Why Aren't You Already Buying These Foods From Walmart?

If you're a Walmart shopper, you know the names Great Value and Marketside. They're two of the retailer's top private label food brands. Great Value includes items like canned and frozen vegetables, dairy products, and pasta, while Marketside is the brand for fresh items like bakery, produce, meats, dips and more.

According to The Association for Convenience and Fuel Retailing (NACS), 23.3% of Walmart sales are for private label products, with 72.7% of all American consumers buying Great Value products, and 44.2% buying Marketside products. During a time of high inflation, these store brand items might be even more appealing, as a way to cut your grocery spending but still have a good grocery haul. NACS reports these Walmart private label grocery brands and others are popular across many demographics, explaining that these store brand food items have nearly an equal share around 17% among low income, middle income, and high income shoppers.

Supply chain issues are another reason to try these Walmart private label brands. Recently, many favorite big brand grocery items have been out of stock, especially during the pandemic, and consumers have tried store brand products and liked them. Often prices for all these private label items vary from Walmart store to store, but they're typically still lower priced than similar products from top brands. Here's a look at some of the store brand foods consider the next time you are grocery shopping at Walmart.

Hummus is a timeless food made with chickpeas, and it's been in high demand over the past few years, especially during the pandemic. According to Reuters, there's been a chickpea shortage due to supply chain issues in Ukraine and Russia, two major global exporters of the protein.

Plus, the major brand in the market, Sabra — which typically has 60% control of the hummus market in the U.S. — has had manufacturing and production disruptions (via Market Realist). They cut back on many of the extra flavors, and instead just focused on the original hummus, as well as a few enhanced flavors like roasted garlic.

That's when Walmart's Marketside Hummus variety really began to shine. First of all, it tastes great as a spread or dip. Plus, this tasty hummus comes at a fraction of the prices charged by bigger name brands. These days, it can still be tough to find specialty hummus flavors at the grocery store, but often Walmart specialty flavors like the olive tapenade or everything hummus are available, when others from competitors are not.

One commenter on Walmart's website provided a glowing review saying, "This hummus was surprisingly delicious. I bought this instead of buying Sabra and the quality is similar, if not better with Walmart brand. I think I'll keep buying this one."

What if we told you that the best brioche bread comes from Walmart? Yes, it's true, and it's delicious. Sometimes you want a breakfast bread that's indulgent and brioche bread fits that need. Add some chocolate to the bakery item and the idea of having marbled chocolate brioche bread is totally delicious.

Whether you slice this Marketside Marbled Chocolate Brioche Bread, toast it, and top with butter, use it for French toast, slather it in whipped cream for dessert, or pull off pieces to nibble with coffee, this bread is highly satisfying. The superstore also sells plain sliced brioche bread, vanilla brioche bread, and cinnamon brioche bread. Should you for some reason end up with leftover brioche bread, which we doubt based on how tasty this stuff is, you can use it to make brioche bread pudding.

Walmart customers rave about its chocolatey goodness, including one commenter, who said, "The Marketside Chocolate Brioche Bread is heavenly delicious. I microwave a third of it and it's like eating chocolate covered donuts that are fresher than fresh. The flavor is like a mix of sweet bread and chocolate pudding. It's not too sweet but is perfect."

If you find yourself craving lobster bisque, but don't have the time or the ingredients to make it, you should confidently buy a container of the prepared Marketside Lobster Bisque at Walmart. While it might seem like Walmart and this fancy soup don't go together, but we encourage you to think again. This bisque is creamy and has a very good consistency to it. Unfortunately, it doesn't have as many pieces of lobster as other higher end bisques, but it doesn't disappoint in the end. 

Made New England style, this bisque can easily be reheated on a stove top or microwave. Feel free to eat this as an appetizer, an entree, or pair it with a sandwich. Either way you serve it, it's bound to be delectable. Reviews praise the bisque's taste, including a commenter, who said, "This is my favorite soup. It's thick, creamy, and delicious. I purchase four or five containers at a time so I'm never without it. It's worth every penny."

