I will have to admit being brand loyal sometimes. Kraft Grated Parmesan Cheese is and has been my preference for spaghetti topping. In my opinion, Kraft products are always good. A few years ago, I decided I would try a store brand grated Parmesan to save $1 on the canister. That cheese was so horrible that I could not finish the container. The taste was off and the texture was not any kind of cheese-like. I think waxed paper might have been more palatable. The store gave me back my money. And, I swore that Kraft was my brand from now on for parmesan cheese.
All that changed Tuesday at lunch. At the church lunch we had spaghetti. The cooks and servers broke out the parmesan cheese. OH, NO! It was a store brand. I bravely sprinkled it generously on my helping of spaghetti. I was shocked at how good it was, maybe even better than Kraft!
On Wednesday, I had a reason to go to that store and bought the off-brand cheese. Just in case I was mistaken, I bought the smaller size. I brought it home and sprinkled some in my palm and ate it. Yes, it is delicious. It may taste a little cheddar-y, but at least it is cheese-y and cheaper.
It was good on a salad. It was great in the salad dressing I made. So, it's a go for me at this point. It is a lot less finely grated, but that has no influence on my decision.
I will save about $0.60 on each shaker canister. That's not much, but enough to sway me since the taste is great.
I do draw the line at buying Great Value, Walmart's brand. Never. That's just me.
If I have not gotten around to your blog or miss your comment here, I will, maybe visit. I am still pretty ill and went to the doctor yesterday.
Your turn
Are you at all brand loyal? Or, do you just go for the cheaper price/unit? Are you brand loyal on some things and all for the least cost on another item? Is the Food Club brand in your store?
The only things we are brand loyal to are peter pan pb, Hellmans mayo and heinz ketchup. Anything else is whatever is cheaper
ReplyDeletej,
DeleteKraft Miracle Whip, Del Monte catsup, Smucker's pb with only peanuts and salt. I would buy anything with only salt and peanuts and not other fats. I will admit to being brand loyal to a few more things, but not as many as I did buy.
Thanks for that short list.
I'm flexible (in my decisions, not the old body anymore) in what I use. It is what ever Judy buys at the store.
ReplyDeleteCoffeypot,
DeleteYou are a good man!
Some brands have my loyalty and some not. And it isn't fixed in concrete.
ReplyDeleteWhen the 'no-name' products first came on the market most of them were awful. So awful they weren't cheap because of the wastage. Things are changing, slowly, for the better.
EC,
DeleteYou are so correct. It seems that they may have listened to the sales figures and customers.
Kroger brand spaghetti sauce is still awful, I hear. But, their oj and pumpkin are great.
Thanks for point out that fact.
I'm loyal to Charmin, Cheer, and Downy. And the boys eat Pedigree.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Janie,
DeleteI love Cheer, but I cannot find it in Cheer Free. So, I buy ALL. I have to be loyal to things that don't cause allergy problems. You feed the boys well...lol. Thanks for the list.
Consumer's Reports has tested many no-name products and found that they are at least as good as the store brands. Often times they are all made by the same manufacturers with different labels. I usually go for price unless something has obviously been not up to standards.
ReplyDeleteJane,
DeleteThat's a report I missed. I suppose in the end, the consumer's taste is what counts. Most people prefer Heinz catsup. DelMonte is my preference by a long shot. Sooo, I just leave the high quality on the shelf and buy DelMonte when I can find it. Lately, other brands have no hfcs, so I am not loyal to DelMonte any longer. Thanks for the comment.
I meant the store brands are usually as good as the major names. :) But I think you knew what I meant. I am reading a lot of labels these days. Trying to find items without aspartame is difficult and also the high fructose corn syrup. They seem to be in everything.
DeleteI won't buy off brand ketchup or toilet paper. A few others too. But I buy great value canned food, pasta, coffee creamer. All my pantry stuff too , flour, baking soda, that stuff. The qualities have greatly improved
ReplyDeletelongtime wife,
DeleteI just picture all GV products being produced in China and under their low standards. This is my horrible thought--that was raised using 'night soil.' Night soil in fresh poop from outhouses. Yeah, I know. I have a vivid imagination.
Night soil is fresh poop from outhouses.
DeleteWe also try to avoid food items from China and fruit from outside the US. So many of the pesticides we have banned end up being used in other countries. If we could ban GMO foods, we'd been on a better food track. I am convinced much of the colon cancer etc., we are experiencing comes from using all of these.
ReplyDelete