Brand-name v home-brand: Geelong Advertiser comparison reveals the tastier options
A blind taste test comparison of brand-name v home-brand shopping items has revealed which is best. SEE THE RESULTS
Geelong
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Geelong families are continuing to feel the pinch of the rising cost of living, especially during the weekly supermarket shop.
Norlane resident Liz Boyle stretches her $670 a fortnight income to cover rent, gas, power and internet bills, and allocates $50 a week for petrol.
Whatever is leftover goes toward food.
Ms Boyle said she “hates” having to stretch her pay so far, and be stressed about having enough to eat.
“I’ve got major depression (and) anxiety,” she said.
“I’ve got to write a list, and we can’t vary off it.
“There’s times where we can’t even (get everything on the list), we’ve got to figure out what’s more important and what’s not.
“(For example) this week I knew we were short on money, but I really, really wanted a roast chicken.
“When I then had to go and borrow money … for toilet paper … I feel guilty about that.
“That’s stupid – it’s a basic roast chicken.”.
A Geelong Advertiser analysis compared the cost and taste of 10 everyday branded products to their generic counterparts.
It found the branded items cost $44.95, while the same unbranded goods cost just $28.50.
A blind taste also found in favour of home branded proudct, with five products voted as tasting better than the name branded options.
Three name branded products were voted as tasting better and two products were tied.
Dr Rebecca Lindberg, research fellow at Deakin Univerity’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), said for many struggling families like Ms Boyle’s, food has become a “discretionary” cost even though it was needed for survival.
“I’ve talked to parents that skip meals … or at worst they might even have whole days where they’re not eating,” Dr Lindberg said.
She said once people satisfied fixed costs including utilities, rent or mortgage, and internet bills, the budget at the end of week needed to be stretched.
Ms Boyle said she visited at least three different outlets when doing her weekly shop, to ensure she got the best value for money.
For fresh fruit and vegetables, the family gets a $65 box from Our Farm 2 You each month
Ms Boyle said she was constantly making things last, and never felt relaxed about the week ahead.
She said she was “disgusted” at how much food waste she saw in the community, and was frustrated food prices continued to climb.
“It’s ridiculous because sometimes it is cheaper to go and get takeaway than it is to do a shop and have fresh, healthy produce,” she said.
“That sucks.
“I can’t even afford to make a lasagna – I’ve got to wait and actually get stuff over (multiple) weeks before I can make one.”
Dr Lindberg said 2023 would be difficult, with the food prices showing no signs of lowering.
She said according to the monthly consumer price index from the Australia Bureau of Statistics (ABS), food and non-alcoholic beverages were about eight per cent more expensive than in February 2022.
Dr Lindberg said bread and cereal products had increased 12.5 per cent, and dairy products 14.3 per cent.
“A lot of staples and fresh foods and nutritious goods that people need, unfortunately, I don’t think we’re going to see a lot of relief this year,” Dr Lindberg said.
She said families could switch from fresh to frozen alternatives and to home brand, buy locally, and cut out non-essential purchases like junk food and soft drink to save money.
The battle of brand-name vs home-brand
A Geelong Advertiser comparison found home brand products held their own against name brand counterparts.
Reporter Michaela Meade and Ms Boyle blind taste tested 20 common supermarket products – 10 brand-name and 10 home-brand equivalents to find out if the money generally saved on buying home-brand was worth it.
The shopping list included milk, bread, cheese, cornflakes cereal, potato chips, bottled fruit, chocolate chip cookies, ice cream bars, peanut butter and muesli bars.
The test found home-brand items were only slightly different to the brand-name products, offering value for money as there was a more than $16 difference in the total paid for each category.
COLES HOME-BRAND TOTAL: $28.50
BRAND-NAME TOTAL: $44.95
THE TEST
PRODUCT 1 – MILK
Option A: Devondale Long Life light milk (1 litre) – $2.20
Option B: Coles Lite Milk (1 litre) – $1.60
Michaela: Option A is better because it actually tastes like milk.
Liz: Option B is too watery, I pick A.
WINNER: NAME BRAND
PRODUCT 2 – BREAD
Option A: Wonder sandwich white bread (700g) – $4.40
Option B: Coles white sandwich loaf (650g) – $2.40
Michaela: Option B didn’t dry my mouth out.
Liz: The taste of option B is better.
WINNER: HOME BRAND
PRODUCT 3 – CHEESE
Option A: Coles Tasty cheddar slices (250g) – $5.00
Option B: Bega Farmers’ Taste natural cheese slices (250g) – $7.00
Michaela: Option A is quite nice.
Liz: Option A is better.
WINNER: HOME BRAND
PRODUCT 4 – CEREAL
Option A: Coles Corn Flakes (475g) – $1.90
Option B: Kellogg’s Cornflakes (380g) – $4.25
Michaela: B has a nice crunch and has a punchier flavour.
Liz: The flavour is better with option B, and the crunch.
WINNER: NAME BRAND
PRODUCT 5 – POTATO CHIPS
Option A: The Natural Chip Co. lightly salted potato chips (175g) – $2.35
Option B: Coles Original crinkle cut chips (175g) – $2.10
Michaela: If you had a craving for salty chips, option B would satisfy it well.
Liz: Option B actually has flavour.
WINNER: HOME BRAND
PRODUCT 6 – BOTTLED FRUIT
Option A: Coles Two Fruits Diced in juice (685g) – $3.70
Option B: Goulburn Valley Two Fruits in juice (700g) – $4.60
Michaela: I like option B because the fruit was softer and the little bit of extra sweetness.
Liz: There’s too much excess sweetness in the second one, I like option A.
WINNER: A DRAW
PRODUCT 7 – COOKIES
Option A: Paradise Cottage Cookies choc chip indulgence (250g) – $2.85
Option B: Coles Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies (400g) – $4.00
Michaela: Option B is a lot more chocolatey, I pick that one.
Liz: Option B smells more expensive, the chocolate is great.
WINNER: HOME BRAND
PRODUCT 8 – ICE CREAM
Option A: Coles Choc Coated Sticks (10 pack) – $3.50
Option B: Bulla Choc Bars (8 pack) – $8.00
Michaela: Option B, it’s creamier and the chocolate is tastier.
Liz: I like the creaminess of option B, I choose that.
WINNER: NAME BRAND
PRODUCT 9 – PEANUT BUTTER
Option A: Coles Smooth peanut butter (375g) – $1.80
Option B: Bega Peanut Butter smooth (375g) – $4.30
Michaela: Option A had a bit of a bitter aftertaste for me, Option B tasted stronger of peanut, I choose B.
Liz: I prefer option A, it’s just to my taste.
WINNER: A DRAW
PRODUCT 10 – MUESLI BARS
Option A: Coles muesli bars choc chip (8 pack) – $2.50
Option B: Uncle Tobys Chewy choc chip (6 pack) – $5.00
Michaela: Option A was better tasting, with the chew and the sweetness of the chocolate.
Liz: Option B was too chewy, A had more flavour.
WINNER: HOME BRAND
Originally published as Brand-name v home-brand: Geelong Advertiser comparison reveals the tastier options
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