Want to know which store brands have become household names? We did a little research on some off-brand items to find out!
Heading to the grocery store? First, read this comparison of store brands and popular brands.
we all know it sometimes Store brands don’t compare to name brands. But did you know that many store brands are actually manufactured under the ‘private labels’ of big brand companies and sold for much less?
Instead of paying more for the same or similar product, check out a few off-brand items that we’ve found are just as good as the competition!
memo: Manufacturers rarely confirm who makes store brand products, so some of these combinations are confirmed, but some are based on strong evidence and industry research. Suppliers may also change over time, so use this list as a fun guide, not a guarantee! 😉
The following store brands are made from well-known brands:
1. ALDI’s Millville cereal is manufactured by General Mills.
I’ve heard that ALDI’s Millville brand is manufactured exclusively for the grocery chain by the giant General Mills. However, according to Mashed, rumor has it that Millville cereal is actually manufactured by Post-owned Malt-O-Meal.
Regardless of whether the actual manufacturer is General Mills or Post, this example shows that there’s no need to pay for name brands when you can save big money on store brands!
2. ALDI’s Benton cookies taste just like Girl Scout cookies.
Satisfy your Girl Scout Cookie cravings all year long at ALDI! Under the brand name Benton’s, you’ll find three of the best Girl Scout Cookie-inspired flavors: Tagalongs and Samoas. And the best part is, the ALDI brand is much cheaper per box!
I can’t confirm if Benton’s brand is manufactured by a larger brand, but these cookies look (and taste) identical to the Girl Scout version, except they’re less expensive and can be used year-round!
3. ALDI’s Tuscan Garden Italian Dressing tastes just like Olive Garden!
If you’re a fan of Olive Garden’s signature Italian salad dressing, look no further than ALDI’s off-brand version of this popular salad dressing! Get Tuscan Gardens’ “Restaurant Style” Italian Dressing in the same size bottle for $2.09. 50% savings!
The Tuscan Garden brand is actually manufactured by Treehouse Foods, but the only difference between these two salad dressings appears to be the label and price. We tried both dressings and they tasted almost the same!
4. This cost-effective peanut butter is actually a product made by Peter Pan.
Why buy Peter Pan peanut butter that sells for about 15 cents an ounce when you can pick up Walmart’s Great Value brand for about 12 cents an ounce?!
A few years ago, there were recalls for both products, including off-brand items. This led to the discovery that the two products were actually the same and made by ConAgra Foods!
Can’t believe it’s just as good? Here’s what one buyer had to say about Great Value Peanut Butter:
“We decided to try the Great Value brand of peanut butter because of the price and found that it was just as good as the major brand’s peanut butter. If you read the label, you’ll find that the nutritional value is the same or even better than other brands. And the taste is just as delicious. It’s worth a try for the low cost, and you’ll find that the only thing you’re giving up is a higher price and a major brand name.”
5. The store brand, Great Value White Bread, is a brand created by Sara Lee.
Walmart’s 20-ounce loaf of Great Value White Bread is actually made in the same bakery as Sara Lee products and many other brands! As with Great Value peanut butter, we discovered a link during a recall that occurred in 2015. So why pay more than twice as much for the same product?
Hip2Save readers also had some unique insights into the brand.
“I worked at a name brand bakery for about a year. We changed bags and bagged bread for Texas retailers without stopping the production line. Sometimes we even adjusted the slicer to change slice thickness. I almost always buy private brand, no matter what the product is.”
6. Costco’s Kirkland tuna is made by Bumble Bee Tuna.
We were excited to learn that Kirkland Signature Tuna is made by Bumble Bee! Or should I say that Bumblebee tuna is made in Kirkland? 🤭 This is one of those items you will want to buy the name brand because it will save you over 5 cents per ounce!
7. The store brand Great Value Ice Cream is said to be made by Blue Bunny.
Wells Enterprises (formerly Wells Dairy) has partnered with Walmart to manufacture Great Value ice cream for nearly 40 years. The same company also developed Blue Bunny, Halo Top, Bomb Pop, and Blue Ribbon Classics, making Great Value a budget-friendly alternative to familiar freezer brands.
Ouch! Bookmark our Ninja Creami posts so you’ll know when the next deal will appear and help you make homemade ice cream for less.
