- Food prices continue to climb. Buying store brands can deliver big savings.
- They are tastier and more creative than ever, and their quality is similar to name brands.
- You can also save money by cooking at home, shopping different stores and buying in bulk.
My husband jokes that we can’t walk into a grocery store for less than $100 anymore. And our two-person household doesn’t even eat at home that often. But there’s no question that food costs, both at home and in restaurants, have been rising steeply in recent years.
According to the Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, food prices are soaring faster than overall inflation, increasing 3.1% between December 2024 and December 2025. That may not sound so bad, but the same report expects another increase of roughly 3% this year. That means prices are climbing swiftly and steadily.
My solution is choosing store brands. While I’ve come to find that they are huge money-savers, I didn’t always feel that way. I grew up thinking that store-brand options were cheap knockoffs that weren’t worthy of their shelf space. But much has changed over the past few decades. Store brands are now part of the backbone of our daily bread. Just look at the success of companies such as Costco with its Kirkland Signature label or Trader Joe’s. And taking advantage of those offerings is the best way to save money on groceries.
Turns out, I’m not the only one who feels that way. “Overall scrutiny on grocery budgets has trended upward in the most recent six months as other household expenditures have increased in price,” says Rick Miller, a partner at Big Chalk, an analytics firm that charts consumer spending. “The portion of U.S. households saying they’ve permanently traded down from premium brands to value brands or store brands jumped from 18.9% in [the spring of] 2025 to 21.5% in [the fall of] 2025.”
I’m one of those consumers. When I shop at Walmart, most of my purchases now have either their Great Value or Bettergoods label. Walmart’s Bettergoods debuted in 2024 as the retail giant’s higher-end private label. As Walmart’s senior vice president of private brands, food and consumables said at the time, “Today’s customers expect more from the private brands they purchase—they want affordable, quality products to elevate their overall food experience. The launch of Bettergoods delivers on that customer need in a meaningful way.”
Benefits of Buying Store-Brand
You’ll Save Money
According to Eran Mizrahi, CEO and founder of Source86, a global sourcing and private label partner that works directly with grocery retailers and food brands, “Store brands are usually less expensive than national brands, often up to 15% to 30%, depending on the category, which makes a huge impact on the whole cart. The savings come from lower marketing costs and simpler packaging, mostly.”
The Quality Is Similar
“Store brands, like any other brands, are held to very strict safety and quality requirements, and retailers are very protective of their reputation,” explains Mizrahi. “While the recipe or formulation may not be the exact same as a name brand, the difference in quality is definitely smaller than people expect, especially in core categories.”
Mizrahi believes that quality is what has kept people coming back to store-brand options, as much as saving money. In fact, he says that often store brands even share the same manufacturers as major labels.
The Variety Is Staggering
This is where you’ll have the most fun. Going back to my Bettergoods purchases, they range from pistachio spread that’s made in Italy to a cheese blend that combines high-quality sharp Cheddar, Swiss and Gruyère—a must for mac-and-cheese. Mizrahi says that he’s a fan of Costco’s olive oil, but also points to Trader Joe’s (where everything is private-label, from frozen Indian entrees to wine) and Target with their Good & Gather label, as companies that have “built strong consumer trust by consistently delivering quality and value.”
Other Tips to Save Money at the Grocery Store
While buying store brands is my favorite strategy to save money when grocery shopping, it’s hardly the only one. For even more savings, try these tips.
- Do your own cooking: You pay for convenience when you buy prepared foods. The solution? Reserve a day each week to do your own meal prepping so you have yummy repasts that are ready to eat on your busiest days.
- Use the bulk bin judiciously: Yes, you can save by buying lots of lentils or rice at one time, but how much cumin do you actually need? And how long will they stay at their peak quality? For the freshest ingredients, consider buying just what your recipe calls for on a given day. It will save you lots of dough in the long run.
- Purchase your favorites on sale: Scour markdowns for items that you use often and buy as many as you can reasonably use. For example, I stock up on my favorite dry pasta, canned sauces and similar shelf-stable items whenever I’m able.
- Try more than one store: Being aware of what’s available at multiple grocery stores isn’t just fun for the hunter-gatherer in you. It will also save you cash. I have staples that I buy at Trader Joe’s that I avoid purchasing at Walmart because I know they will be more expensive there, and vice versa.
The Bottom Line
I’m not ashamed to say that most of the foods in my pantry and refrigerator today are store brands. It’s hands-down the easiest way to save money on groceries. And I’m not alone. “Retailers are investing heavily in their private-label programs, so now shoppers don’t feel like they’re trading down,” says Mizrahi. “In many cases, store brands are now an intentional choice, not a ‘compromise.’”
Of course, buying full-price national brands is always an option. But when it comes to saving money on groceries this year, it might not be the best one.
