Brand loyalty

I caught most of a show on ITV last night with that guy from Moneysavingexpert.com. He was showing how you can save lots of money if you just go from one level of brand to another at the supermarket (i.e. name brand, premium supermarket brand, regular supermarket brand, and value brand). He wasn't disputing that some things *are* better if you spend a bit extra for the higher brand, but that if you don't try the other brands, you'll never know. A lot of our brand loyalty comes from what our friends family have 'always' used.

DH and I were thinking about it and we don't think we spend a lot of name brand or premium brand. We're going to pay more attention next time we shop and see if we can lower our bill.

But there are some things that MUST be branded. So it got me thinking what other people *have* to have in their house.

For us, it's Heinz ketchup. I can taste the difference immediately and detest any other brand.

What about you?

I'm with you on the Heinz ketchup.  Also, I must have Hellmans mayonnaise.  I think most of my brand loyalty is for certain condiments along those lines.

Steve doesn't care & for most things we just buy the store brand or whatever is cheaper.  Then again, the majority of our day to day consumption is fresh (unbranded) food.

-Hellmans mayonnaise
-Heinz Baked Beans, ketchup and tomato soup
-Flash All purpose cleaner
-FAIRY LIQUID (I can't believe what rubbish some people choose to wash their dishes in)

That's all I can think of.

i agree- there are some things that must be branded and some things not so much.  in the US- mac n' cheese (must be kraft or annies) and poptarts.

in the UK- branston baked beans, certain salad dressings.  korma- lloyd grossman. that's about it.

Same here on the Heinz ketchup.

Has to be HP Brown Sauce, as well.  Have tried others, and they just aren't the same.

Can't really think of any others.  I mean, I have "store" loyalty, in that I'd much rather shop at Sainsburys (and therefore prefer their store brand items) than Tesco or Asda.  I admit, if I end up at Tesco or Asda, I usually will buy a "brand" name rather than the store's own of a product.

Heinz baked beans...

Heinz baked beans, salad cream, & ketchup
Coke!
Also cant stand own brand toilet paper. It runs out too quickly. We prefer Andrex.

Not a bean fan here......

But Skippy Peanut Butter is a must.

I mean, I have "store" loyalty, in that I'd much rather shop at Sainsburys (and therefore prefer their store brand items) than Tesco or Asda.  I admit, if I end up at Tesco or Asda, I usually will buy a "brand" name rather than the store's own of a product.

Same here.  In the states, it's Kroger; here, it's Sainsburys.

Not a Heinz girl, I'm afraid - it's Hunt's ketchup for me all the way.  I stick a couple of bottles in my suitcase every time I'm home.  I prefer Hunt's crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce for spaghetti as well, but they're too heavy to import myself, especially now that the slow boat mail is history. 

Other US brands:
Hellman's mayo
Coca-Cola
"American" Cheerios
Bush's country-style baked beans (Heinz are fine for a full English, but I loooove pork chops and baked beans with brown sugar for dinner!)
Roman Meal bread
DAWN WASHING UP LIQUID!!

Here in the UK, I tend to favor Highland Spring water, Kingsmill bread, and Sainsbury's Taste the Difference OJ with bits.

Dh only likes HP brown sauce he has tried others but he says nothing compares to HP in his opinion. we only eat Branston baked beans they are the only baked bean that I like that reminds me of home. I'm another one who only likes Heinz ketchup. peanut butter it has to be mainly Jiff then Peter Pan or Skippy, Smucker's strawberry jelly. although when I did live back in the States I did like Kroger brand Strawberry jelly. I like Smuckers jelly  for the taste but also it comes in a plastic bottle better for shipping purposes. when I drink pop it is usually Diet Coke. Kraft Mac & Cheese is only kind I will eat. Kraft Miracle Whip mayonnaise there is no other substitute for me I would rather go without if there isn't any Miracle Whip. Toilet paper we usually only use Charmin or Andrex. We usually only get Kingsmill bread we have Kingsmill 50/50 best of both bread. every now an then Dh gets a granery style bread for himself I'm not to keen on it myself. I guess you could say we are a bit picky

When I lived back home I preferred Kroger's to any other grocery store myself.

My DH grew up with no name everything in his house, so he is insistent that most things are branded, at least what he eats. That makes a high grocery bill for us 

So our brands are:
Heinz beans, ketchup, salad cream, diet coke etc...

By the way, I read about this before to save money, here's a strategy I tried while single:

Buy 1 or 2 store brand items a week and try them out. If you they are good, then stick with buying that to save money, if not, at least you haven't changed everything at once and are stuck with food you dislike for a week or more. I still buy some store brand things, such as bathroom cleaner, shower spray, fruit smoothies, frozen veg, concentrated juices...

Second on the Hellman's Mayonnaise!  I bought Heinz Mayo the other day because that's all they had...   It's vile!  I'll never doubt again! 

I switched to the Value dishwasher tabs, they are just as good as Finish or the other supermarket branded ones. Also buy Value paper goods like table napkins and paper towels.  For most food items though I wouldn't buy Value, they just aren't as good. Exceptions, bananas (they are usually quite green but ripen up quickly) and the smoked salmon pieces you can get in Tesco & Sainsbury for about a quid.  Have tried the value cheese ... yuk, ok in a sauce but not to eat 'raw.'  Also tried the value back olives recently ... taste quite tinny  although they come in a jar ... were ok on pizza though.  The value baked beans I found were bearable but not as tasty as other brands.

Dishwashing liquid we don't use that much now because this house came with a dishwasher but I tried a cheap brand once and my hands ended up very red and sore for weeks and I had to get an expensive hand cream! So now I always get Surcare. 

The way I save money is to buy good brands that are on special offer or BOGOF.  I love BOGOF!!! But yes there are some things that HAVE to be certain bands in our house. Like most others who have posted it has to be Hellman's mayo & Heinz ketchup. Also Kikkoman soy sauce.  Oh, and only Tilda basmati, the cheaper stuff turns out too sticky no matter how you cook it.

Haven't eaten the stuff since Uni, but store brand macaroni and cheese is terrible.  Kraft all the way!

I buy Andrex toilet paper... and am worried that I'll miss it when we go home.  It's incredibly over-spec, considering the use.

French's mustard, Heinz ketchup, HP sauce... I hate having to buy other brands.  They're often an unpleasant surprise.

Instant noodles are something I'll experiment with, though.  

I used to insist on Tetley tea, but Twinings is good here.  For some reason, not so good (IMO) in Canada and Japan.

The cat insists on 'Felix, as Good as it Looks'.  I curse the day I bought that first packet.

The cat insists on 'Felix, as Good as it Looks'.  I curse the day I bought that first packet.

Now, ours hate Felix - won't eat it at all, even the roasted stuff!  They're okay about Whiskas.  However, they much prefer the Sainsbury's brand duck and chicken & lamb with gravy.  They love their gravy!

They'll eat almost any dry food, though.