8. Word on the street is that Great Value Applesauce is made at Musselman’s.
Who knew? Your favorite childhood snack is actually a whole $1.25 cheaper when you buy the store brand! I looked at the ingredient lists for the store brand vs. name brand challenge, and you can see that they’re almost identical, as they both contain “apples, sugar, water, and ascorbic acid,” in that order.
If you buy applesauce regularly, check out these tips from Hip2Save readers:
“The factory in my town makes Musselman’s, White House, and Great Value. It’s the same formula, they just change the packaging. The only time they change the brand formula is when they make specialty products like ‘all Granny Smith.’ I toured the factory in high school and have been buying Great Value ever since.”
9. Starbucks is one of the suppliers of Kirkland Signature Coffee.
Some Kirkland Signature coffees continue to be custom roasted by Starbucks, and Costco’s current list of house blends and decaf house blends still says “custom roasted by Starbucks.”
Costco has not publicly announced a full end to its Starbucks partnership, although some packaging changes in 2023 and 2024 have shoppers speculating that another supplier has taken over. There are rumors that companies like Green Mountain or San Francisco Bay Coffee may be roasting certain varieties, but there’s no official confirmation. Regardless of roaster, Kirkland Coffee remains one of the better values for coffee beans at Costco.
10. Duracell makes Kirkland Signature batteries, which work just as well!
Kirkland Signature batteries are manufactured by Duracell (according to an interview with the former Costco CEO). You can purchase Kirkland Signature AA battery packs at a warehouse near you for over half the price of Duracell! 😱
11. Trader Joe’s store brand Pita Chips are made by Stacy’s.
Have you ever tried Trader Joe’s pita chips and sea salt? These chips are super delicious and taste basically the same as the Simply Naked flavor of Stacy’s Pita Chips, just in different packaging and at a lower price.
A 6-ounce bag of Trader Joe’s Pita Chips sells for about $0.42 per ounce, while a 7.33-ounce bag of Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips sells for about $0.59 per ounce at stores like Target.
12. Trader Joe’s Pistachios are sourced from places like Wonderful Pistachios.
We learned that Trader Joe’s pistachios come from the same place as Wonderful pistachios. You can sometimes find the Wonderful brand for a similar price, but next time you’re at TJ’s, you won’t be sacrificing quality, so don’t think twice about buying the store brand variety!
13. Stoneyfield is rumored to make the popular Trader Joe’s organic yogurt, according to a former employee.
If you’re a fan of Trader Joe’s Organic Whole Milk Yogurt, there’s a good chance you’re already enjoying Stonyfield Organic at great prices. Trader Joe’s does not officially disclose its suppliers, but several reports, including information from former employees, have identified Stonyfield as the manufacturer of Trader Joe’s organic yogurt products, particularly on the East Coast. Both yogurts are known for their rich, creamy texture, live, active cultures, and organic ingredients, so if you’re looking for the same Stonyfield quality at a lower price, the Trader Joe’s version offers great value. As with many private label products, exact recipes may vary slightly depending on region or retailer specifications.
14. Many people are convinced that Land O’Lakes also makes Great Value butter due to packaging mix-ups and identical ingredients.
If you regularly purchase Land O’Lakes butter, you might want to try Great Value Butter. Walmart doesn’t say who makes its store brand butter, but the well-known packaging mix-up that resulted in Great Value butter being mistakenly packaged in Land O’Lakes packaging strongly suggests that both butters are produced in the same facility. Although neither company has officially confirmed that it’s the same recipe, this incident has led many shoppers to believe that Great Value butter offers very similar quality at a lower price, making it a smart swap if you’re looking to save on kitchen essentials.
When in doubt, look at the ingredients list.
One thing many shoppers don’t realize is that store brands and name brands are often manufactured in the same factories. Categories such as butter, milk, yogurt, frozen vegetables, canned vegetables, pasta, peanut butter, flour, sugar, salt, bit, crackers, cookieand even ice cream According to sources, it is one of the most common products that share a manufacturer. This doesn’t mean the recipe will always be the same, as retailers may make slight adjustments to ingredients or flavors, but the differences are often minimal.
If you’re looking to save money, it’s a good idea to compare ingredient lists and nutrition labels side-by-side. You may be surprised at how similar many store brand products are to name brand products.
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