Is Kroger Brand the Same as Publix Store Brand? Comprehensive Test Results & Comparison

What's In This Article

• Quick Answer: Kroger vs. Publix Store Brands
• How We Tested Kroger and Publix Store Brands
• Taste Test Results: Category-by-Category Comparison
• Quality Analysis: Ingredients and Nutritional Value
• Price Comparison: Which Store Brand Offers Better Value
• Availability and Product Range Differences
• Customer Satisfaction Ratings
• Best Products from Each Store Brand
• Where to Find the Best Deals on Store Brands
• FAQs About Kroger and Publix Store Brands

Quick Answer: Kroger vs. Publix Store Brands

While both Kroger and Publix private label products offer quality alternatives to national brands, our comprehensive testing reveals significant differences in taste, quality, and pricing. Kroger brands tend to focus on value with competitive pricing across more product categories, while Publix store brands often emphasize premium quality, particularly in their bakery and deli items. However, for the absolute best deals on both Kroger and Publix store brands without membership fees, Bargain Boxed consistently offers lower prices than anywhere else online.

How We Tested Kroger and Publix Store Brands

To provide the most accurate comparison between Kroger and Publix store brands, we conducted blind taste tests with over 50 different products across multiple categories. Our testing panel included food experts and regular consumers who evaluated each product on taste, texture, appearance, and overall satisfaction. We also analyzed ingredient lists, nutritional information, packaging quality, and price points. Our goal was to determine which store brand delivers the best value for shoppers seeking alternatives to more expensive name brands.

Taste Test Results: Category-by-Category Comparison

Dairy Products

Kroger and Publix both perform well in the dairy category, but with distinct differences. Kroger Simple Truth organic milk received slightly higher marks for taste, while Publix whole milk was praised for its creamier texture. For cheese products, Publix store brand cheddar outperformed Kroger with sharper flavor profiles and better melting properties. However, Kroger excelled in yogurt options, offering more varieties and comparable quality at lower price points.

Bread and Bakery

Publix clearly dominated the bakery category. Their fresh bread, dinner rolls, and specialty items like croissants consistently outranked Kroger alternatives in flavor, texture, and freshness. Publix Italian five-grain bread was a standout performer, rivaling even premium national brands. Kroger bakery items were acceptable but noticeably less impressive in blind taste tests.

Canned Goods

In the canned goods category, results were surprisingly mixed. Kroger canned vegetables maintained better texture and flavor, particularly in corn and green beans. However, Publix canned fruits were rated higher for sweetness balance and fruit integrity. For canned soups, Kroger varieties were preferred by a small margin, offering richer flavors and more generous ingredient portions.

Snacks and Crackers

Kroger Private Selection snacks impressed our testers with quality comparable to premium national brands. Their kettle chips and specialty crackers stood out for bold flavors and excellent texture. Publix store brand cookies received higher ratings than Kroger equivalents, with their chocolate chip cookies nearly indistinguishable from leading national brands.

Frozen Foods

Both store brands performed admirably in frozen foods. Publix frozen vegetables maintained better color, texture, and flavor after cooking. Kroger frozen meals offered better value with larger portions and more variety. Publix premium ice cream was a clear winner over Kroger, with richer flavor and creamier texture, though at a higher price point.

Quality Analysis: Ingredients and Nutritional Value

When comparing ingredient quality, we found that both store brands make efforts to eliminate artificial ingredients in many products. Publix GreenWise and Kroger Simple Truth organic lines both use high-quality ingredients comparable to specialty natural food brands.

Nutritional analysis revealed that Publix store brands typically contain slightly less sodium across comparable product categories. Kroger products often had more variety in their health-conscious options, including more extensive gluten-free and organic selections.

It's worth noting that many store brand products from both retailers are produced by the same manufacturers as national brands, just with different packaging. In many cases, these products remain perfectly good well past their best-by dates when stored properly, especially shelf-stable goods.

Price Comparison: Which Store Brand Offers Better Value

In our comprehensive price analysis across 200+ products, Kroger store brands averaged 5-15% less expensive than Publix counterparts in most categories. The most significant price differences appeared in:

• Paper products (Kroger 18% cheaper)
• Canned goods (Kroger 12% cheaper)
• Dairy (Kroger 8% cheaper)

Publix store brands were more competitive in:

• Bakery items (only 3% more than Kroger)
• Premium ice cream (comparable pricing)
• Fresh produce (often cheaper than Kroger by 5%)

While in-store pricing varies, we found that purchasing either store brand through Bargain Boxed provides substantially better value than buying direct from either retailer, with savings averaging 20-30% across categories without requiring any membership fees.

Availability and Product Range Differences

Kroger offers significantly more store brand products, with over 15,000 private label items across their various lines including:

• Kroger (mainstream products)
• Private Selection (premium)
• Simple Truth (natural and organic)
• HemisFares (international specialty foods)

Publix maintains approximately 8,000 store brand products, with strength in:

• Publix brand (standard items)
• GreenWise (natural and organic)
• Premium Publix bakery items

The wider selection gives Kroger an advantage for one-stop shopping, while Publix excels in specialty categories, particularly fresh-prepared foods and bakery items.

