Are Your Favorite Store Brands Secretly Made by Big Brands?
Want to know which store brands are made by name brands? We did a bit of digging on some off-brand items to find out!
Headed to the grocery store? Read this store brand vs. name brand comparison first.
We all know that sometimes store brands don’t compare to name brands. However, did you know that many store brands are actually manufactured under a “private label” by big brand companies and sold at a fraction of the cost?
Instead of paying more for the same or a similar product, check out a few off-brand items that we found to be just as good as their competition!
NOTE: Manufacturers rarely confirm who makes store-brand products, so while some of these pairings are confirmed, others are based on strong evidence and industry research. Suppliers can also change over time, so use this list as a fun guide, not a guarantee! 😉
These store brands are made by name brands:
1. ALDI’s Millville cereals are made by General Mills.
ALDI’s Millville Cinnamon Crunch Cereal $3.19
– versus –
General Mills Cinnamon Toast Crunch $5.29
You save $2.10!
We’ve heard ALDI’s Millville brand was manufactured exclusively for the grocery chain by the big brand, General Mills. However, according to Mashed, rumors say that the Millville cereals are actually manufactured by Malt-O-Meal, which is owned by Post.
Whether the true manufacturer is General Mills or Post, this example just goes to show that you don’t need to pay for name brands when you can save big bucks on store brands!
2. ALDI’s Benton cookies taste just like Girl Scout Cookies.
ALDI’s Benton’s Caramel Coconut Fudge Cookies $2.75
– versus –
Girl Scout Cookies (all flavors) $6
You save $3.25!
Get your Girl Scout cookie cravings all year long at ALDI! Under the brand name Benton’s, you can find three of the best Girl Scout cookie-inspired flavors – Tagalongs, and Samoas. And the best part is ALDI’s brand is priced way less per box!
- Benton’s Fudge Striped Cookies 10oz | $2.19
- Benton’s Peanut Butter Fudge Cookies 9.5oz | $2.49
- Benton’s Caramel Coconut Fudge Cookies 8.5oz | $2.75
While we can’t verify that Benton’s brand is made by a big brand, these cookies look (and taste) just like the Girl Scout version, except they’re less expensive and available year-round!
3. ALDI’s Tuscan Garden Italian Dressing tastes the same as Olive Garden!
ALDI’s Tuscan Garden Restaurant-Style Italian Dressing $2.09
– versus –
Olive Garden Italian Dressing $3.99
You save $1.90!
If you’re a fan of Olive Garden’s Signature Italian salad dressing, be on the lookout for ALDI’s off-brand version of this popular salad dressing! Pick up this Tuscan Garden “Restaurant Style” Italian Dressing in the same size bottle for just $2.09 – that’s almost a 50% savings!
Though the Tuscan Garden brand is actually made by Treehouse Foods, the only difference between these two salad dressings appeared to be the label and the price. We even tried the two dressings, and they tasted nearly identical!
4. Great Value Peanut Butter is actually made by Peter Pan.
Why pay for Peter Pan Peanut Butter, which sells for about 15¢ per ounce, when you can opt for Walmart’s Great Value brand for about 12¢ per ounce?!
Years ago, there was a recall for both products – including the off-brand items – which spilled the beans on the fact that they were actually the same thing and made by ConAgra Foods!
Can’t believe it’s just as good? Here’s what one buyer said about the Great Value peanut butter:
“We decided to try the Great Value brand of peanut butter because of the price and found that it is just as good as the major brand-named peanut butter. If you read the label, you will find that the nutritional values are the same or even better than some other brands, & it tastes just as delicious. The lower cost is well worth giving it a try, and you’ll find that the only thing you are giving up is higher costs and a major brand name.”
5. The store brand Great Value White Bread is made by Sara Lee.
The 20oz loaves of Great Value White Bread from Walmart are actually made in the same bakery as Sara Lee products & many other brands! Like the Great Value peanut butter, we discovered the connection during a recall that happened in 2015. So why pay more than twice as much for the same thing?
Also, a Hip2Save reader had some unique insight into the brand:
“I worked in a name-brand bakery for a year or so. We changed the bags without stopping the production line, and bagged bread for any Texas retailer you could name. Occasionally, the slicer would be adjusted to change the thickness of the slice. I almost always buy the house brand regardless of what the product is.”
6. Costco’s Kirkland tuna is made by none other than Bumble Bee Tuna.
Kirkland Signature Albacore Solid White Tuna 7oz 8-Count $20.99 (37¢ per oz)
– versus –
Bumble Bee Albacore Solid White Tuna 5oz 8-Count $13.52 (33.8¢ per oz)
You save 5¢ per oz!
We were delighted to find out that Kirkland Signature tuna is made by Bumble Bee! Or should we say, Bumble Bee tuna is made by Kirkland? 🤭 This is one item you’re going to want to buy the name brand since you’ll save over 5¢ per ounce!
7. Store brand Great Value Ice Cream is known to be made by Blue Bunny.
Wells Enterprises (formerly known as Wells Dairy) has worked with Walmart for nearly 40 years to manufacture Great Value ice cream. The same company is also behind Blue Bunny, Halo Top, Bomb Pop, and Blue Ribbon Classics, making Great Value a budget-friendly alternative to those familiar freezer brands.
