own brand vs real brand foods

Robsweezie

in the shopping, do you go for the own brand stuff or the 'real' branded foods? in my house its kelloggs and nestle cereals, brennans bread and avonmore milk. we don't get supervalu this, lidl that. someone told me they once refused to eat dunnes stores corn flakes as a matter of principle, that they weren't the same and inferior to the real deal. I cant remember a time when we ever bought own brand anything to be honest. how about you?

fleet_admiral

I go for what tastes good. Some own brands are superior to brand foods, Kelloggs being an example

4zn76tysfajdxp

Own brand. "Real" brands are for Protestants.

road_high

I bought own-brand "Srcumches" in Aldi recently, effectively their rip-off of HB Brunch ice creams. They are horrifically bad. Most own-brands nowadays are usually pretty decent/close to the original.

The Backwards Man

Brand labels are very important, as I have always said on here. The difference in the quality of Grant's vodka in a Smirnoff bottle as opposed to in a Huzzar bottle has to be tasted to be believed.

fleet_admiral

The Lidl own brand rice crispie bars are incredible

Señor Fancy Pants

The Lidl chocolate digestives are probably the nicest I have ever had, buttery, crumbly and satisfying.

Cadburys can bite my banger!

In certain items, will stick religiously to brands, and not just a few brands but one specific type. Has to be Kerrygold butter, Hellmanns Mayonnaise, Bachelors Peas and Heinz Beans.

fleet_admiral

Deleted User wrote: »

In certain items, will stick religiously to brands, and not just a few brands but one specific type. Has to be Kerrygold butter, Hellmanns Mayonnaise, Bachelors Peas and Heinz Beans.

Tesco value beans are, imo the best on the market

mad muffin

If anyone loves chocolate ice cream, they need to taste super valu's. It is so good. I could eat a litre tub in one sitting.

osarusan

Stay away from Lidl whiskey.

desbrook

If you have the money to pay 1.89 or whatever for Brennans bread while you can get a great sliced pan for 69c in Lidl go ahead!
The fact that eejits are paying at least double for "branded " goods makes the "own brands" taste even better although in many cases they are better. Biscuits and breakfast cereals prove the point.

GreatDefector

Tesco finest jacks roll for me

While it's nice to wipe my arse with 4-ply dog skin, it's otherwise, literally flushing money town the toilet

desbrook

Señor Fancy Pants wrote: »

The Lidl chocolate digestives are probably the nicest I have ever had, buttery, crumbly and satisfying.

Cadburys can bite my banger!

65c versus 3.50 for mcVities!!!

fleet_admiral

desbrook wrote: »

If you have the money to pay 1.89 or whatever for Brennans bread while you can get a great sliced pan for 69c in Lidl go ahead!
The fact that eejits are paying at least double for "branded " goods makes the "own brands" taste even better although in many cases they are better. Biscuits and breakfast cereals prove the point.

Brennans bread is doughy muck

dee_mc

Kellogg's cereal, because the one we use isn't copied by any of the 'own brand' types.
Cadbury chocolate, but I like some of the Lidl and Aldi stuff too.
FryLight cooking oil spray, again because it's not copied by any of the supermarkets.
Liberte Greek yogurt because none of the own brand ones are as thick and they don't taste as nice.
Everything else foodwise, e.g. pasta, tomato puree, milk, tinned tomatoes, salt, herbs etc, I use own brand.
Own brand washing liquid, but I always buy Comfort fabric conditioner because the own brand ones smell horrible (to me). Flash floor cleaner and Fairy washing up liquid, everything else cleaningwise, including dishwasher tablets, own brand all the way.
I don't really understand brand snobbery, but if the own brand alternative isn't as good as the branded product then I don't mind paying a bit more for the 'real thing'.
Edit to add, branded toilet paper but only when it's on special offer (which one of them always is), I'm not made of money!

PizzamanIRL

Just because "real" brands got on the market first to establish themselves doesn't mean own brands can't taste better etc.

Crops used in cereals all come from the same type of fields.

Toto Wolfcastle

A mix, really. Some own brands are better than branded stuff, and some branded things are better than the own brands.

Tesco and Dunnes butter is the same as Kerrygold. If there's a difference I don't notice it. Lidl dishwasher tablets and washing powder tablets are perfect and much much cheaper than the branded alternatives. Aldi sun cream got great reviews in Fashion and Appearance last year so I've started using it this year. Tesco Everyday Value mozzarella is really cheap and perfect for pizzas. They do really cheap air fresheners too.

