Mindful shopping is smart shopping. Store brands fit into that equation, as they often provide better value than name brands.
Shoppers agree.
The Private Label Manufacturers Association says sales of store-brand products went up by 20.7% between 2019 and 2023, calling it a “record success.”
But which store-brand products do consumers gravitate toward most? We asked Money Talks Newsletter subscribers to share their favorites, the ones they buy over and over. Here are the go-to house-brand products of readers like you.
Kirkland Signature Trail Mix
The store: Costco
The store brand: Kirkland Signature
The product: Kirkland Signature Trail Mix
This reader favorite can be purchased as a 4-pound bag or in a snack-pack box that includes 28 individually wrapped servings.
What makes this trail mix so great? Valerie J. says, “It is a healthy low-calorie snack and easy to carry in travel. The price is right for the number of servings.”
The mix includes peanuts, peanut M&M’s, milk chocolate M&M’s, raisins, almonds and cashews.
Diet Sam’s Cola
The store: Walmart
The store brand: Sam’s Choice
The product: Diet Sam’s Cola
Load up on diet soda for less.
“I constantly sip on a drink of diet soda. I like Coke and Pepsi equally well. They are usually around $2.50 per 2 liters. I like Walmart’s Sam’s diet cola equally well. It’s $1.00 per 2 liters,” David P. says. “The price difference says it all.”
Diet Sam’s Cola comes in caffeinated and caffeine-free versions.
Great Value milk
The store: Walmart
The store brand: Great Value
The product: Great Value milk
Walmart carries Great Value milk in the standard varieties — whole, 2%, 1% and skim — as well as chocolate, lactose-free, vitamin D-fortified, evaporated and dry.
Not only are all the bases covered, but Maureen L. notes that it costs less to get this household essential from Walmart’s Great Value brand.
Kirkland Signature extra-virgin olive oil
The store: Costco
The store brand: Kirkland Signature
The product: Kirkland Signature Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
Costco is the go-to grocery store for many consumers, and the retailer’s store-brand extra-virgin olive oil is among the reasons why.
Melodee A. loves the price of Kirkland Signature Extra-Virgin Olive Oil. Meanwhile, Kirk J. appreciates that Kirkland Signature’s organic EVOO offers a high-quality taste on par with that of more expensive olive oils.
Sprouts yogurt-covered pretzels
The store: Sprouts
The store brand: Sprouts
The product: yogurt-covered pretzels
Heathre P. is a big fan of Sprouts Farmers Market’s yogurt-covered pretzels, telling Money Talks News, “Every time I’m at Sprouts, I add a pretzel bag or two along with my fresh fruit and veggies.”
Heathre cites their great taste, reasonable price and multiple flavors — which include vanilla, chocolate, blueberry, strawberry and raspberry.
As a bonus, Sprouts yogurt-covered pretzels come in resealable bags.
“I have taken them to the airport or places I know I have to wait a long while,” Heathre says.
Kroger White Corn Rounds Tortilla Chips
The store: King Soopers (and presumably other chains owned by Kroger Co.)
The store brand: Kroger
The product: Kroger White Corn Rounds Tortilla Chips
Round tortilla chips aren’t easy to come by, and that’s a big part of why Heathre P. loves Kroger White Corn Rounds Tortilla Chips.
These circular chips are “great for picking up salsa or other toppings!” Heathre notes.
They are made with ground white corn and have just three ingredients in total, with the other two being vegetable oil and salt.
Wegmans albacore tuna
The store: Wegmans
The store brand: Wegmans
The product: Wegmans Albacore Tuna
There’s no need for name-brand tuna, at least not if you live near a Wegmans. Denise M. says the grocer’s own brand of albacore tuna is “the best tuna I ever had,” describing it as “nice white tuna with a delicious taste.”
Wegmans albacore tuna is available in both pouches and cans, including a family pack with eight cans for the budget-conscious (or the tuna lover).
Aldi-brand cheese sticks
The store: Aldi
The store brand: multiple
The product: cheese sticks
More than 90% of the products that Aldi sells are from its own brands, a couple of which offer cheese sticks.
The Happy Farms brand offers cheddar and colby jack varieties, while the Emporium Select brand offers gourmet gouda and habanero jack options.
Donna S. says all of the varieties of Aldi-brand cheese sticks are great because they’re convenient, cost half as much as name-brand versions and have a “delicious taste.”
Member’s Mark wipes
The store: Sam’s Club
The store brand: Member’s Mark
The product: wipes
Teri O. always reaches for Member’s Mark wipes because they are “less expensive and work just as well” compared with other brands.
Member’s Mark offers Premium Baby Wipes (fragrance-free or “Refreshing Clean” scent) as well as Disinfecting Wipes.
Publix pickles
The store: Publix
The store brand: Publix
The product: pickles
Publix’s eponymous house brand offers pickles galore. Varieties include kosher dill, bread and butter and sweet gherkin. Shapes and sizes include baby, petite, whole, chips, spears and sandwich slices.
Bill H. says Publix-brand pickles are good products with a lower price tag than name brands.
Store brands we love
Sometimes, it’s hard to pick favorites, and that was the case for many Money Talks News readers when we asked about their favorite store-brand product. Instead, they told us about entire store brands they love:
- Great Value: This Walmart brand offers a wide variety of groceries and household necessities. Various readers applaud it for both taste and price.
- Kirkland Signature: Costco’s house brand is loved by readers for its wide variety of products and because they support Costco’s corporate stances. Celine S., for example, appreciates Costco’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.
- Member’s Mark: This brand is to Sam’s Club what Kirkland Signature is to Costco. And like Kirkland Signature, it offers a wide variety of product types, from food to furniture to fresh flowers. Carol G. appreciates that the Member’s Mark brand offers quality products at cheaper prices than brand names.
- Up & Up: This Target brand is favored by multiple readers for its cost and quality.
- WinCo: WinCo’s store-brand products are go-tos for Anna R. because they’re inexpensive, have consistent quality and are just as good as name-brand counterparts.
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