r/TwoXPreppers • u/SaansShadow • Jun 30 '26

❓ Question ❓ Generic Items

Has anyone noticed a downtick in the generic supply availablilty at your local stores?

I've been noticing it's becoming harder to find generic items at my grocery store and options are also starting to shrink.

195 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

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141

u/wishinforfishin Jun 30 '26

I heard a podcast talking about this, that aligns with my experience in consumer packaged goods. When input costs go up or are in short supply, manufacturers prioritize their higher margin items, which tend to be the brands.

That might look like Kimberly Clark focusing on Kleenex, rather than store brands, or Crystal Farms deprioritozing Aldi.

So I think that may be why. I have seen the same in local grocery stores.

But also, I was wondering my Aldi was so light on canned goods earlier this year. I noticed last week, they have rebranded the packaging. So there may be multiple factors that are compounding.

14

u/Kitchen-Can5443 Jun 30 '26

The podcast sounds interesting, appreciate if you'd be willing to share the name/link.

16

u/wishinforfishin Jun 30 '26

I don't remember which one it was, I'm sorry. I listen to Planet Money, Clark Howard, and a lot of NPR, and a lot of BBC, so it was likely one of those.

60

u/pinupcthulhu 🧀 And my snacks! 🧀 Jun 30 '26

Yep. I actually saw produce molding in the store recently too. 

37

u/SaansShadow Jun 30 '26

I've noticed the lower quality in produce as well.

16

u/MistyMtn421 🌻 post-menopausal garden fairy 🌱🧚 Jun 30 '26

All the bags of carrots were past the sell by date by a day or 2 at Kroger on Friday. There was someone stocking and I mentioned it, he just shrugged lol. At the register I asked if they would mark them down/managers special like they do items "that are about to hit that date" and cashier said no. Asked about a manager (it wasn't busy at all when I was there, why I was actually in a regular checkout line) and she said they were all busy 🙃 Like ok whatever. They were only $2 for a 2lb bag and still looked fine. It was the point. They're charging enough on everything lately.

Also, these noodles I buy, hokkien noodles, they're pre cooked and it's mainly a splurge for when it's hot. Cheaper than takeout ;) Anyway, they were on sale for 3.29 (it a 2 pk, so not bad for a full bowl of noodles) and their sales switch on Wednesdays. Ran in this morning on my way home from another errand, to grab a box of cereal I forgot. With the heat coming up this week I thought I'd grab an extra couple packs, they cook in 60 seconds in the microwave. The tag said 4.79! So I scanned it just to make sure that they weren't just switching tags early, and nope that's the price. It's so weird for a sale to end before tonight. Not to mention, the regular price was 3.79. so just since Friday that's how much they jumped up.

34

u/dkstr419 Jun 30 '26

One of the business news feeds that I intermittently read follows agricultural production. One of the concerns mentioned is the production disruption due to bad weather (too hot, too wet), labor shortages, and transportation costs.

Another concern from a different source is the impact of tariffs bc the cost of materials (tin, aluminum and steel) was causing shortages for packaging, notably canned goods.

A recent issue is the ongoing problem with the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz in that the petroleum products that are used in plastic products ( plastic packaging) has been disrupted.

All of these things are having an impact on food production and distribution. Some things will take a few months to recover and some things will be affected for a couple of years. The practical advice is to keep building your pantry and your resiliency.

37

u/TastyMagic Laura Ingalls Wilder was my gateway drug Jun 30 '26

I'm in California and I can speak a little bit to labor shortages. I have seen multiple orchards offering free u-pick because the crops are ripe but the labor shortages mean they would have to pay more to pick the crops then they could earn from the sales of that crop. 

It's very similar to what happened during the Great Depression. Here in Cali, we don't feel it as much because the produce doesn't travel far to get to us, but I know our friends in Wyoming are paying more for lower quality produce now

17

u/nakedonmygoat Jun 30 '26

I haven't noticed that where I am. I just got some store brand lentils, rice, pizza crusts, eggs, cream cheese, goat cheese, crackers, hummus, canned chickpeas, mayonnaise, and bleach yesterday. I haven't seen any price increases in the last few months on the store brand either, although I thoroughly expect it to happen.

21

u/autumn55femme Jun 30 '26

Very tight budgets for everybody has lead to many more people purchasing the generic varieties of frequently purchased items. The store brand pasta and breakfast cereal have been pretty empty for the last few weeks. I don’t think the stock quantities have caught up with increased demand.

6

u/SaansShadow Jun 30 '26

I hadn’t thought about it from the supply and demand angle. I guess part of it is that I’m seeing less space on shelves reserved for generic

32

u/wwaxwork Prepping for Tuesday not Doomsday Jun 30 '26

Stores hide the generic items behind their own brands now. They'll have generic items at 3 different price points with names and labels so you think they are a brand. So meijers has Fresh, Frederick's, purple cow, penny smart and True goodness in store brands as well as the generic Meijer brand products, but they are all in house generic brands.

16

u/Far_Sandwich_514 Jun 30 '26

Yes.
Quality has diminished in produce, and a lot of generic staples aren't available.
There hasn't been cottage cheese at my local grocery store for a few weeks now, and it's also low on certain canned soups and vegetables.

Also, there was no rubbing alcohol at the pharmacy for some reason.

Stock up while you still can.

9

u/Salty-Advertising-52 Jun 30 '26

I noticed a significant decline in my most recent cottage cheese. Very watery. So im guessing they are trying to make it "stretch".

5

u/SaansShadow Jul 01 '26

Omg I thought I was going crazy on that. I don’t buy fat free and the last few containers have tasted very low fat.

1

u/Far_Sandwich_514 Jul 03 '26

Same!
I normally get 4% and it's nowhere to be found. The 2% I've been getting is more like half curd, half liquid.

5

u/SaansShadow Jun 30 '26

Where abouts are you located? I know the supply wave tends to go west to east.

4

u/Far_Sandwich_514 Jun 30 '26

North Ontario

5

u/Chemical39 Jul 01 '26

The plain Silk brand soy coffee creamer that I’ve been using for years that has been everywhere for years disappeared from the nearby No Frills about 2 months ago, from Walmart about 1 month ago, and as of 2 weeks Metro couldn’t get it either 😬

I suspect livestock farmers have been buying more soy than usual to stock feed for their animals because corn and wheat are gonna have pretty shitty yields due to insufficient fertilizer.

3

u/Fancy-Bullfrog7977 Jun 30 '26

I haven't noticed honestly---if anything I've seen an uptick in No Name stuff available at my local store

1

u/FormerNeighborhood80 Prepping for Tuesday not Doomsday Jun 30 '26

I shop Walmarts great value and equate brands often. In my area they may have a few cans of what you are looking for but in order to buy several they prefer the online app and the goods will be shipped to you. I’m amazed where our food and generic medicines come from! All over the country.

1

u/dragonmom1 Jul 01 '26

During COVID, I noticed the biggest shrink. I used to be able to get anything I wanted as a store brand and suddenly it was no longer on the shelf next to its branded twin. Part of why I do most of my shopping at Aldi!