Walmart stores offer an extensive bakery, including breads, muffins, cookies, and other treats. And if you're looking for a dessert that's sure to wow, pick up the "Sock It to Me" Cake. You've probably seen this cake and either wondered what it tasted like, or bypassed it for a more standard flavor like chocolate. But you won't and shouldn't ignore it again. This cake, which serves 10, is heaven for anyone who loves cinnamon. The vanilla flavored bundt cake is topped with a sweet glaze and pecans. It's great on its own but paired with a cup of hot tea or cup of coffee, this cake is the stuff of dessert dreams. It's a delicious cake for dessert, for a snack, or if your sweet tooth is up for the challenge, have a wedge for breakfast. And as if the taste isn't alluring enough, the price is typically under $10, which is a steal for a cake this delicious.

Customers praise it for being moist and having a great cinnamon flavor. One commenter said, "What an absolutely delicious cake! It's just the right amount of sweetness and yummy. It goes great with coffee and as an after-dinner dessert."

Greek yogurt has many benefits, including potentially helping bone health since it has calcium, supporting mental health, lowering blood pressure, and reducing the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Plus, it may help manage hunger since it helps people who eat it feel satiated longer (via Medical News Today).

Walmart's Great Value Plain Greek Yogurt can be that affordable protein-rich grocery staple you've been looking for. This yogurt has 17g of protein per 3/4 cup serving with 0% fat and only 90 calories. Walmart customers say it's tasty, creamy, and smooth. For example, one commenter said, "This yogurt is great. It's just as good or better than the other ones that are double the price! It's also a Greek yogurt that doesn't become a mess after it's open like others." Remember, Greek yogurt can be a versatile ingredient, including as a breakfast, a dip, dessert, or a substitute for sour cream and mayonnaise. Check out these recipes that use Greek yogurt.

Pasta prices have been up in recent months and availability has been spotty at times due to supply chain issues (via L.A. Times). But many shoppers who love pasta and can't find bigger name brands like Barilla, and Anthony's in the pasta aisle, are willing to substitute Walmart's house brand pasta, Great Value. This store brand pasta meets the challenge in taste, price, and variety.

Great Value dry pasta is available in elbows, bowties, penne, shells, rigatoni, spaghetti, thin spaghetti, linguine, and more. The Great Value Rotini is a popular pick and is considered a best seller. One commenter said, "I'm Italian and know my macaroni. This is as good as the name brands. It will never compete with fresh, but you know that and don't expect that. Great Value is a great value." Ready to whip up a quick pasta dinner? Check out these 20 pasta recipes that are ready in 30 minutes or less.

Nuts can be a healthy food choice. According to Healthline, they are rich in protein, healthy fat, and fiber. They can help you manage your weight and may reduce risk of disease, including heart disease and diabetes. For example, cashews are high in protein, Vitamin K and magnesium. Almonds, which are a great source of Vitamin E, magnesium, protein, and fiber, may help gut health, and help reduce cholesterol. Pistachios are considered anti-inflammatory and are rich in Vitamin B, fiber, and protein. 

Walmart has an extensive selection of Great Value nuts including cashews, almonds, and pistachios. These nuts are well reviewed by customers who say the Great Value nuts are fresh, taste good, and carry a fair price. One commenter said, "The flavor of these cashews is wonderful! I think we could eat the entire container in a couple of days." Honestly, we wouldn't blame them if they did.

Vegetables have many benefits, including improved digestion, helping lower blood pressure, lowering risk for heart disease, and helping manage diabetes (via WebMD). The American Heart Association recommends Americans eat five servings of vegetables a day. While many of those veggies can be fresh or canned, they can be frozen too. Make a green smoothie or add veggies to soups, casseroles, and other dishes, like these vegetarian meals.

Walmart's offering of Great Value frozen vegetables is extensive. For example, they have mixed vegetables, corn, green beans, spinach, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, sweet potatoes, carrots, cauliflower, asparagus spears, broccoli, mushrooms, lima beans, peas, and okra. While other retailers sell steamable frozen vegetables, these ones standout for their fresh taste. One commenter said, "These are the best frozen mixed veggies available. The steamable bag is great. I love to use them for soups, fried rice, and Shepherd's pie, or just as a side! My kids love them, too!"

Buying frozen fruits makes sense, and here's why. Often the items you're buying frozen, such as mangoes, pineapple, strawberries and blueberries are not in season year-round, especially if you live in a colder area. Plus, it can be more affordable to buy them frozen and keep them until you are ready to use them.

