Store Brands Steal More Shoppers

Every weekend I head to the grocery store to replenish the pantry. Lately, I have noticed that fewer and fewer brand names are making their way into my cart. I filled five reusable shopping bags and spent more than $100 this week, but I can count on one hand the number of brands I brought home.

Nielsen says that I’m not the only one picking up store brands to save a couple bucks. Today, it reported that annual sales for private label are up 10% across categories.

The brands I did buy all had something that made them stand out from the cheaper alternatives. That something different is what Tom Pirovano, Director of Industry Insights for Nielsen, says brands will have to provide to win shoppers back.

He says that now is the time for brands to innovate, either through healthier ingredients, more convenient packaging, or new sizes, shapes and flavors that are hard to copy.

So what brands did I buy?
• Fiber One Honey Clusters because nobody has copied this flavor AND nutrition.
• Cocoa Puffs because I am weak, and I had a coupon!
• Sweet Baby Ray’s Honey Chipotle because my husband loves this flavor.
• Reach dental floss because my dentist introduced me to it, and it’s the only woven type I’ve found.

What brands will you always buy, even when there is a comparable store brand?