Pssssst! Bookmark our Ninja Creami post so you know when the next deal pops up and you can make homemade ice cream for less.
8. Word on the street is that Great Value Applesauce is made by Musselman’s.
Who knew? Our childhood favorite snack is actually a whole $1.25 cheaper when we buy the store brand! We took a look at the ingredients lists for our store brand vs name brand challenge, and both include “apples, sugar, water, and ascorbic acid,” in that order, so we can see how they’re pretty much identical.
If you regularly purchase applesauce, check out this tip from a Hip2Save reader:
“A plant in our town makes Musselman’s, White House, and Great Value. The same recipe, they just change the packaging. The only time they change the recipe for a brand is if they do a specialty one like ‘all Granny Smith’ or something. Toured the factory in high school and have bought Great Value ever since.”
9. Starbucks is one of the suppliers of Kirkland Signature Coffee.
Kirkland Signature Coffee 54¢ per ounce (prices vary)
– versus –
Starbucks House Blend $1.07 per ounce (prices vary)
You save 53¢ per ounce!
Some Kirkland Signature coffees continue to be custom roasted by Starbucks, and current Costco listings for House Blend and Decaf House Blend still state “Custom Roasted by Starbucks.”
In 2023 and 2024, some packaging changes led shoppers to speculate that other suppliers had taken over, but Costco has not publicly announced a complete end to its Starbucks partnership. While rumors have suggested companies like Green Mountain or San Francisco Bay Coffee may roast certain varieties, there is no official confirmation. Regardless of the roaster, Kirkland coffee remains one of the better values for whole-bean coffee at Costco.
10. Duracell makes Kirkland Signature Batteries, and they work just as well!
Kirkland Batteries 48-Count $14.99 (reg. $16.99)
– versus –
Duracell Batteries 48-Count $39.30 (reg. $39.99)
You save $24.31!
Kirkland Signature Batteries are made by Duracell (according to this interview with the former CEO of Costco). You can pick up a pack of Kirkland Signature AA Batteries at your local warehouse for more than half the cost of Duracell! 😱
11. Trader Joe’s store brand Pita Chips is made by Stacy’s.
Have you ever eaten Trader Joe’s Pita Chips with Sea Salt? These chips are so yummy and taste essentially the same as the Simply Naked flavor of Stacy’s Pita Chips that come in different packaging at a lower price.
A 6oz bag of Trader Joe’s Pita Chips sells for about $0.42 per ounce, whereas a 7.33oz bag of Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips sells for about $0.59 per ounce at stores like Target.
12. Trader Joe’s Pistachios are sourced from the same place as Wonderful Pistachios.
Trader Joe’s Dry Roasted Pistachios 16oz $7.49
– versus –
Wonderful Pistachios 16oz $9.19
You save $1.70!
We learned that Trader Joe’s pistachios come from the same place as Wonderful pistachios. Though you can occasionally find the Wonderful brand for a similar price, don’t think twice about grabbing the store-brand variety the next time you’re at TJ’s since you won’t be sacrificing quality!
13. Stoneyfield is rumored to make the popular Trader Joe’s organic yogurt according to a former employee.
Trader Joe’s European Style Organic Plain Yogurt $4.99
– versus –
Stonyfield Organic Low Fat Plain Yogurt $5.49
You save 50¢!
If you’re a fan of Trader Joe’s Organic Whole Milk Yogurt, there’s a good chance you’re already enjoying Stonyfield Organic for less. While Trader Joe’s doesn’t officially disclose its suppliers, multiple reports, including information from former employees, identify Stonyfield as the manufacturer behind many of Trader Joe’s organic yogurt products, particularly on the East Coast. The two yogurts are known for their rich, creamy texture, live active cultures, and organic ingredients, making Trader Joe’s version a great value if you’re looking for that same Stonyfield quality at a lower price. As with many private-label products, the exact recipe may vary slightly by region or retailer specifications.
14. A packaging mix-up & identical ingredients have many convinced Land O’Lakes also manufactures Great Value butter.
If you regularly buy Land O’Lakes Butter, you may want to give Great Value Butter a try. While Walmart doesn’t reveal who makes its store-brand butter, a well-publicized packaging mix-up where Great Value butter was accidentally wrapped in Land O’Lakes packaging strongly suggests the two are produced in the same facility. Although neither company has officially confirmed they’re identical recipes, the incident has led many shoppers to believe Great Value butter offers very similar quality for a lower price, making it a smart swap if you’re looking to save on a kitchen staple.
Hip Tip: We share the best prices on pantry staples every week!
Remember, when in doubt, look at the ingredients lists.
One thing many shoppers don’t realize is that store brands and name brands are often made in the very same factories. Categories like butter, milk, yogurt, frozen vegetables, canned vegetables, pasta, peanut butter, flour, sugar, salt, chips, crackers, cookies, and even ice cream are among the most common products to share manufacturers, according to a source. That doesn’t always mean the recipes are identical, as retailers may slightly tweak ingredients or flavors, but the differences are often minimal.
If you’re looking to save money, it’s worth taking a minute to compare the ingredient lists and nutrition labels side by side. You might be surprised at just how similar many store-brand products are to their name-brand counterparts.
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