But often the frozen fruit big brands are pricey. That's where Walmart's Great Value frozen fruits truly win out. The frozen fruit is cheaper in price, but not quality when compared to other brands. Often they can be more inexpensive than fresh fruit counterparts, too. Whether you are using them to make a smoothie, a frozen dessert, or for another use, Great Value frozen fruits are a solid option. They have a big variety, too, including strawberries, berry medley, mixed fruit, blueberries, pineapple chunks, mango chunks, bananas, peaches, raspberries, strawberries, tropical fruit blends, and blackberries. Customers say it's an authentic taste and that's it's great for peach pie, peach cobbler, or used in smoothies. For example, one reviewer said, "These are a great alternative to fresh, pricey peaches for my pies! They tasted fresh and the color was like that of freshly-picked peaches."

If you're like most Americans, you love cheese. According to Statista, the average American consumer eats 40 pounds of cheese a year. That's a whole lotta cheddar if you ask us. Cheese is both delicious and can be beneficial in moderation. Healthline says it's a great source of calcium, protein and fat, as well as being rich in Vitamin A, B12, and riboflavin.

Whether you like your cheese from the block, sliced, or shredded, Walmart has all the queso you're craving. The Great Value finely shredded low-moisture part-skim mozzarella cheese is one of their bestsellers. Reviewers say the cheese melts well, tastes yummy, and is as good as the name brand. One commenter said, "The texture and flavor of this cheese are pretty good. This product is well suited for use in recipes." This mozzarella is versatile, too. Use it for stuffed peppers, to top lasagna, or as a cheesy topping for garlic bread.

Chicken broth is a pantry staple that's used to make everything from soup to rice to pasta, always adding flavor and depth to a dish. You could even drink straight chicken broth as a source of protein, especially as a soothing food, if you're not feeling well. But here's the thing about chicken broth: It doesn't have to be fancy to make a great meal. That's why Great Value Chicken Broth is a win-win. 

While you could buy more expensive brands, this chicken broth is proven quality at a bargain price. Packaged in a box that's easy to pour and easy to reseal, the chicken broth is called affordable, high quality, and savory without being too salty. For example, one commenter said, "Every savory soup begins with chicken broth in my house, and this Great Value Chicken Broth is excellent. It has a good balance of saltiness, and the chicken flavor shines through." Reach for the Great Value chicken broth the next time you make homemade chicken noodle soup, Japanese style curry, or slow cooker chicken casserole.

Let's get ready to bake! Walmart's baking aisle has a lot of baking and cooking basics like granulated sugar, all-purpose flour, and vegetable oil. Use all three ingredients along with others to bake a cake, make sugar cookies, pancakes, scones, brownies, waffles, and more.

Customers who have bought the Great Value Pure Granulated Sugar are highly satisfied, explaining they can't taste the difference between the Walmart sugar and the name brand counterpart. Reviewers say it's consistently a quality item that's good for baking. One commenter said, "This sugar is as delicious as any other priced name-brand sugar. You can't go wrong: It has flavor, a good price, and is well-packed."

Similarly, customers say the Great Value All-Purpose Flour is just as good as its competitors, without the added price, and they say the Great Value Vegetable Oil tastes great, is good quality, and is budget friendly.

If you want gourmet tasting muffins without spending a lot of money at a fancy bakery or coffee shop, be sure to check out Walmart's bakery. Freshness Guaranteed muffins bring big bang for you buck and wow your sweet tooth at the same time. Plus, they're not skimpy on the ingredients. For example, the chocolate chip variety has a good ratio of chocolate chips in each muffin. Oftentimes, grocery store muffins are lacking in this ratio, whether it's chocolate chips, blueberries, cranberries, or any other add-in. Walmart also sells a more gourmet muffin by their in-house brand Marketside, including triple chocolate, lemon, cinnamon coffee cake, and cranberry-orange.

One of the standout muffin flavors at Walmart is the banana nut variety. Customers rave about the muffins' freshness, quality, and great taste. For example, one person said, "I have probably consumed a barrel full of these awesome banana nut muffins from Walmart. They are better than home baked. They're moist, tender, and always fresh. They have so much flavor, too."