Are Great Value Products Made by Name Brands? Truth Revealed

Quick Answer

Great Value products are often manufactured by the same companies that produce name brands. While Walmart owns the Great Value brand, they contract with various national brand manufacturers to produce their store-brand items, often in the same facilities using similar recipes but with cost-saving modifications.

Article Outline

• Introduction to Great Value and private label brands
• How store brands like Great Value work
• Which name brands make Great Value products
• Quality comparison between Great Value and name brands
• Cost savings analysis
• Best Great Value products worth buying
• How to identify which manufacturer makes a specific Great Value product
• Where to find Great Value and other quality store brands at a discount
• FAQs about Great Value products

Introduction

Ever grabbed a Great Value product from Walmart's shelves and wondered if you're actually getting the same product as a name brand but at a fraction of the cost? You're not alone. The mystery behind who actually makes store brands like Great Value has been a topic of curiosity for budget-conscious shoppers everywhere. As savvy consumers ourselves at Bargain Boxed, we've done the research to uncover the truth about Great Value products and their connection to the name brands you know and trust.

Great Value is Walmart's private label brand that spans across thousands of products, from food items to household essentials. Launched in 1993, this store brand has become synonymous with affordability without necessarily sacrificing quality. But are you really getting name-brand quality when you choose Great Value? Let's dive into the facts and reveal the truth behind who actually manufactures these budget-friendly alternatives.

How Store Brands Like Great Value Work

The business model behind private label brands like Great Value is actually quite straightforward. Walmart, like other retailers with their own brands, doesn't actually manufacture the products themselves. Instead, they contract with various manufacturers—often the same ones that produce name-brand products—to create items that meet their specifications and price points.

This arrangement benefits everyone involved: manufacturers can utilize excess production capacity, retailers can offer more affordable alternatives to their customers, and consumers get access to lower-priced products that often match the quality of their name-brand counterparts.

The key difference is that while Great Value products might be made in the same facilities as name brands, they may use slightly different recipes or ingredients to meet cost targets while maintaining acceptable quality standards. The packaging is simpler, and there's no national advertising campaign to fund, allowing for those substantial price reductions we all appreciate.

Which Name Brands Make Great Value Products

While manufacturers typically sign non-disclosure agreements that prevent them from openly revealing their relationship with Walmart, industry insiders and various investigations have uncovered several connections between Great Value products and their name-brand counterparts:

ConAgra Foods, one of America's largest food companies, produces many Great Value frozen and packaged foods.

Dairy products, including Great Value milk and cheese, often come from regional dairy cooperatives that also package products under their own name brands.

Sara Lee has been identified as the manufacturer behind some Great Value bread and bakery items.

Many Great Value cereals come from the same facilities as Post or Malt-O-Meal cereals.

Great Value coffee has been linked to major coffee producers like Massimo Zanetti Beverage USA, which makes Hills Bros and Chock full o'Nuts.

Birds Eye Foods is believed to produce some of the Great Value frozen vegetables.

These arrangements can change over time as Walmart renegotiates contracts, so the manufacturer of a specific Great Value product today might be different from who made it a few years ago.

Quality Comparison Between Great Value and Name Brands

When it comes to quality, the gap between Great Value and name brands is often much smaller than the price difference would suggest. In blind taste tests conducted by consumer organizations, Great Value products frequently perform comparably to their name-brand counterparts.

For staple items like flour, sugar, salt, and basic canned goods, the difference is practically nonexistent because these products have to meet standardized quality requirements regardless of the brand. For more complex products like prepared foods or cleaning supplies, there may be slight variations in taste or performance, but many consumers find these differences acceptable given the cost savings.

It's worth noting that some Great Value products are actually preferred by consumers over the name brands. Great Value vanilla ice cream, for instance, has won blind taste tests against premium brands costing twice as much or more.

Cost Savings Analysis

The primary advantage of choosing Great Value over name brands is, of course, the cost savings. On average, Great Value products cost 20-30% less than their name-brand equivalents, with some items priced up to 50% lower.

For a family of four, switching to Great Value for most grocery items could lead to savings of $1,500-$2,500 annually without significantly impacting quality of life. These savings become even more substantial when you purchase Great Value products at discount retailers like Bargain Boxed, where prices are often lower than even Walmart's everyday low prices.

When considering products with best-by dates, remember that properly stored shelf-stable items like canned goods, dried pasta, and many pantry staples remain perfectly safe and maintain their quality well beyond the best-by date. This makes stocking up on discounted Great Value products from Bargain Boxed an even smarter financial decision.

