14 Store-Brand Products That Were Weirdly Better Than the Original
Store brands aren't just about saving money anymore — they're out here winning taste tests and changing loyalties.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
For years, store-brand products carried the stigma of being inferior, cheap knockoffs. In the past decade, many retailers have invested in higher-quality ingredients and smarter branding, creating alternatives that outshine the originals in taste, texture, and value. From Trader Joe’s pantry staples to Kirkland’s liquor cabinet surprises, these underdog products earned their spot not just on shelves — but in people’s hearts.
1. Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Pretzels vs. Combos
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Trader Joe’s nailed the salty-sweet combo with their peanut butter-filled pretzel nuggets, leaving Combos in the dust. The texture is crisp, the peanut butter is creamy without being oily, and they don’t taste mass-produced. Somehow, they feel like they were made in a small batch kitchen rather than a factory.
2. Kirkland Signature Vodka vs. Grey Goose
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Costco’s Kirkland vodka became a legend for allegedly being made in the same distillery as Grey Goose, and blind taste tests often proved it. It’s smooth, clean, and half the price, making it a no-brainer for cocktails or sipping. For many, it became the default party bottle because no one could tell the difference.
3. Aldi’s Choceur Chocolate vs. Hershey’s
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Choceur, Aldi’s European-style chocolate line, doesn’t just beat Hershey’s — it embarrasses it. Creamy, rich, and not overly sweet, it tastes like it should cost three times as much. People who once scoffed at store brands now hoard these like they’re gold bars.
4. 365 by Whole Foods Organic Mac & Cheese vs. Kraft
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Whole Foods’ store-brand mac & cheese delivers a cheesier, more satisfying bite than Kraft’s iconic blue box. The pasta has more bite, the cheese flavor is richer, and it avoids that weird, artificial aftertaste. It feels nostalgic without tasting like it came from a science lab.
5. Great Value Ice Cream (Walmart) vs. Breyers
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Walmart’s Great Value ice cream surprised people by being creamier and more flavorful than some name-brand ice creams, such as Breyers. It holds its texture better, doesn’t melt into soup in two minutes, and actually tastes like vanilla — or chocolate, or mint chip — depending on what you grab. It’s the kind of quiet overachiever you don’t see coming.
6. Target’s Good & Gather Sparkling Water vs. LaCroix
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LaCroix may have led the sparkling water craze, but Good & Gather took the concept and gave it flavor that doesn’t taste like fruit ghosts. It’s crisp, bright, and actually tastes like what the can says. If you’ve ever sipped a LaCroix and wondered where the taste went, Target’s version is your redemption arc.
7. Trader Joe’s Everything But the Bagel Seasoning vs. Original Bagels
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What started as a seasoning became a cult favorite — and some fans say it outshines the actual bagels that inspired it. Savory, garlicky, oniony, and versatile, it made everything from eggs to popcorn taste gourmet. It was so good that people forgot they were supposed to miss the bagel.
8. Kirkland Organic Tortilla Chips vs. Tostitos
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Kirkland’s thick, hearty tortilla chips have a fresh-roasted corn taste that leaves Tostitos feeling like cardboard in comparison. They hold up to heavy dips without shattering and somehow stay crunchy even after the bag’s been open for days. It’s the chip equivalent of showing up overdressed — in the best way.
9. Aldi’s Millville Toaster Tarts vs. Pop-Tarts
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Millville’s toaster pastries might not have the brand recognition, but their fruit flavor actually tastes like fruit, and the crust isn’t just sugar cardboard. They’re slightly less sweet, which weirdly makes them feel more indulgent. For breakfast or sneaky dessert, they hit the spot better than Pop-Tarts ever did.
10. Target’s Favorite Day Caramel Coffee Syrup vs. Starbucks Bottled Syrup
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Favorite Day’s caramel coffee syrup made homebrews taste like fancy café drinks without the cost. It blends better, tastes more like real caramel, and doesn’t have that plasticky note Starbucks’ bottled version sometimes carries. Suddenly, your kitchen became your new favorite coffee shop.
11. Whole Foods 365 Greek Yogurt vs. Chobani
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The 365 Greek yogurt is luxuriously thick, tangy, and not overloaded with sugar like some Chobani flavors. It’s great for breakfast or cooking, and doesn’t feel like you’re eating diet food. Once people tried it, they rarely went back.
12. Great Value Honey Nut Toasted Oats vs. Honey Nut Cheerios
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Walmart’s version of Honey Nut Cheerios delivers that nostalgic crunch with a touch more honey and way less price guilt. It’s shockingly close in taste — some say even better — and doesn’t get soggy as fast. Budget shoppers and cereal snobs alike find common ground here.
13. Aldi’s Elevation Protein Bars vs. Quest Bars
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Elevation bars are cheaper, taste less like drywall, and still pack in the protein. The texture is more satisfying and less chemical, with flavors that actually resemble the name on the wrapper. Fitness folks on a budget swear by them — and they don’t feel like punishment.
14. Kirkland Signature Bacon vs. Oscar Mayer
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Kirkland’s thick-cut bacon crisps up beautifully and doesn’t shrink into a sad grease stain like some name brands. The flavor is smoky, savory, and balanced — no weird sweet notes or artificial hickory. It’s the kind of bacon you show off at brunch.