Giant Store Brands: My Taste Test Challenge

Recently, Giant Store ran a promotion about Giant store brands. It was a promotion to get you to try their store brand food over a name brand. Given that inflation is at an all-time high and people may be looking to cut costs, I thought it was worth revisiting this topic of store brands.

Giant store brands promotion

So, how did this Giant store brand promotion work? When you bought a certain name brand product and then also bought a comparable product from Giant’s own brand, the Giant brand product would end up being free.

I remember taking advantage of this promotion in a number of ways. For example, I purchased sliced deli turkey for my kids’ school lunches. So, I bought a package of Hillshire Farms turkey for making lunches. Then, I got the Giant version of the same kind of turkey for free. FYI, my kids didn’t know the difference when I made sandwiches for lunch.

giant store brands pin

My taste test of Giant store brands vs national brands

After that experiment, I tried another taste test. This time I compared brands of barbecue sauce.

That is, the PR people from Giant Food Stores had sent me a package with Sweet Baby Rays BBQ Sauce and Giant’s Own Brand BBQ Sauce. This was for the promotion running the last week of June through Independence Day weekend that year.

I used this opportunity to marinate a few chicken breasts in the brand name BBQ sauce. Then, I marinated chicken breasts in the store brand BBQ sauce.

giant food brand barbecue sauce

As you can see from this photo, I did the marinating in Ziploc-type bags. I let the meat marinate overnight in the refrigerator to maximize flavor.

Cooking for the taste test

The next day, it was time to fire up the grill. I made sure to cook all the same kinds of marinated chicken on separate sides of the grill. This way I wouldn’t mess up the results of my taste test. I must say that the chicken grilled up beautifully.

giant food brand chicken on the grill

That night for dinner I decided to make what was my version of a Southern meal. In addition to the barbecued chicken, I baked corn muffins. Also, I grabbed containers of applesauce that were leftover from packing lunches during the school year.

Want to Save This Article?

Save this article and we’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, we’ll send you more great links each week.

Save Article
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Leah Ingram

I’d stockpiled the applesauce when it was on sale and I had a coupon. Let’s just say I bought more than I needed. But we were able to use up the rest of it by adding it to that night’s dinner menu.

When it came time to serve and eat dinner, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the Giant’s Own Brand-marinated chicken actually tasted better. I cooked both kinds of chicken exactly the same, but the brand name BBQ sauce was almost too sweet. The store brand was less sweet, a little bit more savory, and perfect to my palette.

My husband, who you could say is a bit more flavor challenged than I am, couldn’t tell the difference, but he liked them both the same. My daughters had the same reaction–delicious. She didn’t care which brand of BBQ sauce it was, she was happy with the dinner I’d made. Score!

giant food brand finished dinner

Cost of store brands versus name brand

Of course when it comes to comparing national brands to store brands, cost is always involved. With the turkey that I bought, the brand name was less than a dollar more. The BBQ sauce was similar.

I realize that a dollar is not life-changing money. However, it can add up. So, if the store brand is just as good, why would you spend a little bit more on a name brand?

I know that with my palette, sometimes I really can taste the difference, and the store brand just isn’t worth it. But other times, sure, let me spend less if my family can’t tell the difference, as was the case with both the BBQ sauce and the turkey.

In fact, I’ve gotten into the habit of reaching for the generic, store brand first these days. This is true whether I’m buying bread for sandwiches or Greek yogurt. Where I draw the line, though, is reading the ingredients list. 

That is, sometimes the brand-name version of something has fewer ingredients or hard-to-pronounce ingredients. On the other hand, the store brand version of that food feels like it is chemical laden. In those instances I’ll choose my health over the price. 

Giant Food free groceries

If you’re a member of the Giant Flexible Rewards program, then you’ll want to take note of this free groceries offer. Through the end of the year, you’ll be able to cash in your Giant Flexible Rewards points for store brands for free. And you’ll have to use fewer points for these redemptions than with name-brand items.

According to Supermarket News, shoppers can save the most by redeeming Giant Flexible Rewards points for store brands of the following:

  • bread
  • milk
  • bottled water
  • bacon
  • frozen vegetables
  • mandarin oranges
  • romaine lettuce
  • shredded cheese

Giant food grocery delivery

These days, there are three different stores where you might be buying Giant store brands. One, Giant Foods, Two, Giant Direct. And, three, Martin’s. Ahold Delhaize USA owns all three brands. 

You can place your supermarket order online for any of these stores. Then, you can pick it up at the store or have it delivered. Previously, Peapod did the delivery but Ahold Delhaize retired Peapod. Then they rebranded the Peapod trucks so the stores have a way of delivering customer orders.

In addition, all three usually have coupon codes that can help you save. So, below, I’ve explained the differences in each of these three related supermarket brands. Then, if there are coupon codes to share to help you save, I’ve included them.

Giant Direct

You’ll find Giant stores that fall under Giant Direct primarily in Pennsylvania. 

Giant Direct Delivery savings

New customers to Giant Direct can save $30 off your first order placed online for pickup or delivery. There is a $60 minimum purchase required. Use coupon code GMDIRECT30 at checkout.

giant direct

Giant Food

For 84 years, Giant has been dedicated to bringing customers great quality, value and service. So, if you live in Delaware, Virginia, Maryland or Washington, DC, and you want to order groceries online for delivery or pickup, you’ll do that through the Giant Food website now

Giant Food is, basically, in the Baltimore and Washington, DC suburbs only.

Finally, if you’re familiar with the logo of Stop and Shop stores (which Ahold Delhaize owns as well), then you’ll know you’re in a Giant Food store because it has the same purple logo.

Giant Food delivery savings

$5 off Local Product at Giant Food with Code GFLOCAL5OFF at checkout.

giant food pickup and delivery

Martin’s Direct 

Martin’s is actually a smaller brand part of the Giant Company. You’ll find Martin’s supermarkets in Central and Western Pennsylvania as well as Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

Martin’s Direct delivery savings

New customers to Martin’s Direct can save $30 off your first order placed online for pickup or delivery. There is a $60 minimum purchase required. Use coupon code GMDIRECT30 at checkout.

martins direct

Here is info on private label store brands, including at Giant stores.

2 Comments

  1. Less than a dollar here, less than a dollar there – it adds up. Taste tests like this one help shoppers decide when it’s worth the extra nickels and dimes to buy the national brand.

  2. I am a huge fan of Raisin Bran. I’ve true the many national brands but they all become soggy. Then I tried Stop & Shop Crunchy Raisin Bran and it stays crunchy and tastes the best.

Comments are closed.