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Name brands vs store brands: Is there really much difference anymore?

Store brands are up in quality, but also in prices

Store brands have come a long way since the 1980's. Many are as good as name brands. But do they still save money?

By: John Matarese

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With grocery prices up so sharply since the pandemic, more and more shoppers are saving money with cheaper house brands.

But there are some cases where sticking with the name brand may still be a better deal, especially since prices on those store brands are now going up as well.

Store brands, or "house" brands, have come a long way since the generic products of the 1970s.

"They have gotten a lot better," Reann Young said. "I think the store brands have really invested a lot more in getting better."

Target's Archer farms, Walmart's Great Value, Costco's Kirkland, Kroger's Private Selection, and anything from Aldi are typically 15% cheaper, according to Consumer Reports magazine.

When to buy store brands

Consumer Reports recent tests found several top quality store brand products, such as:

Cheese
Frozen vegetables
Ketchup
Nuts
Peanut Butter
Sandwich bags
Sunscreen

When to buy big name brands

But they find there are still some products where you might want to stick with the name brand.

The survey found name brands still have an edge when it comes to:

Breakfast cereal, like Cheerios and Froot Loops.
Coffee
Cookies, like Oreos.
Shampoo
Skin care products.

But watch for price hikes

Unfortunately many of those store brands have been raising prices lately, so the savings may not be as good as they were pre-pandemic.

We compared prices with some receipts from early 2022, and found that in just over a year :

Store brand napkins that were $1.79 are now $1.99.
Store brand seltzer water that was $2.75 has since jumped to $3.99.
Store brand paper towels that were $3.79 are now $3.99.

"Those are pricey too, even the house brand," one shopper told us.
So grab those house brands when you see real savings, as long as you don't see a major change in taste or quality, so you don't waste your money.

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