The private labels at Aldi and Kroger are the big winners in a new tally of the best stores brands in the land for 2018, according to one new survey.
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Kroger’s Simple Truth, Aldi’s Simply Nature win big among store brands
Practically every store brand on the face of the Earth promises it will meet the quality of the name brands you're familiar with. But the private-label industry has been experiencing a lot of growth over the past few years by making premium products that actually exceed name-brand quality.
If you’re already a fan of store brands, you know that private labels can help you to save money at a time when the cost of name-brand good is on the rise.
Within the last couple weeks, name-brand powerhouses like Procter & Gamble and Kimberly-Clark both announced new rounds of price hikes on a variety of consumer products.
You’ll typically pay a bit more for this category of store-brand products, but it will still be much lower than you would pay for a name brand.
Recognizing all the great new premium house brands out there, industry publication Store Brands asked its team of editors to consider the options and select the finest store-brand products introduced over the past year across some 30 different categories.
More than 200 products were in play, but only a handful were left standing when the judges awarded gold, silver and bronze medals to the best store brands of 2018.
Supermarkets like Kroger and Aldi ruled the roost, while smaller regional or online grocers like Harris Teeter, Giant Eagle and Jet.com also made a showing.
If you’re the kind of shopper who is still skeptical about buying off-brands, you may want to consult this list the next time you’re shopping because this is the cream of the crop when it comes to store brands!
Baby Food
Beverages/Coffee (Ground and Whole Bean)
Beverages/Coffee (Single Serve)
Beverages/Juices and Smoothies
Beverages/Milk
Beverages/Sports Drinks
Beverages/Water
Bread
Chips
Dairy
Frozen Fruit
Frozen Vegetables
Health, Beauty and Medical Products
Household Products
Meal Solutions
Meat (Frozen)
Meat (Jerky)
Meat (Other Processed)
Oils and Vinegars
Pasta and Macaroni
Pet Food
Sauces, Salsas and Dips
Snack Bars
Spices and Seasonings
Conclusion
In the final tally, Aldi took home 27 awards in total; Kroger nabbed 12 (including two wins for Harris Teeter, which is owned by Kroger); Jet.com scored six and Giant Eagle got one.
When it comes to bringing home the gold, Aldi was awarded seven gold medals to Kroger’s six gold medals. Yet Kroger really shined in frozen vegetables, where it captured both gold and silver.
Pet food, meanwhile, was one category where Aldi stood head and shoulders above the competition, with its Pure Being line capturing both silver and bronze. Jet.com, meanwhile, was particularly strong in the coffee category.
But remember, you’re the real winner when you buy any of the best store brands of 2018 because you save money and still get a great product!