Generic brand foods typically cost 15 to 20 percent less than name brands and often match national brand quality, according to the American Dietetic Association. In some cases, grocers may stock more than one generic brand, with the second offered at an even greater discount. Although many generic foods are nutritionally equivalent to national brands, it pays to evaluate each product individually.
Identification
Generic brands, also called store brands, offer consumers a less expensive alternative to national brand foodstuffs. Packaged foods such as cereal, convenience foods, canned goods and frozen fruits and vegetables are often available in generic brands. Store brands have a cheaper overhead because they aren't nationally advertised, explains the Clemson Cooperative Extension, adding that although the packaging is different, nutritional variances are usually minimal.
Significance
Consumer Reports compared name brand and generic brand foods and found the nutritional quality between comparable products to be similar. In fact, generic foods often have the same ingredients as name-brand products, according to the Oregon State Extension Service. Exceptions are what Consumer Reports refers to as second-tier store brands, which cost less than typical store brands but may fall short in taste and nutritional quality.
Factors
Store brand foods may be manufactured and packaged by nationally known brands, according to Consumer Reports, although this is not always the case. In some instances, products are identical. However, generic foods that come from national brand companies may have different recipes, tastes and nutrients than their name-brand counterparts, depending on the client's specifications.
The Facts
An effective way to compare vitamin content in generic and name brands is to read the labels. The American Dietetic Association recommends you compare products using the percent daily value for nutrients listed on the label. If the nutritional content of store brands and national brands for products you buy are similar, it may come down to taste. You can sometimes try off-brands risk free if you ask the store manager about store brand incentives.
Considerations
The Private Label Manufacturers Association reports that consumers save 30 percent on their grocery bill, on average, when purchasing store-brand food products. More than 90 percent of surveyed grocery shoppers rate store brand quality as "good" or "excellent," with 40 percent reporting that they purchase store brands at least once a week, according to the Food Marketing Institute.
References
- American Dietetic Association: Ten Tips for Eating Right Affordably
- Clemson Cooperative Extension: Stretch Your Food Dollars Part 1: Before Going to the Store
- Consumer Reports: Store Brands vs. Name Brands
- Oregon State University Extension Service: Brand Name vs. Generic
- The Private Label Manufacturer's Association: Market Basket Analysis Shows Savings Continue for Consumers Buying Store Brands
- Food Marketing Institute: FMI Grocery Shopper Trends 2010: Consumers Are Savvy and Informed Bargain Hunters When it Comes to Grocery Shopping
Member Comments