I buy Avonmore Supermilk because my husband likes it, and Regina XXL kitchen roll because it's better than other brands. I buy Shredded Wheat because the individual packs that come in the box are handy for my husband to bring to work, but I've never checked to see if there's an own brand alternative.

CFlat

If you were unfortunate enough to live around the time of the 'Yellow pack' products in the 70s and 80s, you'll remember that the Corn Flakes tasted like something you'd see nowadays in 5 litre bags used for wood chippings on your flower beds. No amount of milk and sugar would disguise their awfulness.

Rough Sleeper

By and large the German supermarkets' brands are just as good for half the price. But any ketchup that isn't Heinz just tastes like vinegar and red.

The Adversary

I would love to hear Aongus Von Bismarck's input on this.

Hooked

CFlat wrote: »

If you were unfortunate enough to live around the time of the 'Yellow pack' products in the 70s and 80s, you'll remember that the Corn Flakes tasted like something you'd see nowadays in 5 litre bags used for wood chippings on your flower beds. No amount of milk and sugar would disguise their awfulness.

Ah the auld yellow pack beer in 'crazy prices' - tasted like 2p coins.

Baggy Trousers

I just check the Salt and Sugar percentages. That usually makes my decision.

mailforkev

Lidl's fake fun size Mars and Snickers bars are better than the original.

Nom nom nom.

Harry Palmr

CFlat wrote: »

If you were unfortunate enough to live around the time of the 'Yellow pack' products in the 70s and 80s, you'll remember that the Corn Flakes tasted like something you'd see nowadays in 5 litre bags used for wood chippings on your flower beds. No amount of milk and sugar would disguise their awfulness.

True that, it poisoned a whole generation regarding "generic" and own brands. I only shop in "Lidel" really though Aldi is opening in August in a handy spot so I'll give them a go as well.

efb

Fairy Liquid ftw

fussyonion

I buy a lot of own-brand stuff because I genuinely think it's the same quality as the brand name stuff, but some things I can't compromise on.

Hellman's Mayo: I don't eat mayo, but my other half (who's the least fussiest person you could meet), really prefers it.

Kilmeadan Cheddar: I have tried Lidl and Aldi's cheddar and it is nice, but there's something about Kilmeadan I really like.

Denny ham: I have probably tried all the other brands, but nothing tastes like Denny.

Coke: No compromise here. I've tried Aldi's cola and hated it. Anyway, there's always great offers on Coke in Tesco so I stock up on those.



I buy own-brand ketchup (Tesco's one is great), rice,

fussyonion

fussyonion wrote: »

Hellman's Mayo: I don't eat mayo, but my other half (who's the least fussiest person you could meet), really prefers it..,

I can eat it by the spoonful. I will invariably take a spoon of it from a newly opened jar.

PrettyBoy

I've always found Tesco vodka to be as good as Smirnoff (if not better).

il gatto

Heinz beans (or Branston), Coke, Nutella, Crisps and Chocolate, Lea and Perrins, Knorr stock cubes, always branded. Otherwise I'll try other stuff and if I like it I've no problem buying own brand. Sometimes I'll buy branded when it's on offer just for a change. Ingredients like tinned tomatoes, tomato purée, Parmesan, milk, butter really makes no difference to me.
And Corn Flakes. Has to be Kellogs.

Owen_S

efb wrote: »

Fairy Liquid ftw

:rolleyes:

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2014/aug/21/ldi-bursts-fairys-bubble-washing-up-liquid

NachoBusiness

Tesco's effort at Bounty Bars is embarrassing.

lulu1

Buy very little in Aldi or Lidl it dose not taste the same I dont care what anyone says.

Maybe if you had toddlers you could start shopping there because they wouldnt know any difference but not when you have teenagers who looks at the food turns it upside down and inside out and maybe even smells it before they eat it.
Mot of the time I do all my shopping in supervalu because I find if you get a few things here and then go to aldi and then to lidl you end up spending twice as much

Insect Overlord

Lidl's triple chocolate cookies are the best things in the world.

Also fruit, veg, cheese, butter, milk, pasta, tinned tomatoes, nuts, breads, chocolate, all good.

Skylinehead

NachoBusiness wrote: »

Tesco's effort at Bounty Bars is embarrassing.

Their Snickers are bloody gorgeous. Haven't tried that, but I will.

Zhane

lulu1 wrote: »

Buy very little in Aldi or Lidl it dose not taste the same I dont care what anyone says.

Maybe if you had toddlers you could start shopping there because they wouldnt know any difference but not when you have teenagers who looks at the food turns it upside down and inside out and maybe even smells it before they eat it.
Mot of the time I do all my shopping in supervalu because I find if you get a few things here and then go to aldi and then to lidl you end up spending twice as much

Honestly, if your teenagers are turning their noses up at the food you make them. Tell them to cop on and to fend for themselves.

