# What grocery store items will you absolutely not skimp on and get the generic equivalent? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574 "2013-03-10T21:45:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![urban1a](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e47c2d/32.png) [@urban1a](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1a)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/21 "2013-03-11T02:00:26Z")
I also shop Kroger but absolutely insist on brand name paper goods (TP & paper towels). Within some types of items, I will buy store brand unless a brand name item is better (for instance, for garlic powder, I always get the coarse cut with parsley and the store brand doesn’t have that). There are other items here and there where I only get the brand name, also. Bob ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/22 "2013-03-11T02:01:17Z")
I don’t buy them often anymore but I must have authentic Pop Tarts and Nutra Grain bars. The store brands are awful. Also: Mountain Dew toilet paper Ketchup (Red Gold) Mustard (French’s) Greek yougurt (Oikos) ---
**Author:** ![James\_Otto\_Sweet\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@James\_Otto\_Sweet\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Otto_Sweet_Heart)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/23 "2013-03-11T02:07:26Z")
When I buy ginger ale to drink, the only kind that I buy is Canada Dry. 🙂 🙂 🙂 God bless you always!!! Holly ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/24 "2013-03-11T03:04:37Z")
I somehow find the phrase “authentic Pop Tarts” amusing. 😃 And dammit **JOSH** … Hail Satan! Hail Satan! :rolleyes: Stevie ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/25 "2013-03-11T03:11:30Z")
I won’t buy Generic coffee, bread, paper towels, or ice cream. I prefer the major brands of those items. Kroger Shredded Wheat is really good. I never buy Post Shredded Wheat anymore. I always buy Kroger milk. Never the Major branded milk. Milk is milk, it all comes from the same cows. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/26 "2013-03-11T03:15:15Z")
Foil or plastic wrap, the cheap stuff is awful. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/27 "2013-03-11T03:51:55Z")
Laundry detergent is the big one with me. It must the Tide Coldwater because nothing else seems to work as well on my clothes. ---
**Author:** ![Courk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@Courk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Courk)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/28 "2013-03-11T04:05:46Z")
For spreading, I love Kerrygold butter. It’s too expensive for me to bake with, though, so I use different varieties then. Peanut butter, dish soap, laundry detergent, cereal, cocoa/baking chocolate, sugar (habit passed on from my mom, I’ve not tried generic), shampoo/conditioner, soap, and deodorant are the only things I can think of that I buy brand-name for. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/29 "2013-03-11T04:28:14Z")
I shop at a New England supermarket called Hannafords, and their store-brand Greek yogurt is every bit as good as name brands. And they sell a banana-nut granola that is outstanding for $2.19 a box. So I actually prefer some generic brands. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/30 "2013-03-11T05:03:25Z")
Saran wrap, and Reynolds heavy duty foil. I certainly learned my lesson there. Used to be Hellman’s mayo, till I tried an emergency jar of Wegman’s house brand and found it identical, IMO. Hoffman’s franks in natural casings are A+, any other kind including Oscar Meyer or Ballpark get a D-. Mr. Salinqmind insists on name brands only, like Land O Lakes butter ($5 a package) vs. no-name brands ($2 a package). When they stop making something, there is absolute hell to pay until we find a suitable substitute… Nestle chocolate chips. Doritos nacho tortilla chips. Lay’s potato chips. Dunkin Donuts packaged coffee. Oh, and Dannon yogurt, everything else is just cups of goo. You’d think Dannon would be everywhere, but it’s not, I have to go out of my way to buy it. ---
**Author:** ![JerseySwamps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9a140/32.png) [@JerseySwamps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerseySwamps)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/31 "2013-03-11T05:22:38Z")
Cola and Dr Pepper. Other flavors they have figured out; those two they haven’t. Although, since Dr Pepper is a registered trademark, it is amusing to see the various names that supermarkets use to indicate it is a Dr Pepper flavored beverage. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Otto\_Sweet\_Heart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@James\_Otto\_Sweet\_Heart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Otto_Sweet_Heart)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/32 "2013-03-11T05:32:34Z")
^^^ The only Dr. Pepper alternative that I can remember ever seeing is a soda named Dr. Wow. God bless you always!!! Holly ---
**Author:** ![Andiethewestie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ba9def/32.png) [@Andiethewestie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andiethewestie)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/33 "2013-03-11T06:19:58Z")
I agree that certain cereals, like Cheerios have no substitute. But where I live I love most Presidents Choice products, which are premium brands but are usually a few cents cheaper than national brands ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/34 "2013-03-11T07:50:57Z")
Paper Towels - must be Bounty Disposable Diapers - must be Pampers Ketchup - must be Heinz Orange Juice - must be Tropicana ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/35 "2013-03-11T08:00:11Z")
Generic versions of Advil usually don’t have the glossy coating I need to actually swallow it. Other than that, I can only think of one thing that can’t be reasonably faked: Huy Fong Sriracha Sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/36 "2013-03-11T09:42:04Z")
Heinz Ketchup cannot be substituted for. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/37 "2013-03-11T09:44:47Z")
Trash bags, the only other person besides the OP to say this. The risk of splitting is too great.q ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/38 "2013-03-11T10:03:18Z")
Heinz Ketchup Bluebell Ice Cream Oreo Cookies liquid coffee creamer (Coffeemate or Bailey’s) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/39 "2013-03-11T12:25:44Z")
What about items for which there is no generic equivalent? Jiffy muffin mixes, for instance, seem to have cornered the entire market, and even all-generic stores like Aldi carry them. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2013, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574/40 "2013-03-11T12:30:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > What about items for which there is no generic equivalent? Jiffy muffin mixes, for instance, seem to have cornered the entire market, and even all-generic stores like Aldi carry them. Krusteaz makes good muffin mix. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-grocery-store-items-will-you-absolutely-not-skimp-on-and-get-the-generic-equivalent/652574.md?page=3)