2 min read·shopping
Store brands and branded products often come from the same factory
Buying store brands does not mean sacrificing quality or taste.
When you reach for a store brand, there is a good chance that the product you are bringing home is identical in taste and quality to the equivalent name brand product. Even when the name brand product is not identical to its brand-name cousin, the price difference can be significant.
Research reveals that store-brand beverages, breakfast cereals, and basic snacks are consistently cheaper by 50%, and sometimes even up to 70%. Here are items that you should always buy generic rather than spending more on a name brand.
- Baking staples like sugar, flour, baking soda, and salt are chemically identical.
- Canned goods like beans, diced tomatoes, and corn have the same taste and nutrition.
- Dry pasta tastes identical once cooked and covered in sauce.
- Grains like rice and plain rolled oats have no structural or flavor differences.
- Dairy products follow strict federal safety and quality standards.
- Spices like pepper, garlic powder, and cinnamon offer the same flavor for half the price.
Sometimes it may be worth spending a little more on a name-brand product, but store brands are a reliable place to start when you are trimming a grocery bill.
