Want to know what store brands are made by famous brands? I did a little digging into off-brand items!
Did you go to the grocery store? Read this comparison between store brands and big name brands first.
We all know that store brands may not compare to well-known brands. But did you know that many store brands are actually manufactured by major brand companies as “private labels” and sold at a fraction of the cost?
Instead of paying more for the same or similar product, check out some off-brand items that we’ve found to be just as good as the competition.
Note: Some of the data in this post is based on online surveys and our “research efforts” as the companies listed below did not respond to disclosing this information. 😎 We recommend doing a taste test between your store brand and the name brand to see if you can tell the difference.
These store brands are manufactured by well-known brands.
1. ALDI’s Millville cereal is manufactured by General Mills.
I hear that ALDI’s Millville brand was manufactured exclusively for the grocery chain by leading brand General Mills. However, Mashed said there are rumors that Millville cereal is actually made by Malt-O-Meal, which is owned by Post.
Whether the real manufacturer is General Mills or Post, this example shows you don’t need to pay for a name brand when you can save big bucks with a store brand.
2. ALDI’s Benton cookies taste similar to Girl Scout cookies.
If you want Girl Scout cookies all year long, go to ALDI! Under the Benton’s brand, you’ll find three of the best Girl Scout cookie-inspired flavors: Thin Mints, Tagalong, and Samoas. And the best part is that ALDI’s brand costs a lot less per box.
Benton’s Fudge Mint Cookies 10 oz | $2.09 Benton’s Peanut Butter Cookies 9.5 oz | $2.09 $2.09 Benton’s Caramel Coconut Fudge Cookies 8.5 oz | $2.09 $2.49
I can’t confirm if the Benton’s brand is made by a major brand, but these cookies look (and taste) exactly like the Girl Scout version, except they’re cheaper and available year-round.
3. ALDI’s Tuscan Garden Italian Dressing tastes just like Olive Garden!
If you’re a fan of Olive Garden’s signature Italian salad dressing, check out ALDI’s off-brand version of this popular salad dressing. You can buy this Tuscan Garden “Restaurant Style” Italian Dressing in the same size bottle for just $2.09. This is almost a 50% savings.
The Tuscan Garden brand is actually manufactured by Treehouse Foods, but the only difference between these two salad dressings appears to be the label and price.
I tried two dressings and they tasted almost the same.
4. Great value peanut butter was actually made by Peter Pan.
Why pay for Peter Pan Peanut Butter, which sells for about 13.9 cents per ounce, when you can choose Walmart’s Great Value brand for about 10 cents per ounce?!
A few years ago, there was a recall of both products (including off-brand products) and it was revealed that they were actually the same product and were manufactured by ConAgra Foods. Fortunately, that was in 2007 and both are now completely safe.
Can’t believe it’s just as good? Here’s what one purchaser said about Great Value Peanut Butter:
“I decided to try Great Value brand peanut butter because of the price and found it to be just as good as the big brand peanut butter. If you read the label, it’s as good or better than other brands. You’ll find that it’s more nutritious and tastes just as good, and its low cost makes it well worth a try, but you’ll find that all you have to give up is the cost and the big brand name. .”
5. Store brand Great Value White Bread is made by Sara Lee.
20oz Walmart’s Great Value White Bread is actually made in the same bakery as Sara Lee products and many other brands. As with Great Value peanut butter, the link was discovered during a 2015 recall. So why pay more than twice the price for the same thing?
Hip2Save readers also had unique insight into the brand.
“I worked at a big brand bakery for about a year. We changed bags without stopping the production line and bagged bread to a retail store in Texas. In some cases, we had to adjust the slicer. I almost always buy my own brand, no matter what the product is.
6. Kirkland Tuna at Costco is made by none other than Bumblebee Tuna.
I was very happy to learn that Kirkland Signature Tuna is made by Bumblebee. The lowest price we found for a 7 oz, 8 piece package of Bumblebee was $24.99. So, you can save at least $6 by choosing Kirkland.
7. Store brand Great Value Ice Cream is known to be manufactured by Blue Bunny.
Wells Dairy has spent more than 30 years working with Walmart to create great value ice cream. They started expanding beyond their own brand Blue Bunny, making Halo Top and Bomb Pop as well. When you choose Great Value, you save big over big name brands.
Damn it! You can always try homemade ice cream and make it to your liking. 🙃
8. Word on the street is that it’s a bargain. Applesauce is made by Musselman’s.
Who knew? The snacks we loved as kids are actually 24 cents cheaper when you buy store brands. I looked at the ingredient list for the store brand and name brand challenge and found that they are almost identical, with both containing “apples, sugar, water, and ascorbic acid” in that order.
If you buy applesauce on a regular basis, check out this tip from a Hip2Save reader.
“Our town’s factories produce Musselman’s, White House, and Great Value. The recipe is the same, just the packaging changes. The brand’s recipe change is similar to ‘All Granny Smith,’ etc.” Only when making something special. I toured the factory when I was in high school and have been purchasing great products ever since. ”
9. It’s no surprise that Tyson also produces Great Value Chicken.
Tyson 1.5-2.5 pound chicken drumsticks $3.76 (varies by location)
– versus –
Great deal on 5 pound drumsticks for $5.93 (varies by location)
You save about $0.61 per pound.
