Store Brands vs. Brand Names

[shootingstar]

I don't even know where the closest Walmart is located and I live downtown surrounded by many stores.

Haven't sought it out because truly what we need are essentials which Walmart is not necessary at this point in life. Have all the clothing I need, no more rm. to stuff interior decorating stuff, etc.

[wolfak]

Stop&Shop's Nature's Promise line of organic foods is usually cheaper and is always good. Generic oatmeal is palatable, but it definitely seems mushier than Quaker oats.

I get the Bob's Red Mill Rolled oats and they are far better than Quaker - not mushy unless you overcook them, and way tasty. Better texture in general, larger "flakes"

[Jolt]

I tend to buy a lot of store brands and have found them to be mostly good. However, one thing I have noticed on occasion is that sometimes the store brand of a product has more crummy ingredients like partially hydrogenated oils or artificial additives. Triscuit-type crackers are the first example that comes to mind; I will not buy the Shaw's brand because they contain trans fat while the brand-name version (or Trader Joe's brand, for that matter) does not. Yogurt is another example (unnecessary additives, not trans fat) other than, again, Trader Joe's. Other than cases like that, I'm not picky and so tend to buy the cheaper store brands.

[smilingcat]

mostly farmers market. Trader Joes for carbonated grapefruit juice, eggs, milk (store brand) When we do buy meat, its at an organic store called Sprouts.

We used to be okay with Whole foods but much of their frozen food is from China, so we stopped shopping there (also far more expensive).

Paper towel is from Costco and its a brand name... Cat food and dog food are from boutique supplier. No Science Diet and big NO to alpo and the like.

I don't trust the "organic" label from a big box store.

We really don't have too much need for brand name items.