Marketing and consulting group Harris Interactive recently released results from their annual EquiTrend study.
The study asks 37,000 U.S. consumers to choose their favorite brands in more than 50 categories – everything from motor oil to casual dining restaurants. This year’s winners – no surprise – include well-known brands like Coca-Cola, Subway, and Gatorade.
Click here to see the alternatives >
The study suggests that brand recognition is a big factor in many consumers’ buying decisions. As a recovering brand-name junkie myself, I used to be guilty of falling for the hype, buying whatever cleaning product, snack food, or soft drink commercials recommended.
While a lot of brands are household names because they’re good, that doesn’t mean they’re always best. I’ve found alternatives to the nation’s most popular brands that are not just cheaper – in my opinion, they’re better.
Here are some of my favorite alternatives to this year’s EquiTrend winners.
1. Beer
In this category, 65 percent of participants chose Blue Moon as their favorite. Blue Moon is a Belgian-style wheat brew with a hint of orange and spices. I’ve been a fan for years, but a six-pack of 12-ounce bottles costs $9.49 in my area. I can buy better for less.
Like Abita Satsuma Wit.
This beer is also a craft brew and has a hint of Satsuma, which is similar to an orange. In my area, a six-pack of 12-ounce bottles retails for $8, saving $1.49.
Buy online and you might save even more – check out our story 5 Tips to Save on Beer for details.
2. Soft Drinks
Not so surprisingly, Coca-Cola won in this category, with 72 percent of consumers picking regular Coke as their go-to brand.
Growing up, I always drank Coke, but when I moved out on my own I stopped buying soft drinks. At $4.99 for a 12-pack, sugary drinks just weren’t in my budget.
After a few years of abstaining, I broke down and started trying different store brands and generic-brand sodas. My favorite is Winn Dixie’s brand, Chek.
Of all the store brands I’ve tried, they’re the closest to the “real thing” and much cheaper. Regularly priced, a 12-pack of Chek costs $3. But if you don’t have a Winn Dixie in your area, Walmart’s brand of sodas is a good runner-up.
3. Chocolate
Ghirardelli chocolate was the winner in the premium chocolate category, with 74 percent of consumers choosing it as their favorite brand.
ou can buy their chocolate bars on the Ghirardelli website for $3.95 each, and they have some great flavors.
However, I’ve found better deals.
My personal favorite is the Endangered Species Chocolate bars.
Retailing online for $2.99 a bar, they’re cheaper, made with organic chocolate, and 10 percent of the company’s net profits are donated to charity.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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