Store Brands Rank High In Daily Meal Taste Test
With private label products continuing to gain on national brands in dollar share and unit share, the question continually asked by shoppers surrounds the product quality of store brands versus their national brand counterparts.
Recently, Daily Meal took a shot at answering this question, at least as it pertains to the frozen onion ring category. The food-focused website taste-tested six products, three store brands — Season’s Choice from Aldi, Signature Select from Albertsons, and Great Value from Walmart — and three national brands — Alexia, Nathan’s, and McCain’s.
The top-ranked frozen onion ring was Walmart’s Great Value.
The article’s author, Jenn Carnevale, wrote, “I don't even know what to say about the first place winner. It's a brand I've given a lot of attitude towards over the years, but I have to give credit where credit is due. They really were the star of this frozen onion ring show.”
As the only product of the six she would “truly recommend,” Carnevale noted her surprise that the Walmart product finished on top. She lauded the onion rings for having a thick battered coating with the right amount of salty flavor, a solid by not overpowering onion flavor, and no weird aftertaste.
“Great Value's onion rings were delicious, cheap, and the best option you can find outside of your local fairgrounds or fast food spot. Who knew?” she said.
Rounding out the top-six, in order, are Alexia, Signature Select, Season’s Choice, Nathan’s, and McCain’s.
About Albertsons’ third place Signature Select frozen onion rings, Carnevale said she liked how the breading was thick and crispy with a good crunch, but felt some areas were a bit tougher than others. She said the rings, at times, had an uneven mouthfeel.
She chose Signature Select over Aldi’s Season’s Choice, which came in fourth place, for one reason…texture.
Regarding the Aldi frozen onion rings, Carnevale commended the product for its thick breading and good crunch. The product lacked a strong onion flavor, and she noted there was no “weird” aftertaste.
