2008.10.24
Are you brand loyal?
No matter how much my food budget tightens there are two brands that I won’t swap for generic versions. They are Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain bars and Big Train Chai (Vanilla-flavored), which is a tea mix.
I’ve actually tried the generic brand cereal bars in the past, and I just can’t stomach them. At this point, it's worth $2.50 a box for the brand-name bars, instead of paying less for food that is not satisfying.
Instead, I opt for less expensive store brands for items that I don’t care about as much, such as salad dressing, spaghetti sauce, or cleaning products.
I bring up this brand loyalty topic because reports lately have been showing that people more often are buying store brands to save money at the grocery store. A recent report by Booz & Co., a global consulting firm, reveals that purchasing store-label foods is one of the top 20 ways that consumers are scaling back their expenses. It falls in the category of frugal shopping.
It’s obvious that the current state of the economy is forcing people to rethink their food purchases. But I read in a story in the Wall Street Journal recently that the food companies with strong brands have pricing power. It points to General Mills Inc., Kellogg Co. and H.J. Heinz Co. as the food makers that may have raised prices on certain products but aren’t losing market share.
So, how does this relate to you? Has your brand loyalty changed because of rising food prices and other financial worries?
Not very much. I have always gone generic when possible but you're right, some things you just can't compromise on! I refuse to buy store-brand block cheese after a few bad incidents and generic Pop Tarts should be banned. The items I don't compromise on I will buy when they are on sale or if I have a coupon. I love cereal and always go name brand with it but I also won't buy it if I don't have a coupon. I've noticed that the cereal boxes are smaller but the price is higher, too. One thing I have found is that cereal is actually cheaper at Target that at the regular grocery store - at least where I live.
Comment by Kim — October 24, 2008 @ 11:59 am
I find that I'm very brand loyal. There's a confidence in knowing that even if it may cost
a bit more, you are guaranteed to be eating, drinking, driving, etc...that product that has
proven itself to you through quality, taste, health benefit, and so forth. For me, part of that
brand loyalty can be seen through 'generics/store brands' vs. national brands and visa versa.
The value of brand loyalty is that you don't waste money or make a mistake by purchasing
something that you wind up not liking, tossing and then re-purchasing. It's really about
doing what's best for you.
Comment by Love NRV — October 24, 2008 @ 12:09 pm
I tend to be very brand loyal once I find an item I like, but if I'm testing the waters for something new, I'll go anywhere to see what might be best. There are a lot of things that I find the store brands just fine for like some cleaning supplies, paper products, canned vegetables, spices, and some other things...but I always buy name brand sodas, cereal, and other things where I didn't care for store brand flavors or consistency as much. I also tend to be brand loyal in terms of stores I shop at and other items I purchase outside of groceries, just because of prior experiences.
Comment by Other John — October 24, 2008 @ 12:15 pm
I love the Kroger brand on most products but I NEVER buy generic soda - it has to be Coca Cola or Pepsi!
Comment by Michelle — October 24, 2008 @ 1:23 pm
I can echo the comments above, I'll buy store brands on some things, but stick w/ name brand on others. I find that Kroger block and sliced American cheese is good, and they frequently have it on sale. Cereal, I stick w/ name brand. I've found that there is, or can be, quite a difference in store brand, or generic, items. Some stores have good stuff, others not so much.
Comment by Dennis — October 25, 2008 @ 12:52 am
I almost always buy brand names. Too many surprises with the generics. Ask yourself, how many times have you sat down to a bowl of Cheerios, or Campbell's Chicken Noodle soup, and while eating thought "I wish I'd bought the cheaper brand"? Not very often I'd imagine. Now reverse that thought. Get my drift?
Comment by Lois Binson — October 25, 2008 @ 11:14 am
I uusally do buy name brand but it depends on what it is, and how big the price difference is. My older brother works at Kroger, and when I had a bad cold last winter, I had him do a littls shopping for me. He bought Kroger brand saltine crackers (actually he bought Kroger brand on just about everything) which I had never bought before. I buy them now though because they are very good. I like Kroger brand chai, I've never tried Big Train.
Comment by Debbie — October 25, 2008 @ 3:03 pm
I buy most everything store brand. But I agree with those who said they did not buy store brand soda! Isn't it funny that the one thing most agree not to compromise on is a luxury not a necessity. However, on principal I flat out refuse to pay more than a dollar for a two-liter drink. If Coke/ Pepsi goes over $1 then I buy Fanta. Kroger almost always has Fanta for 99 cents and at least it's better than Big K! (BTW Big K is the WORST of all the store brands!)
Comment by pmac — October 25, 2008 @ 11:17 pm