own brand vs real brand foods

Robsweezie · 02-07-2015 10:42PM #1

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 · 02-07-2015 10:44PM

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

4zn76tysfajdxp · 02-07-2015 10:45PM

Own brand. "Real" brands are for Protestants.

road_high · 02-07-2015 10:47PM

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 · 02-07-2015 10:47PM

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 · 02-07-2015 10:48PM

The Lidl own brand rice crispie bars are incredible

Señor Fancy Pants · 02-07-2015 10:50PM

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

Cadburys can bite my banger!

02-07-2015 10:52PM

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 · 02-07-2015 10:53PM

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 · 02-07-2015 10:54PM

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 · 02-07-2015 10:54PM

Stay away from Lidl whiskey.

desbrook · 02-07-2015 10:55PM

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 · 02-07-2015 10:55PM

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 · 02-07-2015 10:56PM

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 · 02-07-2015 10:57PM

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 · 02-07-2015 11:06PM

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 · 02-07-2015 11:12PM

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 · 02-07-2015 11:15PM

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 · 02-07-2015 11:27PM

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 · 02-07-2015 11:29PM

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 · 02-07-2015 11:30PM

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

Hooked · 02-07-2015 11:30PM

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 · 02-07-2015 11:33PM

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

mailforkev · 02-07-2015 11:34PM

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

Nom nom nom.

Harry Palmr · 02-07-2015 11:36PM

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 · 02-07-2015 11:38PM

Fairy Liquid ftw

fussyonion · 02-07-2015 11:43PM

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,

03-07-2015 12:30AM

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 · 03-07-2015 12:32AM

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

il gatto · 03-07-2015 12:47AM

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 · 03-07-2015 12:54AM

efb wrote: »

Fairy Liquid ftw

:rolleyes:

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

own brand vs real brand foods

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