More consumers choosing store brands to save money

FARGO – Kimberly Onnen of Barnesville, Minn., swore she would never use store-brand ketchup.

Then she tried Walmart’s Great Value brand to save some money and found that it tastes just like Heinz.

While not all store brands pass her ketchup test, Onnen has started switching to store brands and for the most part hasn’t noticed much of a difference in taste or quality, she said.

“I think the only downside of buying store brand is that manufacturer coupons can’t be used on them, but the overall savings of buying store brand compared to purchasing name brand with a coupon is so much better,” Onnen said.

Onnen has joined the growing ranks of consumers forgoing name brands in favor of savings.