Worcestershire Sauce - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #26: Worcestershire Sauce:

Today I am comparing Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce to Target's Market Pantry Worcestershire Sauce. Both come in 10 fl oz bottles. There is quite a price difference but the taste of the store brand just doesn't even compare to the name brand. The Lea & Perrins brand has such a deeper flavor and tastes quite differenent from the Market Pantry sauce. The ingredients are also very different where as typically when comparing a store brand product to a name brand product they are similar. One noteable difference though is that the Market Pantry brand does not use HFCS. The Lea & Perrins brand uses HFCS and HMCS (high maltose corn syrup). However, due to the sharp contrast in taste, I will have to go with the name brand on this one.

The Cost Comparison (as of 9/8/11 at Target):

Lea & Perrin's (10 fl oz): 3.04
Market Pantry (10 fl oz): 1.37

Despite the savings of 1.67, I will stick with the name brand on this one.



Apricot Scrub - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #25 - Apricot Facial Scrub:

Today I am reviewing and comparing St. Ives' Apricot Scrub to Target's Store Brand, Up and Up's Facial Scrub. Both come in 6oz bottles and are easy to squeeze out the product. Both appear to look the same. There is a difference when it comes to smell. In my opinion, the name brand smells much more appealing. It is a lighter, fresher scent as compared to the Up and Up brand's scent. Also when it comes to performance, I would say that the Up and Up brand left sort of a residue on my skin and the scent seemed to stay as well. The Name Brand has fewer ingredients which seem a bit more "natural" than the Store Brand. All in all, I simply prefer the name brand in this case. Despite the cost savings with the Store Brand, I'm going to go with the Name Brand on this one.

The Cost Comparison (as of 7/24 at Target):

St. Ive's Apricot Scrub (6oz bottle): 3.00 (.50/oz)
Target's Up and Up Apricot Scrub (6oz bottle): 2.14 (.36/oz)

Though it's a big savings, in my opinion, I would stick with the St.Ives brand.

Organic Strawberry Jam - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #24 - Organic Strawberry Jam:

Today I am comparing Smuckers' Organic Strawberry Preserves to Costco's store brand, Kirkland Signature's Organic Strawberry Spread. Both contain the same ingredients, organic strawberries, organic sugar, fruit pectin and citric acid. As far as taste goes, they both taste very similar. When it comes to texture, there is a difference however. The Costco brand is a lot more runny. I would compare it to a homemade freezer jam consistency. The Smuckers brand is more solid. I suppose it just depends on your own personal preference, but that is the only real difference that I can tell between the two. The consistency doesn't bother me, it does tend to squeeze out the sides of my daughter's PB&J but she makes a mess no matter what so that doesn't matter much. There is a HUGE cost savings with switching to the Costco brand so in my opinion, it is well worth the switch. Not to mention it is delicious. It is a rather large jar so you have to go through it pretty quickly like we do to make it worth it.

The Cost Comparison (as of 7/17/11 at Costco and Target):

Smuckers Organic Strawberry Preserves (12oz): 4.29 (.36 / oz)
Costco's Kirkland Signature Organic Strawberry Spread (42oz): 6.59 (.16 / oz)

That's a savings of 10.83 if you switched to the Costco brand!! The name brand is over twice as much as the store brand. HUGE, in my opinion.

Canned Black Beans - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #23: Canned Black Beans:

Today I am comparing Bush's Black Beans to Target's Market Pantry Black Beans. Both come in 15.5 oz cans. Both have the same ingredients: prepared black beans, water and salt. Both look the same when opened - the beans are the same size and shape. When I tasted both to compare though there was a slight difference only in the level of saltiness. The Bush's brand seemed saltier to me. Sure enough, when I checked the sodium levels, the Bush's was higher. 480mg per serving vs. 400mg per serving with the Target brand. 90% of the time I rinse the beans before cooking with them and this process gets rid of most of the sodium anyway. However, since the price difference is notable, they taste the same and the Target Brand is lower in sodium, I will go with the store brand on this one for sure.

The Cost Comparison (as of 7/9/11 at Target):

Bush's Black Beans (15.5 oz can): 1.09
Target's Market Pantry Black Beans (15.5 oz can): .67

That's a difference of .42 - well worth the switch, in my opinion.

Men's Disposable Razors - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #22: Men's Disposable Razors:

Today I am reviewing Schick Xtreme 3 Sensitive Disposable Razors and Target's Up and Up brand's Men's Sensitive Skin Triple Blade Disposable Razors. Both come in packs of 10. The Up and Up razors are grey and blue and the Schick are black and blue. Both have triple blades and have a moisturizing strip at the top of the blades. If I had to be really picky, I would say that the name brand felt a little more solid and heavier in the hand. The Up and Up brand seemed lighter and a little cheaper when it comes to the plastic handle. When it comes to the blades, we could not tell a difference. When tested, both of these razors did an equally good job of shaving close to the skin without any problems at all. Therefore, I would say that the Target Up and Up brand is a great buy and well worth the switch, in my opinion.

The Cost Comparison (as of 6/30/11 at Target):

Schick Xtreme 3 Men's Disposable Triple Blade Razor for Sensitive Skin (10 pack): 10.99
Target's Up and Up Men's Triple Blade Razor Sensitive Skin (10 pack): 6.59

That's a savings of 4.40!!!! Huge, in my opinion and well worth it!

Nail Polish Remover - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #21: Nail Polish Remover:

Today I am reviewing and comparing Sally Hansen's Moisturizing Polish Remover to Target's Up and Up Nail Polish Remover. Both are similar shape bottles and are blue in color. The ingredients pretty close. The Sally Hansen comes in a 10oz bottle and the Up and Up brand, an 8oz bottle. When tested on ease of removal of nail polish, there was not a clear winner in this case. Both worked quickly, with just a few swipes of the cotton ball. I would say that the Up and Up brand needed an extra swipe but that would not deter me from buying it again. With 2 coats of polish and a top coat, more time is needed for proper removal with both brands. I would say that the Up and Up Nail Polish Remover is a good buy and worth the switch.

The Cost Comparison (as of 6/4/11 at Target):

Sally Hansen Moisturizing Polish Remover (10oz):  3.94
Target's Up and Up Polish Remover (8oz): .97

That's a savings of 2.73!! Well worth it, in my opinion.

Canned Organic Diced Tomatoes - Store Brand or Name Brand?

Product #20: Canned Organic Diced Tomatoes:

Today I am comparing Muir Glen's Organic Diced Tomatoes to Whole Foods' Store Brand 365 Organic Diced Tomatoes. I purchased both in the 14.5oz size. Both are made from California Tomatoes. Both have the same ingredients with the only exception being that the Whole Foods brand uses sea salt instead of regular salt. As far as taste, I would say that they taste almost identical and it is really hard to find any difference. The only thing I will mention is that there is a slight difference in consistency of size of the dice in the 365 brand, if that matters to you. To me, it does not.

The Cost Comparison (as of 5/10/11 at Whole Foods):

365 Organic Diced Tomatoes (14.5oz) - 1.69
Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes (14.5oz) - 1.99

That's a savings of .40! Well worth the switch, in my opinion.