Does name brand matter?

Contributor: Wicked Wahine Wicked Wahine
Quote:
Originally posted by bratcat
i'm honestly not all that inrested in brand names, mostly because when it comes to food products i always read labels and go with the cheapest option that is best for me.
I check all the labels & pick the cheapest, as well. Then I try it and if I like it, that's what I'll get until a cheaper version comes along to try. But once I've found what I like, brand name or generic, that's what I use to compare with all newcomers. There's no point buying something I don't want to eat!

I notice big differences between brands of cheese & yogurt.
02/07/2013
Contributor: Geogeo Geogeo
Quote:
Originally posted by fizzygato
Does name brand always matter when it comes to food?

If so, which foods, and what kind of differences do you notice?

And are you loyal to a certain brand, or does it just have to be any big-name brand?
I avoid brand names, I don't become a marketing board for anyone.
02/07/2013
Contributor: Kristi :) Kristi :)
Most often brand names are a better quality than generic, there are some exception though!! One example is Walmart's powdered sugar is made from beet sugar instead of cane sugar and as a result is less sweet. But for the most part, I go with certain brand names. People take my recipes and always complain how mine tasted better, once we talk about it.. it comes down to one or both things, poor quality products and/or the wrong technique.
02/07/2013
Contributor: Kristi :) Kristi :)
and also... lol X-) sometimes I have noticed that cheaper products have more sodium, higher fat and/or use derivatives of artificial sweeteners.
02/07/2013
Contributor: xcapricax xcapricax
Sometimes it does but most of the time no. Alot of the name brand products are made at the exact same place the "regular" store brands are. When I was getting engaged i looked at all the specs of diamonds in the expensive shops and the ones in walmart and kmart they were exactually the same including the mine they came from. The only difference was the price tag and one had a name brand.
02/07/2013
Contributor: bratcat bratcat
Quote:
Originally posted by Wicked Wahine
I check all the labels & pick the cheapest, as well. Then I try it and if I like it, that's what I'll get until a cheaper version comes along to try. But once I've found what I like, brand name or generic, that's what I use to ... more
some brand names are a little better over the generic, and it's usually the stuff that has the most additives or is more processed such as cheeses or yogurt and milk and stuff, but honestly, if it's cheap it's for me! unless it's ben & jerry's, forget the price, give it to me!
I'm mostly just trying to stay away from processed foods, buying cheap and as ethically as possible.
02/08/2013
Contributor: 1001 Pleasures 1001 Pleasures
It depends on what I am buying. I have preferences when it comes to certain foods or cleaning products, but if I'm buying basic ingredients to use in a recipe, I am less picky.
02/08/2013
Contributor: jr2012 jr2012
I almost never buy name brand when there's a store brand equivalent. I shop at a store I really love and trust (Wegmans), and most of their store brands are equally good if not better.

I do buy name brands though, because there's just some items that are not available at the cheaper option (particularly in the natural/organic section). And I could not live without my Bobs Red Mill flours, Terra chips, Kind Bars, Nut Thins, Snyders Gluten Free Pretzels and so on, so on.

The only exception to this rule is flour. King Arthur flour (both gluten and non-gluten) all the way!
02/08/2013
Contributor: jr2012 jr2012
Quote:
Originally posted by xcapricax
Sometimes it does but most of the time no. Alot of the name brand products are made at the exact same place the "regular" store brands are. When I was getting engaged i looked at all the specs of diamonds in the expensive shops and the ones ... more
This is really interesting, thanks caprica!
02/08/2013
Contributor: TheirPet TheirPet
Sometimes. If they have a reputation for quality.
02/08/2013
Contributor: CountryPrincess CountryPrincess
Most of the time I don't care but there are a few certain things where you have to get the name brand
02/08/2013
Contributor: Kristi :) Kristi :)
Depending on the store, the employees that stock may know who makes their generic products. For example, a certain store brand of cheese slices is Kraft, their milk is Deans and their chips are Lays. If the store isn't too big, may benefit to ask!
02/09/2013
Contributor: His scarlett His scarlett
It is really only ketchup that I am brand loyal to. Everything else I like to try new things. But the ketchup eater in the house would lie down and die if I bought anything but Heinz!
03/06/2013
Contributor: Real or memorex Real or memorex
There are some situations in which I strongly prefer one brand, usually because it tastes different. Coke over Pepsi is an example - occasionally like a coke but can't stand pepsi.

Cheese is another. Many great labels taste unique.
05/22/2013
Contributor: Pete's Princess Pete's Princess
Mayo - It must be Kraft Real Mayo. It has a smoother consistency and just tastes better.
05/23/2013
Contributor: Aishiteru Aishiteru
Generic foods seem to often lack in taste and texture. I tried some generic tea that had the same ingredients as the name brand and it was disgusting. And I can definitely tell the difference in generic oreos. But some generic items like dairy products are fine.
05/23/2013
Contributor: Honeymuffin33 Honeymuffin33
It really depends on what I'm getting. For the most part I'm content with buying off-brand if money is tight but if something name-brand is on sale and is close to off-brand price I'll get it. There are some items that I just cannot get in off brand though. Soy Sauce is the most prominent in my mind at the moment because once I decided to buy off-brand soy sauce and it tasted terrible. Never again will I buy off-brand for Soy Sauce. D:
05/24/2013
Contributor: BlackOrchid BlackOrchid
Hardly ever matters to me, I shop a lot at a savings store that carries generic everything, and the quality is very good. Brand names I tend to splurge on.... Philadelphia cream cheese, Hellmann's mayo with olive oil.
05/29/2013
Contributor: @cammingcouple @cammingcouple
Quote:
Originally posted by fizzygato
Does name brand always matter when it comes to food?

If so, which foods, and what kind of differences do you notice?

And are you loyal to a certain brand, or does it just have to be any big-name brand?
The companies who use sustainable practices or who produce organic products are the ones we support the most. That is the only thing that matters to me. Like if I had the choice between an organic juice owned by company X who uses ladybugs for pesticide, powers their facility with 20% solar, and purchases offsets/donates to a fund for environmental protection OR buying odwalla or Naked juice (owned by pepsi and cocacola) I wouldn't buy the latter.

We do even sometimes buy store brand organic products in a pinch...
05/31/2013
Contributor: @cammingcouple @cammingcouple
Quote:
Originally posted by butts
Depends, there's certain brands I'm very loyal to because I KNOW they're good quality, non-toxic (non-perservative pumped/GMO filled/hydroginated fatty/etc. with food) and well priced. With toys I'm pretty loyal, since I have ... more
Love your answer
05/31/2013
Contributor: angel42539 angel42539
No it doesn't matter to me at all!
05/31/2013