If it feels like you’re paying more attention to every item that goes into your grocery cart these days, you’re certainly not alone.
Families everywhere are looking for ways to make their grocery dollars go further. That might mean planning meals more carefully, wasting less food, watching for sales or simply taking a second look at the brands they buy.
Here’s another strategy worth trying on your next trip to Oasis: look beyond the national brands.
Store Brands Have Changed
There was a time when choosing a store brand could feel like settling for the cheaper option.
Not anymore.
Private-label products have come a long way in quality, variety and selection. They’re increasingly a first choice for shoppers — not simply a substitute when budgets are tight.
At Oasis, you’ll find private-label options throughout the store from UNFI, one of the country’s largest grocery distributors.
Here are three brands to look for when you want the right balance of quality, taste and price.
Essential Everyday
The name says it all.
Essential Everyday offers the familiar grocery staples you use all the time, with products across more than 100 categories. The quality is comparable to national brands. Thankfully, the prices aren’t.
Save a little here and a little there — and across an entire cart, those little decisions add up.
Shoppers Value
When reducing the grocery bill is the No. 1 priority, look for Shoppers Value.
This is UNFI’s most value-focused brand, with everyday basics across dozens of categories. Stock your pantry, fridge and freezer while keeping a closer eye on the total at checkout.
Wild Harvest
Saving money doesn’t have to mean giving up the kinds of foods you prefer.
Wild Harvest offers hundreds of natural and organic products, including organic, non-GMO and gluten-free options. It’s designed to make those choices more accessible without the premium price that can sometimes accompany national organic brands.
Try One Swap This Week
You don’t have to completely change the way you shop to make a difference in your grocery bill.
Start small.
The next time you’re at Oasis, take one item you regularly buy and compare the national brand with an Essential Everyday, Shoppers Value or Wild Harvest option. Check the ingredients. Compare the sizes. Look at the price.
Then give it a try.
If your family likes it just as much, you’ve found an easy place to save. Do that with a few more products over time, the money you save will be significant.
For us, that’s part of what having a hometown grocery store should be about.
Oasis isn’t just here to save Indian Head a drive for groceries. We want to help our neighbors find the foods they need, the choices they want and good value for the dollars they work hard to earn.
So next time you’re walking our aisles, keep an eye out for Essential Everyday, Shoppers Value and Wild Harvest.
Your new favorite brand might be the one you haven’t tried yet.