Wolferman's. They look very good but I've never broken down and ordered. Are they really that good?

Your humble OP did search on (store brand) and slog through 8 pages of results; but not on (generic brand) or (house brand).

OMG I fear I may have inadvertently spawned a Consolidated Thread.

Fear not, I was just pointing out the converse thread where some store-brands are better than name-brands. :)

I've gotten catalogs in the mail that sell Wolferman's. They look very good but I've never broken down and ordered. Are they really that good?

In a word, yes. If you like the typical light and crunchy English Muffin like Thomas's you may not like them as they are denser and larger. They are delicious and come in many flavors. And for what you get, the price is not bad.

Kraft Mac and Cheese
Heinz Ketchup
Coke zero
Odwalla juices
Bush's baked beans
and lately, Horizon milk

Odwalla juices

Evolution Apple juice and OJ blows Odwalla's away, but for a national brand that is widely available, I'd agree.
Also in south florida there are some exceptional local brands of juices that are better than Odwalla. (Orchid Island Juice Company comes to mind right off)

Ok, one that's a little odder, Pepcid AC Complete. I found the store brands to be a much harder tablet that's uncomfortable to chew. Of course, right now I'd take just about any brand since it's been so hard to get since they went through the recalls.

I've also found that the local store brand of Pop Tarts to not be anywhere near as good either.

...I've also found that the local store brand of Pop Tarts to not be anywhere near as good either.

^

Mmmm.... PopTarts!

(I chuckled when encountering a store brand that was proudly touting itself as "Organic!")

Pathmark and Waldbaums are two major chains in the NYC area--their "generic" brand is American Choice. The AC Extra Sharp Cheddar cheese is far superior to Kraft's brand name Cracker Barrel.
The AC version of Dijon mustard is better than Grey Poupon, and comes close to beating what one gets in France.

Pathmark and Waldbaums are two major chains in the NYC area--their "generic" brand is American Choice. The AC Extra Sharp Cheddar cheese is far superior to Kraft's brand name Cracker Barrel.
The AC version of Dijon mustard is better than Grey Poupon, and comes close to beating what one gets in France.

Is the AC Extra Sharp actually made by Cabot? Kroger's store brand high end cheeses are made by Cabot and very good.

-----

Actually, no :)

Please start such a thread in OMNI, thanks.

cblaisd
Moderator, Dining Buzz ;)

Hormel Black Label Bacon

Is the AC Extra Sharp actually made by Cabot? Kroger's store brand high end cheeses are made by Cabot and very good.
I have tried Cabot, but I don't think it is the same as the AC. [PS: I've tried other generic brands (sold in other local chain stores) and the AC is the best.

I have tried Cabot, but I don't think it is the same as the AC. [PS: I've tried other generic brands (sold in other local chain stores) and the AC is the best.

I just saw a picture of the packaging online, doesn't look Cabot style (even the store brands use the signature cabot style packaging)

I'm agreeing with most folk's thoughts. I was a Kraft mayonnaise girl until I met my husband. Now it's only Hellman's. Also, only Heintz ketchup. To add: charmin tp, Bounty paper towels, cascade detergent, Tide Free laundry detergent, Bounty free dryer sheets, Dannon yoghurt... I will say that Harrs Teeter's HT traders balsamic vinegar is really good and is the only balsamic I purchase. It's truly personal taste with it all. ;)

Store brand yogurts are terrible: Fage, Chobani, and even Dannon are far better.

In addition, I avoid store brand health and wellness products such as contact lens solutions, pain relievers ....

Store brand yogurts are terrible: Fage, Chobani, and even Dannon are far better.

In addition, I avoid store brand health and wellness products such as contact lens solutions, pain relievers ....

They are all bad compared to Swiss Emmi or Liberte :D (yogurts)

All this mayo talk is kind of gross. The best mayo is no mayo :p

Soda (and I don't call it pop - ever) - This includes real Diet Coke, real Fresca, etc. The only Pepsi product I ever buy is Diet Mountain Dew (well, I guess Canada Dry might be distributed by them in California).

Speaking of that, only Canada Dry Ginger Ale will do.

Vitamin Water Zero - all the imitators suck.

JIF Crunchy for mainstream PB (but I'm all about the locally made, all natural ones generally.)

St. Dalfour preserves.

Haagen-Dazs (Well, I do wish Frusen Gladje would come back)

S&W or Bush's beans. Actually, just about any canned produce.



I'd add Thomas' English Muffins. Nothing compares ...

I think I agree in theory, but I've found some store brands to be fantastic.

Store brand yogurts are terrible: Fage, Chobani, and even Dannon are far better.

In addition, I avoid store brand health and wellness products such as contact lens solutions, pain relievers ....

Completely disagree on yoghurt. Trader Joe's beats Fage and destroys Chobani.

My dad and girlfriend are very much into the name brand pain relievers, especially the old school, candy coated Advil. My mom and I go for the generic. I just make sure the brand is made in the US or Canada and not China.

Speaking of that, only Canada Dry Ginger Ale will do.

Ooh, those are fighting words around here. Only Vernors is acceptable. Although you have to be careful, I know for at least a while the product that was sold in other areas of the country wasn't necessarily produced the same way. (And apparently even the real Vernors might not be quite what it used to be either.)

I don't use it often but realize I am picky about cooking spray, only PAM seems to work right. since I don't use it often many of the store brands clog up, get sticky, leak over time, etc, a yucky mess.

All this mayo talk is kind of gross. The best mayo is no mayo :p

Soda (and I don't call it pop - ever) - This includes real Diet Coke, real Fresca, etc. The only Pepsi product I ever buy is Diet Mountain Dew

JIF Crunchy for mainstream PB

Haagen-Dazs
I completely agree on everything, N1120A. Escpecially pop :p! To add one, only the ziplock bags work. The store brand rip when you try to open them.

Delta747

All this mayo talk is kind of gross. The best mayo is no mayo :p

Preach it!

You will find a support group among several HERE (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/diningbuzz/578818-your-personal-food-rules.html), along with many benighted ones ;)

All this mayo talk is kind of gross. The best mayo is no mayo.The best mayo is straight out of the jar.

Much to learn, have you. :p

The best mayo is straight out of the jar.

Much to learn, have you. :p

I like mayonnaise and aioli to be homemade.

For sandwiches, and other times when this is not practical, I like to use Canola Maynnaise from the brand Spectrum.

Soda and pre-packaged deli meat (freshly sliced is fined though)