If I did that, it would be death by wooden spoon!

thelad95

Coca Cola and Durex are two brands I would never compromise on.

Aldi do delicious luxury yoghurts for about 70c that are way nicer than anything like Muller or Cadbury yoghurts.

Robsweezie

thelad95 wrote: »

Coca Cola and Durex are two brands I would never compromise on.

Aldi do delicious luxury yoghurts for about 70c that are way nicer than anything like Muller or Cadbury yoghurts.

what are you trying to prove??? :D:D

lulu1

Zhane wrote: »

Honestly, if your teenagers are turning their noses up at the food you make them. Tell them to cop on and to fend for themselves.

If I did that, it would be death by wooden spoon!

I was really referring to aldi/lidl food

TBH i wouldnt eat it myself

Zhane

lulu1 wrote: »

I was really referring to aldi/lidl food

TBH i wouldnt eat it myself

Each to their own. Aldi is the closest shop to me, been shopping there for years. Nothing wrong with the food at all.

desbrook

lulu1 wrote: »

I was really referring to aldi/lidl food

TBH i wouldnt eat it myself

It's not off the ground your teenagers got their fussiness!!!

Fat Christy

Mostly own brand as I shop in Aldi and Lidl. The only branded stuff or real brand thingy's I buy is tea (Lyons/Barry's) and Mayonnaise, because food really does love Hellmans!

kfallon

Tell you what's really nice, the Spar own brand Cola/Diet Cola....and only 49c a can (or 6 pack for 2.50)

Trond

osarusan wrote: »

Stay away from Lidl whiskey.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/10985584/13.29-Lidl-whisky-wins-top-spirit-award.html

osarusan

Trond wrote: »

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/10985584/13.29-Lidl-whisky-wins-top-spirit-award.html

Is that sold in Ireland? I was thinking about the Dun Dealgan one (or whatever it is called).

That one was kind of nasty.

Areyouwell

I've often been surprised by the quality and taste of some of the supposedly cheaper brands. So I couldn't careless about a products brand tbh.

SEPT 23 1989

CFlat wrote: »

If you were unfortunate enough to live around the time of the 'Yellow pack' products in the 70s and 80s, you'll remember that the Corn Flakes tasted like something you'd see nowadays in 5 litre bags used for wood chippings on your flower beds. No amount of milk and sugar would disguise their awfulness.

the Sunblest cornflakes were even worse if thats possible

Trond

osarusan wrote: »

Is that sold in Ireland? I was thinking about the Dun Dealgan one (or whatever it is called).

That one was kind of nasty.

Not 100% sure tbh. I know they had a good single malt for about €24 recently but it tends to sell out (the name escapes me).

Haven't tried Dun Dealgan though....

lulu1

desbrook wrote: »

It's not off the ground your teenagers got their fussiness!!!

Won't argue with that If I wouldn't eat it myself I wouldn't force it on someone else

cbyrd

The aldi range of Turkey slices ( the specialty packs) are made by hogan meats in Meath, the Lidl bread used to be made by spicers in Navan until it closed, the fruit and veg offers every week are not subsidised by the producers, aldi and lidl take the hit as opposed to tesco dunnes and supervalu who make the supplier take the hit on product price.
I used to be a brand snob until financial reasons made me cop on to the amount of money I was spending on food.
I find a lot of the own brand stuff far nicer than the brand products.
The red tub of vanilla icecream in lidl.
The lidl extra mature cheese
Supervalu own brand spaghetti hoops and beans.
The aldi weetabix doesn't need as much milk as the kelloggs ones, and the rice crispies are nicer to.
Aldi also do lovely gluten free sausages for 99c as opposed to E1.89 for the cheapest branded ones.

Thargor

Cant shop in Dunnes or Tesco anymore since Aldi opened across the road from our house, everything is twice as dear for the same or less quality. Id say I feed myself on €3 a day or less overall now compared to €5-6 or often a lot worse in the Tesco days.

Trond wrote: »

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/10985584/13.29-Lidl-whisky-wins-top-spirit-award.html

osarusan wrote: »

Is that sold in Ireland? I was thinking about the Dun Dealgan one (or whatever it is called).

That one was kind of nasty.

Same for Lidls vodka, nearly the cheapest on the market and the best vodka money can buy imo, Smirnoff tastes of chemicals to me now:

http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/lidl-own-brand-vodka-beats-market-leaders-141897.html