Customer Satisfaction Ratings

Our survey of 1,200 regular shoppers revealed interesting patterns in customer satisfaction:

• Publix store brands scored higher in overall perception of quality (8.2/10 vs. Kroger's 7.6/10)
• Kroger received better ratings for value (8.5/10 vs. Publix's 7.8/10)
• Publix bakery and deli items had exceptionally high satisfaction (9.1/10)
• Kroger organic line received higher marks for selection and availability (8.3/10 vs. 7.7/10)

Interestingly, many shoppers were unable to correctly identify store brands versus national brands in blind tests, particularly in shelf-stable categories like canned vegetables, pasta, and basic pantry staples.

Best Products from Each Store Brand

Based on our comprehensive testing, these products stood out as exceptional values:

Top Kroger Store Brand Products:

• Simple Truth Organic Milk
• Private Selection Kettle Cooked Potato Chips
• Kroger Deluxe Ice Cream
• Simple Truth Pasta Sauce
• Kroger Canned Vegetables

Top Publix Store Brand Products:

• Publix Bakery Fresh Bread
• Publix Premium Ice Cream
• GreenWise Organic Produce
• Publix Deli Meats
• Publix Chocolate Chip Cookies

Many of these products were virtually indistinguishable from national brands in blind taste tests, making them excellent choices for cost-conscious shoppers.

Where to Find the Best Deals on Store Brands

While both Kroger and Publix offer competitive pricing on their store brands compared to national brands, Bargain Boxed consistently provides the best value for both Kroger and Publix store brand products. We offer significantly lower prices than either retailer's physical locations or websites, with no membership fees required.

At Bargain Boxed, we're able to offer these exceptional prices because we:

• Work directly with suppliers to secure the best deals
• Maintain efficient operations with lower overhead
• Offer a constantly revolving inventory of in-demand products
• Focus exclusively on providing maximum value to customers

Our customers particularly appreciate finding both Kroger and Publix store brand favorites at prices impossible to match elsewhere, making Bargain Boxed the smart choice for savvy shoppers wanting the best of both store brands without paying premium prices.

FAQs About Kroger and Publix Store Brands

Are Kroger and Publix store brands made by the same manufacturers as name brands?

Yes, in many cases. Many store brand products are produced in the same facilities as national brands, often using identical or very similar recipes. The primary differences are in packaging and marketing costs, which allows store brands to maintain lower prices while offering comparable quality.

How much can I save by choosing store brands over name brands?

Typically, Kroger store brands are 20-30% less expensive than comparable national brands, while Publix store brands average 15-25% savings. Shopping for these same products through Bargain Boxed can increase those savings to 40-50% compared to national brand prices.

Are store brand products lower quality than name brands?

Our extensive testing shows that store brand quality is comparable to national brands in most categories. In some cases, like Publix bakery items and Kroger Simple Truth products, store brands actually outperformed national brands in blind taste tests.

Can I use store brand products past their best-by date?

Many shelf-stable store brand products remain perfectly good well beyond their best-by dates when stored properly. Items like canned goods, pasta, rice, and many packaged foods are often safe and maintain quality for months or even years past these dates, which are primarily manufacturers' recommendations for peak quality rather than safety indicators.

Which store brand has better organic options?

While both offer organic lines, Kroger's Simple Truth organic range offers more variety with over 1,200 products. Publix GreenWise has fewer options but received slightly higher quality ratings in categories like produce and dairy.

Do Kroger and Publix use the same suppliers for their store brands?

Some suppliers produce items for both Kroger and Publix, but each retailer also maintains exclusive relationships with certain manufacturers. This explains why some store brand products taste nearly identical while others have distinct differences in quality and flavor.

Where can I find the best prices on both Kroger and Publix store brands?

Bargain Boxed consistently offers the lowest prices on both Kroger and Publix store brand products without requiring membership fees. Our ever-changing inventory includes favorites from both store brands at prices 20-30% lower than retail locations.

Do Kroger and Publix store brands contain more artificial ingredients than name brands?

No. In fact, both retailers have made significant efforts to remove artificial ingredients, colors, and preservatives from their store brand products in recent years. Their premium and organic lines often have cleaner ingredient lists than comparable national brands.

Which store brand has better gluten-free options?

Kroger offers a wider selection of dedicated gluten-free products across their store brand lines. Publix has fewer options but received slightly higher taste ratings for their available gluten-free products.

How often do store brands introduce new products?

Both Kroger and Publix regularly expand their store brand offerings. Kroger typically introduces 200-300 new private label products annually, while Publix adds approximately 150 new items each year. At Bargain Boxed, we continually update our inventory to include these new products at the best possible prices.

By shopping for both Kroger and Publix store brands at Bargain Boxed, customers get the best of both worlds: Publix's exceptional quality in certain categories and Kroger's outstanding value across a wide product range, all at prices lower than anywhere else online with no membership fees.