Are you brand loyal?

[Danielle]

I was having a conversation with one of my coworkers last week about what food name brands we always buy (her husband was doing the grocery shopping that day and she was afraid of what she might find when she got home). I was thinking about this again last night as I was grocery shopping. I promised my husband that I would make him some Cocoa Rice Krispie Treats, and though I know it is such a simple recipe, I took great pains to make sure I picked up Jet-Puffed marshmallows and Parkay margarine to make them with. Since these are the brands my mom uses to make her treats, I'm convinced this is why they taste so good.

So, is anyone else out there freakish about the brands names of food products they buy? I've also pledged my allegiance to Minute Maid orange juice (the calcium-fortified kind only), Philadelphia brand cream cheese, Prego spaghetti sauce (if I don't have time to make sauce), and Dean's sour cream.

[Vanessa]

Hi DAnielle. Its funny I was having that same conversation with my mom not long ago. I think you tend to continue buying what you are used to what you grew up with. For example I by only Bounty paper towels, Hellman's, Philidelphia cream cheese etc.
Some generic or supermarket brands when reading the ingredients are the same but you are right somehow things seem better (taste better etc) if one bys the brand one is used to. Now with so many low fat and fat free products its hard to decide. For now I use light or low fat. The non fat somehow things don't taste the same...

[MrsReber]

I suppose I am somewhat brand loyal, but it's mostly based on taste. By the way, I have made rice krispie treats with Grand Union brand krispies and marshmallows and they tasted the same to me and hubby- plus cost alot less. But I can understand the fear of using different brands since there can be differences. I love Frienship low fat sour cream. The others taste funny to me. I only like Tropicana OJ (pineapple/oj is the best), Classico tomato and basil sauce. Thomas's English Muffins are the best, too. No competition there.

When it comes to chicken, I stick with Purdue or Bell & Evans, just for the safety factor. We can't trust just any chicken. I love to buy Omaha steaks on line - the best!

Um, let's see, what else? Heinz ketchup tates better to us. And Lean Cuisine frozen lunches for work,but only the pasta dishes. Oh, and Mrs. T's pierogies. Hellman's mayo only for hubby. The full fat version, but I buy "light" for myself. I agree, Vanessa, the fat free stuff doesn't taste right to me so I stick with low-fat.

As far as non food items, I refuse to buy any papertowels except for Bounty. The other ones just don't seem to match in quality. Dish detergent has to be Palmolive- we don't have a dishwasher.

I will normally never substitute other brands for any of those items I mentioned. I'm sure there's more, but I can't think of them offhand.

[This message has been edited by MrsReber (edited 07-31-2000).]

[Kristilyn1]

Hellmanns Light Mayo
Scott Toilet tissue
Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo
Branola Country Oat bread

otherwise, it is cheapy brand all the way for me.

Kristi

[Danielle]

Vanessa, I prefer low-fat to non-fat as well. I think the only fat-free item I'll purchase without hesitation it Yoplait yogurt. There's just something wrong with fat-free cheese (have you ever tried to melt it...yuck!), fat-free ice cream, or fat-free cream cheese. There has to be at least a LITTLE fat to make it palettable!

After reading some of these posts, I realize there's tons of other things I'm brand loyal about. I don't eat mayo, but if I need it for a recipe, it's Hellman's all the way. Bounty is indeed the quicker-picker upper, and I love the new designs they come in. I always buy Nestle's Tollhouse morsels, C&H brown sugar, and butter-flavor Crisco when making cookies. And I harbor a passion for Oscar Meyer bacon.

[CATHIEA]

Skippy Reduced Fat Chunky Peanut Butter
Carr's Water Biscuits,
Breakstone Low-fat Sour Cream
Wyler's Lemonade
Donald Duck Orange Juice
Bounty Papertowels
Heinz Catsup (red only, please)
Grey Poupon Mustard
Major Grey's Chutney
Diet Coke

Otherwise, I'm pretty store brand/generic or whatever's on special for most things. Well, I buy most of my meat and fish and fruits and vegetables from a specialty market.

CathieA

Got home last night and thought of a couple of more loyalties: Orville Reddbacker's White Popcorm and Northern Bathroom Tissue. The toilet paper's an odd thing, I brought home someAngelSoft that was free with $20 grocery. My husband wrote down that we needed toilet paper on our grocery list board, so I put some AngelSoft in his bathroom and erased the board. The next day the AngelSoft was in my bathroom and he had put NORTHERN on the board!



[This message has been edited by CATHIEA (edited 08-01-2000).]

