Most affordable store-brand groceries in NC: Here’s where to shop, report says

Gas prices are going up, straining Americans pockets. A recent analysis showed which store-brand groceries offered shoppers the biggest discounts. A gallon of gas may be approaching $5, a gallon of milk doesn’t have to be.

Net Credit analyzed store-brand and name-brand groceries in January to identify the biggest savings. Drinks, snacks and pantry staples offered some of the biggest opportunities to save with a store brand. The group compiled a list of 171 groceries at Walmart, Kroger and Target and averaged the savings.

The sampled prices were drawn from Texas stores in January, the report says. There are no Krogers in North Carolina, but Kroger owns Harris Teeter, which is very common in the state. Some Kroger store brands, like Simple Truth Organic and Private Selection, can be found at both. The stores do have individual store brands as well.

Harris Teeter Corporate Affairs Manager Paige Hamer told The Observer over email that the grocer operates under its own pricing strategies and private brand assortment, and it could not confirm comparability with Kroger without pricing data, which was not specified in the report.

The Observer recently reported that despite competition from Food Lion and Harris Teeter, Walmart makes up the biggest market share of Charlotte groceries. The Observer also reported in January that Lidl — not included in the Net Credit report — has the lowest overall grocery prices in Charlotte.

Most affordable drinks

Store-brand hydration drinks offered the biggest savings of the price comparison. Buyers can save over 74% by purchasing Walmart brand, the report said.

Shoppers can save more than 60% by buying a store-brand gallon of 2% or whole milk at Walmart, Kroger and Target. Store-brand chocolate milk saves a shopper nearly 59% over name brand at Walmart and Kroger.

Other drinks:

• Cola: Save 52.1% on a 12-pack at Walmart and Kroger
• Apple juice: Save 48% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Lemonade: Save 38.5% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Bottled water: Save 28.6% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Coffee: Save 32.9% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Box of tea: Save 24.4% at Walmart, Kroger and Target

Accompany cheap tea and coffee with cheap cereal for breakfast. Store-brand fruity loops offered the second-biggest savings of the price comparison, the report said. Buyers can save 69% by purchasing the Walmart brand.

Most affordable cereal

• Plain cornflakes: Save 64.2% at Walmart and Kroger
• Frosted corn flakes: Save 36.8% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Frosted shredded wheat: Save 61.1% at Walmart and Kroger
• Honey, oat and almond: Save 48.7% at Walmart
• Cheerios-style: Save 47.2% at Walmart, Kroger and Target

Most affordable snacks

Some of the biggest savings the cost comparison found were found in the snack aisles.

• Tortilla chips: Save 62.7% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Popcorn: Save 47.5% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Potato chips: Save 47.1% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Nacho cheese dip: Save 45.5% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Trail mix: Save 41.3% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Pudding cups: Save 31.3% at Walmart and Kroger

Other areas with major savings are pantry staples and freezer aisle items.

Most affordable pantry staples

• Ketchup: Save 66.6% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Mustard: Save 51.9% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Mac and cheese: Save 49.8% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Spaghetti: Save 49.2% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Can of tomato soup: Save 38.7% at Walmart and Kroger
• Can of green beans: Save 43.8% at Walmart, Kroger and Target

Most affordable items in the freezer Aisle

• Ice cream sandwiches: Save 56.7% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Vanilla ice cream: Save 38.2% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Pizza rolls: Save 35.1% at Walmart and Kroger
• Fries: Save 32.5% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Waffles: Save 29.9% at Walmart, Kroger and Target
• Burritos: Save 28.2% at Walmart

Eva Flowe

The Charlotte Observer

Eva Flowe is a North Carolina native and a graduate of the University of South Carolina. She joined the Charlotte Observer as part of the NC service journalism team in April 2026.