No Generics

[George K]

Seen on FB:

You are at the grocery store, what is the 1 item you will NEVER buy generic but ALWAYS purchase name brand?

Surprised that so many people say mayonnaise.

[Jolly]

Actually, some of the store brands are as good as the name brands...

[George K]

@jolly said in No Generics:

Actually, some of the store brands are as good as the name brands.

Years ago, Consumer Reports said that many of the "Store Brands" are actually the "Name Brands" with a different lane.

I have some groceries delivered via Amazon. Their "Happy Belly" brand is, I guess, a generic.

It's just fine.

[Copper]

Creamy Jif
Cheerios
Corn Chex
Advil
One A Day
Crest

[LuFins Dad]

Depends on the “generic”. Not all store brands are equal.

[Larry]

When a brand name makes a batch of product, it is checked all along the process for consistency - taste, texture, etc. A batch of mayo for example, may meet standards at first, then at a point where it's almost finished and ready to bottle, get rejected. This product is not thrown away, it's bottled as generic, and used to fill contracted orders from the chain stores. For example, suppose grocery chain A has contracts with Kraft, Hellmann's, etc to supply mayo with their private brand name on it, for 50,000 jars of mayo each. And lets say Kraft has 20,000 jars of mayo that didnt meet the standards for having the name Kraft on the label. In that scenario, Kraft would label the perfectly good but failed to qualify as Kraft as the house brand for grocery chain A, 30,000 jars more of Kraft product that did pass. And lets say Hellmann' fills their order the same way. Grocery chain A gets 100,000 jars of mayo, but in 4 different "flavors". You might get lucky and buy a jar of Hellmann's, or a jar of Kraft, or you might buy a jar of the substandard product.... all good product, but no consistency. Next time you buy a jar of the house brand it might taste a little different.

So if you don't mind the inconsistency from one package to another, house brands can save you a little. We used to buy house brands of some things, until I bought a jar of bread and butter pickle chips from Food City that had no taste whatsoever....

[George K]

In 1988, Mrs. George's prescription for thyroid medication was changed to a generic - from "Synthroid" to "levothyroxine."

Her thyroid got all effed-up. She was sick for months until she went back to the "brand"name of medication.

After a few months, it came out that the generic version of thyroid medication was terribly inconsistent, and she ended up on the "brand" name until this sorted itself out.

[Jolly]

Tell y'all something else you may not know...

Products can, and do, expire on grocery store shelves. Name brands are returned to the distributor and the store is rebated part of their purchase. The store destroys house brand products.

[George K]

@jolly said in No Generics:

Name brands are returned to the distributor

And what does the distributor do? Destroy them?

[Klaus]

Coffee.

[LuFins Dad]

@klaus said in No Generics:

Coffee.

Good answer

[Klaus]

@lufins-dad said in No Generics:

@klaus said in No Generics:

Coffee.

Good answer

Yes, coffee is very cheap relative to the ubiquitous role it has in my life, hence it is a good investment to spend a bit more money for better quality.

[Catseye3]

I've cut way back on quote-unquote processed foods. A few exceptions, like pickles and jarred peppers. Bacon, pepperoni. And mayonnaise -- the one product I don't do store brand. Invariably it is considerably lower in quality. And I'm working on DIY'ing my own version, which uses cashews and no soybean oil.

[Jolly]

@george-k said in No Generics:

@jolly said in No Generics:

Name brands are returned to the distributor

And what does the distributor do? Destroy them?

Don't have a clue.

[Aqua Letifer]

@lufins-dad said in No Generics:

@klaus said in No Generics:

Coffee.

Good answer

Wussies.

[Doctor Phibes]

Condoms.