When Consumer Reports blind taste-tested 19 store-brand and name-brand grocery staples, store brands tied name brands for taste in 10 instances. Switching from name-brand to private-label products can save consumers an average of 25%, according to the magazine.
Winn-Dixie Greek yogurt and Market Pantry classic ranch dressing from Target were among the 10 store brands to tie their name-brand rivals, Chobani Greek yogurt and Hidden Valley ranch dressing, respectively.
Eight name brands came out on top in Consumer Reports' taste-off, including Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough ice cream over Kroger Private Selection.
"Readers have been telling us for years that they are very satisfied with the quality of the store brands at their supermarket and our latest taste-tests confirm that store brands are often times just as good as national brands," said Tod Marks, senior project editor for Consumer Reports. "These products can be a big relief on your wallet in these tough economic times, and they're not just a temporary fix – private-label products are here to stay."
A complete list of the private-label and name-brand winners and losers is online (www.ConsumerReports.org) and in the October issue of Consumer Reports, which goes on sale Sept. 4.