These days, trying to figure out the best value while shopping at the grocery store can be dizzying. Certain items might sport cheap “sale prices,” but is there an ulterior motive for the store to place those items on sale? Sometimes, affordable food tastes every bit as cheap as its price tag.
However, you don’t have to buy and eat lesser-quality foods. Here are some good food brands that actually deliver strong quality and value. Next time you see items from these brands on sale, you can rest assured that you’re actually getting a great deal.
1. Knorr
In 1838, Carl Heinrich Knorr opened a factory in Heilbronn, Germany, that supplied chicory for the coffee industry. But once Knorr began experimenting with drying vegetables, herbs, and seasonings, he found more success.
By 1873, Knorr’s packet soups were available across Europe, and by 1912, Knorr was offering its signature stock and bouillon cubes. Knorr might now be a Unilever brand, but it continues to sport a great reputation for great quality dried food products.
2. Quaker Oats
In 1877, Quaker Oats registered with the U.S. Patent Office as the first trademark for a breakfast cereal. Though Quaker Oats’ original mill in Ravenna, Ohio, went bankrupt just four years later, Henry Parsons Crowell jumped in to rescue the company, eventually relaunching it as the American Cereal Company. Now owned by PepsiCo, Quaker Oats continues to make oatmeal, cereals, and various oat snacks that taste good and tend to be good for you.
3. De Cecco
Though De Cecco may not be the most affordable brand of pasta you find at the grocery store, it’s usually not that much more expensive than the popular cheap brands. The extra charge is worth it: The quality of DeCecco’s pasta tends to be far superior thanks to the brand’s consistent use of bronze machines to cut pasta. That might not seem like such a huge deal at first, but it becomes very noticeable once you add the sauce to your pasta.
4. Lindt
Since David Sprüngli and his son produced their first chocolate bar at a Zürich confectionery shop in 1845, the company that would eventually become Lindt-Sprüngli has been famous for high-quality Swiss chocolate. While it may cost a bit more than some other chocolates on the shelf, if you’re already going to splurge, you might as well go for chocolate that’s actually worth it.
5. Twinings
Twinings has quite a storied history: First launched in 1706, they invented the famous Earl Grey tea blend in 1831, for which they’ve held a British royal warrant since 1837. They also have the world’s oldest continually used company logo. Fortunately, Twinings doesn’t just rest on its laurels; it really does continue to make great teas that are now ethically sourced.
6. Häagen-Dazs
First established by Polish-Jewish immigrants Reuben and Rose Mattus in New York in 1960, Häagen-Dazs was named as a tribute to Denmark’s treatment of Jews during World War II, as well as the positive association with Denmark’s dairy products. Eventually, Häagen-Dazs itself would gain a premium reputation for ice cream, which continues to serve as a hallmark of high quality.
7. Ben & Jerry’s
Founded by childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in 1978 after finishing an ice cream course at Pennsylvania State University, Ben & Jerry’s found such quick success that Häagen-Dazs’ then-parent company Pillsbury attempted to block distributors from carrying it. Though Ben & Jerry’s was later taken over by Unilever (in 2000), the brand continues to be synonymous with top-notch American ice cream.
8. Cadbury
Since John Cadbury first launched his brand in 1824, Cadbury has become world-famous for tasty chocolates, including its iconic bunnies and cream eggs. Of course, Cadbury bunnies and cream eggs are perennial hits for the Easter season, but the company’s Dairy Milk Chocolates are nice to enjoy year-round.
9. Hershey’s
Staying in the chocolate lane, we must address “The Great American Chocolate Bar.” Since 1900, Hershey’s has been out to prove that American chocolate can be just as good as the stuff we import from Europe. And since 1907, they’ve found immense success with their signature bite-size Hershey’s Kisses.
10. Elmhurst
Originally launched as a dairy company in 1925, Elmurst shocked fans and the business world when it announced it was going 100% plant-based in 2017. Since then, however, vegans, lactose-intolerant consumers, and others have come to embrace Elmhurst’s fantastic line of oat and nut milks. And if you’re into cold coffee, Elmhurst even has a line of cold brew coffees enhanced with flavored plant milks.
11. Siggi’s
While working in the U.S. in 2004, Siggi Hilmarsson sorely missed the skyr yogurt of his native Iceland. So, he decided to start making his own. Over the years, Siggi’s has become famous for its thick and creamy yogurts that are lower in sugar and completely without the artificial flavorings that plagued many other American yogurt brands. Siggi’s is a great option if you’re looking for a healthier yogurt product.
12. Dave’s Killer Bread
As simple as bread appears to be, many breads on the market are ultra-processed with a whole lot of additives. If you really want your bread simple, Dave’s Killer Bread always starts with real whole grains and avoids stuff like high-fructose corn syrup and trans fats to make high-fiber bread that is simply delicious.
13. Spindrift
If you’re into flavored waters, you can’t go wrong with Spindrift. This low-calorie sparkling water is always made with real fruit juices and never with any artificial flavors or enhanced sweeteners. Spindrift also participates in 1% For The Planet, an initiative to donate 1% of total sales to environmental causes.
14. Pacific Foods
When you want to stock your pantry and feel good about it, Pacific Foods’ goods are the way to go. Whether you’re a Paleo person who wants some bone broth or a vegan looking for the creamiest and most satisfying veggie soups, Pacific Foods has you covered.
15. Applegate
In the meat market, Applegate has pioneered focusing on high quality from the inside out. They source only humanely raised meat with no antibiotics or hormones, and they never use any fillers or other artificial additives. When you get Applegate beef (or turkey, chicken, or pork), you get the real meat you want.
16. Food for Life
If you like healthier breads, you may love Food for Life. Depending on which store you primarily shop at, you might need to head to the freezer section to find Food for Life’s breads and tortilla-style wraps. But once you find them, you will be amazed by the selection of products made with activated grains, which tend to provide more bioactive micronutrients and fiber and contain less gluten.
17. Banza
Whether you’re trying to cut carbs, boost protein, or avoid semolina and wheat for other health reasons, Banza’s chickpea-based pasta consistently delivers high amounts of protein and fiber. At the same time, Banza pasta actually tastes good. If you’re curious about alternative pasta, Banza is a great entry-level chickpea pasta to try at home.
18. Bob’s Red Mill
When you’re looking for good flour that’s better for you, it’s hard to beat Bob’s Red Mill. Even if you’re not the type who likes to bake from scratch, Bob’s Red Mill offers baking mixes, protein powders, oatmeals, and ready-to-eat snacks. For anyone seeking healthier grain products, Bob’s Red Mill is a consistently solid brand.