[lorilei]

I'm not particularly brand-loyal, although there are a couple of items I won't make exceptions for (this is based on flavor or consistency):

Classico pasta sauce
Kleenex tissues
Breakstone non-fat sour cream
Dole concentrated juices (only 100% juice)

Since I buy a lot of organic foods, I suppose I could be said to be loyal to that philosophy -- and since I try to avoid ingredients like HIGH FRUCTOSE corn syrup and preservatives, most of my other loyalties will lie purely with the brand that seems to contain the best ingredients.

[Susann]

I don't usually get too picky about brand names. My husband, however, is a native Atlantan and will not let any other soft drink brand other than coke in the house. He even gets upset when restaurants serve Pepsi!

[Beth Y]

Hmm... Interesting question. I am a strong believer in Duke's mayonaise. Is it just available in the South. I don't think low or no-fat cheese, mayonaisse or dressing is worth the yukky taste, so I just try to use less. Land o'Lake's butter, Edy's Ice Cream..my husband says that Hanover black beans are the best, I don't know by what standard. For cake mixes-Pillsbury. Bacon -Gwaltney or Luter's (if it and from Smithfield, VA, it ain't bacon).

On the issue of Rice Krispie treats, I know this makes me sound like a hippy, but I have made them with brown rice krispies (from our whole foods grocery) and they are great. The same recipe, only they come out with more depth, flavor, crunch, and less salt and additives (well, you still have the marshmallows, of course, I use the jarred kind...don't remember the name.)

I am glad to hear the votes for Bounty, I never can remember which I buy that I like once I take the wrapping off! I second the Ghiardelli chocolate..that is where I differ with my Mom!

[Beth H]

Heinz ketchup
Hellman's mayo
Philadelphia Cream Cheese
Ore-Ida frozen potatoes

I also buy only "name-brand" cereals, as opposed to the store-brand. Cleaning products and so forth, I am willing to try cheaper/store brand products.

[Angela]

Great topic.
I am only brand loyal with certain items (food and non-food), most of the time I buy whatever I have a coupon for and the store brand. The brand items I must have are Jiff Peanut Butter (smooth or chunky), Hershey's chocolate chips, Yoplait yogurt, Kellogg's Nutri-Grain bars for breakfast. Most of the time the store brand cheap stuff does the job and saves money.

[This message has been edited by Angela (edited 07-31-2000).]

[christinew]

Great Post!!!

Scott Bathroom Tissue
Mentadent toothpaste http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif
Heinz ketchup
Prego sauce
Tide detergent

Most of the time for everything else store brand is very good!

[This message has been edited by christinew (edited 07-31-2000).]

[Kristilyn1]

Oh good lord, how could I forget Diet Pepsi??! I became an addict after Tab kind of disappeared off the shelves. Yikes!

and of course, Skippy peanut butter in the industrial size container.

Kristi

[shoyski]

Kristylin1, Tab hasn't disappeared and it better be here to stay! I'd rather have a regular Coke than drink Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke. I think I'm going to check this out on another thread.

[Nicole]

I am most definetly brand loyal! Actually its for just about everything. Its a combination of certain tastes and what I grew up eating at home, like Hellman's mayo, Heinz etc. I like Five Brothers sauces for pasta. I also will only buy DelMonte diced tomatoes. The others really don't taste the same! For me there is nothing besides Breakstone's Sour Cream (I think its an East coast thing). Oh, and if it isn't Hershey's chocolate sauce, it just isn't chocolate sauce! I agree with the Bounty paper towels... As far as other paper products go...there is nothing but Charmin for me! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

I know it costs more in the long run, but to borrow a concept from an over-exposed, craft and cooking personality with a knack for planning weddings (I won't mention any names...)-- I don't always mind spending a little more for some items because they are what I enjoy, and I'm worth it. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[lindrusso]

I am brand-loyal for many things, but not all things. Many times I'll buy whatever is on sale or store brands - for things like canned tomatoes, but there are some things I won't go low-price on. Stuff like Bounty - there are cheaper brands, but they are flimsy and you end up using more in the long run - so what's the point?? And I love that Bounty has the "Select-a-Size - very handy!! I've also found that I don't like the inexpensive brands of things like peanut butter (I stick with Jiff), chocolate chips (Ghiradelli!) and other items - if the taste is compromised, then cheaper is not better in my opinion.

I think most of my loyalties lie in non-grocery items - things like Bounty, Puffs tissues with lotion (my husband bought a box of single-ply, cheap tissues and we both HATED them), Charmin or Cottonelle toilet paper, etc.