Tyson is one of the top suppliers of chicken products, so it’s no surprise that they produce Great Value chicken.
As with other products on this list, we learned of this connection during the 2019 recall. And it wasn’t just Walmart’s Great Value brand that was affected, but also Family Dollar, CVS, Meijer, Piggly Wiggly, Publix, and Wegmans. Based on the recall, it’s safe to assume that Tyson supplies chicken to store brands at several different retailers.
Please note that prices vary depending on location.
10. Kirkland Signature Supreme diapers are actually manufactured by Huggies.
Rumor has it that Costco’s highly rated Kirkland Signature diapers are actually made by Kimberly-Clark (the maker of Huggies) and may just be an “older generation” of Huggies. Although this has not been publicly advertised or verified, many members on the Costco website rave about these diapers.
Check out some reviews from Hip2Save readers.
“Yes, Kirkland diapers are made by Kimberly-Clark, who also makes Huggies diapers. They’re just the old style of Huggies.”
“I heard that Costco’s diapers are made by Huggies and their formula is made by Similac. I’ve always been a fan of generic brands, but sometimes I just prefer store brands. .”
11. Starbucks is one of the suppliers of Kirkland Signature coffee.
The packaging for Kirkland’s coffee said it was roasted by Starbucks Coffee Company. Starting in 2023 and 2024, some of the packaging has changed and that wording has been removed.
Some Kirkland coffee is still roasted by Starbucks, while others may come from brands like Green Mountain and San Francisco Bay Coffee. Regardless of which major brand makes Kirkland, you’ll save a lot on Costco’s store brands.
You can get 40 oz. Bags of Kirkland Signature House coffee start at around $12.99 at local warehouses, while 12-ounce bags (0.75 pounds) of Starbucks coffee sell for $8.99 at Target. Talk about big savings!
Also look out for our Kirkland Signature Espresso Blend and Decaf Dark Roast Blend varieties.
12. Duracell makes Kirkland Signature batteries and they work just as well.
Kirkland Signature batteries are manufactured by Duracell (according to an interview with Costco CEO). A pack of Kirkland Signature AA batteries can be purchased at your local warehouse for about $15.99, while Duracell batteries sell for nearly twice the price. 😱
13. Trader Joe’s store brand pita chips are manufactured by Stacey’s.
Have you ever had Trader Joe’s Sea Salt Pita Chips? These chips are very tasty and taste basically the same as the Simply Naked flavor of Stacy’s Pita Chips, which is packaged differently and at a lower price.
A 6-ounce bag of Trader Joe’s pita chips sells for about $0.42 per ounce, while a 7.33-ounce bag of Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips sells for about $0.54 per ounce at stores like Target.
Tip: Don’t miss out on the best Trader Joe’s items you won’t find anywhere else!
14. We have information that Amy’s Organic makes Trader Joe’s Organic Vegetarian Chili.
Trader Joe’s Organic Vegetarian Chili is rumored to be identical in taste, ingredients, and appearance to Amy’s Organic Medium Chili with Vegetables. We have not confirmed whether Amy’s is the true manufacturer of this chili, but many comments on social media state that it’s hard to notice much of a difference in taste, so we recommend using store brand products. Don’t be fooled by the fancy labels, even if they are exactly the same!
15. Trader Joe’s Organic Shells and White Cheddar taste just like Annie’s!
If you’re a fan of Annie’s Homemade Organic Shells and White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese, which sells for about $2.99 (= 50 ¢/oz) per 6-ounce box at Target, you’ll want to try Trader Joe’s Organic Shells and White Cheddar Macaroni & Cheese Give it a try. try. Rumor has it that the flavor is basically the same, and you can buy a box at Trader Joe’s for just $1.79 (=30 cents/oz).
16. Trader Joe’s pistachios are sourced from the same places as Wonderful Pistachios.
Trader Joe’s Dry Roasted Pistachios 16 oz $6.99
– versus –
Wonderful Pistachio 16 oz $7.99 (prices may vary)
You save $1!
Pistachios are a healthy snack to have at home. I recently learned that Trader Joe’s pistachios come from the same source as Wonderful Pistachios. You may find Wonderful Brands at similar prices, but next time you’re at TJ, don’t hesitate to consider purchasing a variety of store brands. We never sacrifice quality.
Bonus duck: The now-discontinued Trader Joe’s Harvest Blend Herbal Tea was actually made by Celestial Seasonings.
This is a kind of reverse trick 😅. A few years ago, Trader Joe’s Harvest Blend Herbal Tea was discontinued. If you missed it, try the Celestial Seasonings blend. Rumor has it that Trader Joe’s version was actually identical to Cinnamon Apple Spice Celestial Seasoning Tea, which thankfully is still available. ❤️
When in doubt, remember to check the ingredient list.
Not sure if a store brand was made by a name brand company? A peek at the nutrition label may reveal quality imitations. Store brand products often contain the same ingredients in the same order as more expensive labels.
Check out some of Target’s great store brand items.
