Supermarkets are keeping a secret from you. And it’s one that the manufacturers of big brands don’t want us to know either. Very often, the same manufacturers who make the big brand items also produce supermarket own-brand labels. Sometimes, both labels even use the same ingredients and recipe.
Own-brand and copycat products are often much cheaper than their branded counterparts. And when doing the weekly supermarket shop, the savings add up. Just by switching a few branded products for their own-brand counterparts, you will see big savings on your weekly grocery shop.
Food factories often produce items for multiple customers. That means that major supermarkets’ own-brand products are made by the same manufacturers that produce the big-brand items. The pasta you’re buying from your supermarket’s label could be made in the same factory, using the same ingredients, and by the same people who make the pricier, well-known brands.
The Secret Hack You Can Use To Check Own Branded Items
If you look at the labels of own-branded products, you will often see where they were manufactured. For instance, the label might say the food manufacturer packed it on behalf of “X” supermarket. There might also be a supplier code, usually a five-digit code that denotes which manufacturer made the product. If you compare a branded item with a non-branded item, they were made by the same manufacturer if they have the same supplier code.
Producing own-brand brand labels is a win-win situation for manufacturers. Private-label products fill up their production capacity and minimise downtime. Supermarkets can offer customers lower-priced products without skimping on quality.
Are Own Brand Labels As Good As Branded?
You might think own-brand labels are inferior to their branded counterparts. Yet in blind taste tests, own-branded products consistently match or even outperform their branded rivals.
Because massive amounts aren’t being spent on advertising, supermarkets can sell own branded products much more cheaply than the brands with big marketing budgets.
Copycat Products
Supermarkets often spend a lot of time trying to make own brand products look as much like the branded products as is legally possible without being accused of copying.
Aldi is famous for its own-brand products that closely resemble big brands. Aldi works with top-tier manufacturers to ensure their products are of the same quality as the big names but at a lower price. Aldi’s own-brand biscuits and chocolates taste remarkably similar to well-known brands. This is no accident; Aldi spends a lot of time ensuring their own products that taste as close to the original brands as possible.
Costco’s signature Kirkland brand is known for its high quality. Kirkland products are often produced by the same companies that make leading national. Sometimes, the only difference between a Kirkland product and a big brand product is the label and the price.
Not All Brand Products Are The Same
Because a product is made by the same manufacturer, it does not always mean that the ingredients are the same. While some own-branded products are an exact replica of the branded ones, some use cheaper ingredients and different recipes.
Yet in some categories, own-brand medicines for example, the ingredients are exactly the same. Own-brand brand paracetamol and ibuprofen are a fraction of the cost of the branded alternatives. When checking medicines, compare the active ingredients, and many times you will find the generic product contains exactly the same formula at a fraction of the price.
So the next time you are in the supermarket, remember those own-brand labels that are kinder to your pocket and give them a try.
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