It all comes down to choice. Some people choose to buy nothing but brand names. I don’t think that’s wise shopping, but it’s their choice.
We often try store-brand equivalents. Sometimes, there’s little discernable difference between that item and the name-brand, and sometimes one or the other is clearly superior in our opinion. So we go with what we like.
Our local Wal*Mart was recently remodeled to include a full grocery and we have sampled some of the Great Value offerings. In one specific instance, we found one product that we feel is the full equal of a more expensive national brand. In another we found that the GV generic was far superior to the Kroger-brand version of the same item. Neither could be considered ‘as-good-as’ the national brand in this instance, but the GV product was very close.
Some store-brands are indistinguishable when included as an ingredient in a more complex menu offering, some may make a difference.
Again, it comes down to choice, and I’m happy that we have the ability to make that decision for ourselves.
I am in the “don’t eat the store brand” camp. Store brands are teh name brand rejects. or the name brand batch that is rejected for failing the quality control.
there is no consistency of quality in the store brands.
Again, it comes down to choice, and I’m happy that we have the ability to make that decision for ourselves.
And that "choice" is the "issue" here and whether Walmart is "smart" in doing what it's doing now.
Other stores are giving "choice" within their own stores... setting the off-brand product right next to the name-brand one. That's one kind of choice and it keeps the customers inside that same store with "their choice". And that's great.
Now... here is what Walmart is doing. They are putting their own "off-brand" product on the shelf, and then (in some cases) kicking out the name-brand choice that was on the shelf. Now, it's only the "off-brand" that is there.
For "choice" in that case, the consumer must leave Walmart and go to another store. The consumer still has "choice" -- but what Walmart has now done -- is drive that consumer to another competitor of Walmart's.
Now, that's what I call stupid marketing on the part of Walmart... LOL...