[This message has been edited by lindrusso (edited 07-31-2000).]

[BarbaraL]

I prefer name-brands, too. Some lower-priced brands are good, but you don't know until you try. Especially with food; who wants to make a recipe and have it turn out poorly to save a few cents? Got to have Heinz ketchup, Philadelphia cream cheese, Breakstone sour cream, Thomas' English muffins, Land O Lakes margarine, Jif peanut butter. For mayo, I buy either Kraft or Hellmann's.

[Zinnia]

Until I saw this thread I really did'nt think I was brand loyal-wait till ya see this list! Lol! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Jif Peanut Butter
Best Foods Mayonnaise
Heinz Ketchup
French's Mustards
Philadelphia Cream Cheese
Frank's Hot Sauce
Vlasic Pickles
Kraft Parmesan Cheese(use my deli's too tho)
Ragu Spaghetti Sauces (if not, homemade)
Del Monte Tomatoes/Veggies
Lipton Tea Bags, Coca-Cola, & 7-up
Oh, and I have to have Bounty, Charmin, Tide,
Bounce, & Ivory soaps.
Geez-I sound like a picky person, after reading my own response! Oh well, http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Zinnia

[Laura B]

My mom is the least brand conscious person I know (mainly grocery store brand products because of price), so I defintely don't get this pickiness from her! On the other hand, maybe this pickiness is a result of only having the cheap stuff when I lived at home!

Duke's Mayo (Beth Y - have you tried the reduced calorie Duke's? I find it is the only reduced fat mayo that I like.)
Jiff Peanut Butter
Philadelphia cream cheese
Prego tomato sauce
Heinz ketchup
Dr. Pepper
Del Monte canned veggies and fruits
Bounty, Charmin, Puffs
Tide and Downy

[BarbaraL]

Beth Y, what are jarred marshmallows? The only marshmallows I've seen come in plastic bags.

[Beth Y]

Laura, I recall trying it a couple years back and although I agree it is much better than some other brands, I can still tell the difference. Give me the oily good stuff!

Barbara L.-didn't mean to mislead you, I meant the jarred marshmallow cream. I just stick the jar in the microwave and when it starts to fluff up, mix it with the krispies in a bowl and put in a pan. I am a very lazy cook.

[jenniferharris1]

I am brand loyal when I feel the product is superior. Like Bounty is the best paper towel, hands down. No pun intended. No orange juice compares to Florida Natural. Also,(can I be blunt?) Playtex tampons. The list goes on. But, I will go with a lower priced brand if I feel quality is unaffected.

[Holly S]

I am brand loyal, I am afraid to admit. I have to agree all the way...... Whatever brands your mom bought as you were growing up, you tend to continue buying. Perfect example: My Husband...his mother only ever bought generic almost EVERYTHING. We started dating and he almost had a "New food experience" every time he ate at my parents house. My father loved food, and only certain brands would do. Now my husband is catching that "fever". Only Helmanns Mayo will do, No way can we buy anything else. It may sound corny, but I have to say, the brand does make it taste better....At least that is what our brains tell our tastebuds.

[lorilei]

This discussion brings up some interesting issues to me:

1) I haven't adopted the use of many brands my mother used -- and now I wonder why

2) My argument against sticking with the same brand is that you'll never know if a "better" brand comes along:

Case in point: Like many of you, I've been a loyal Bounty paper towel user for years. Just recently (while having an unusually "poor" week at our house) I decided I just had to use a coupon for VIVA instead of buying my usual Bounty... And what do you know? Those VIVA paper towels are really nice. And they don't fuzz all over like they used to.

Do you think we're missing out on discovering new and better products by having brand loyalties?

[SandyDee]

I am brand loyal and I too agree with the fact that we tend to use what our mothers used. I was at my sisters for the weekend a few months back and I noticed she used different brands than mom (and now me) used and it struck me so strange I had to ask her what house she grew up in. She howeve adapted brands from previous roommates she live with and her mother-in-law (for her husband's sake). But I also admit that from time to time I will try another brand, either because I have a too good to be true coupon or I think I want to test the water. I recently switched to Skippy reduced fat chunky peanut butter after years of using Jiff super chunk. And you know what?? I love it. Don't think I'll go back. So an occasional change can be beneficial. Brands I am loyal to:
Bounty
Charmin
Puffs
Colgate toothpaste
Philidelphia Cream Cheese
Downey


[This message has been edited by SandyDee (edited 08-02-2000).]