Best Great Value Products Worth Buying

Based on consumer reviews and blind taste tests, these Great Value products are considered comparable or superior to name brands:

Great Value Peanut Butter – Often compared favorably to Jif and Skippy Great Value Potato Chips – Particularly the original and sour cream & onion varieties Great Value Vanilla Ice Cream – A consistent winner in taste tests Great Value Trash Bags – Offer strong performance at significant savings Great Value Paper Towels – Good absorbency at a fraction of name-brand prices Great Value Maple Syrup – The 100% pure variety tastes similar to name brands Great Value Spices – Particularly the basic varieties like garlic powder and cinnamon Great Value Cheese – Both block and shredded varieties perform well in recipes

For the most substantial savings with minimal quality difference, focus on shelf-stable pantry staples, paper products, and basic dairy items. We consistently stock many of these items at Bargain Boxed, offering even better prices than you'll find at traditional retailers.

How to Identify Which Manufacturer Makes a Specific Great Value Product

While manufacturers aren't typically disclosed on packaging, there are several ways to make an educated guess about who produces a specific Great Value product:

Check the plant number on dairy products, meat, and some packaged foods. These codes are required by regulatory agencies and can sometimes be traced to specific facilities that also produce name brands.

Look for distinctive packaging features that resemble those of name brands. Sometimes the shape of a container or unique package design elements remain similar between a name brand and its Great Value equivalent.

Compare the ingredient lists. If they're nearly identical and in the same order, there's a good chance they're made by the same manufacturer.

Research product recalls – when recalls happen, they often affect both name brands and store brands made in the same facility.

At Bargain Boxed, we focus on bringing you these quality Great Value products at even lower prices, regardless of which specific manufacturer produced them.

Where to Find Great Value and Other Quality Store Brands at a Discount

While Walmart is the primary retailer for Great Value products, savvy shoppers know there are other ways to access these budget-friendly items at even better prices. Bargain Boxed specializes in offering Great Value and other quality store brands at prices lower than you'll find anywhere else online.

We're able to offer these exceptional deals by maintaining an ever-revolving inventory of products and operating with lower overhead than traditional retailers. Unlike other discount stores, we don't require memberships, allowing everyone access to our incredible savings.

Our focus on efficiency means we can pass significant savings directly to our customers. While we don't specify best-by or expiration dates due to our rapidly changing inventory, we ensure all shelf-stable products are properly stored and in excellent condition. All sales are final, which helps us keep our prices lower than any competitor online.

FAQs About Great Value Products

Are Great Value products actually made by name brands?

Yes, many Great Value products are manufactured by the same companies that produce name brands, often in the same facilities. However, the recipes may be slightly modified to meet Walmart's price points.

Is Great Value lower quality than name brands?

Not necessarily. While recipes may differ slightly, many Great Value products perform comparably to name brands in blind taste tests. For basic items like flour, sugar, and rice, the difference is virtually nonexistent.

How much can I save by switching to Great Value?

The average household can save 20-30% on grocery bills by switching to Great Value products. When purchased through discount retailers like Bargain Boxed, these savings can be even greater.

Are Great Value products safe?

Absolutely. Great Value products are subject to the same safety regulations and inspections as name brands. They're manufactured in facilities that must meet strict quality control standards.

Can I use Great Value products past their best-by date?

Many shelf-stable Great Value products remain perfectly safe and maintain their quality well beyond the best-by date when stored properly. This is particularly true for canned goods, dried pasta, rice, and other pantry staples.

Where can I find the best deals on Great Value products?

While Walmart is the primary retailer, Bargain Boxed offers Great Value products at even lower prices, with no membership required. Our prices are consistently lower than anywhere else online due to our efficient business model.

Does Great Value make everything that name brands do?

Not everything, but the Great Value line includes thousands of products across virtually every grocery and household category. If there's a popular name-brand product, there's likely a Great Value alternative.

How does Great Value compare to other store brands?

Great Value is often considered one of the better store brands in terms of quality and value. However, some specialty store brands like Trader Joe's or Costco's Kirkland Signature may offer higher quality in specific categories.

Will my family notice if I switch to Great Value?

For many products, especially staples and basic ingredients, most people cannot tell the difference between Great Value and name brands in blind tests. For products where taste is more distinctive, try introducing them gradually.

Are there any Great Value products to avoid?

Consumer reviews suggest that some Great Value products don't match up well to name brands, particularly some cleaning products and certain prepared foods. However, preferences vary, and many people find all Great Value products acceptable.

Conclusion

The truth about Great Value products is that they often are made by the same manufacturers as the name brands you know and trust. While recipes may be slightly modified to hit lower price points, the quality difference is frequently minimal compared to the substantial cost savings.

At Bargain Boxed, we're proud to offer these value-packed products at even lower prices than you'll find at Walmart or other online retailers. Our no-membership, no-frills approach means we can pass maximum savings directly to you, making quality grocery and household products accessible to everyone.

Whether you're looking to stock your pantry with staples or trying to stretch your grocery budget further, Great Value products from Bargain Boxed represent one of the smartest shopping decisions you can make. The truth has been revealed – you don't have to pay premium prices to get quality products from trusted manufacturers.