Interesting "compare to" on a bottle of detergent

[lordkenmore]

At Albertsons, I spied this detergent. Presumably a house brand of some sort. Note the "Compare to Arm & Hammer." Talk about setting a low standard of comparison--one budget detergent as good as another budget detergent...

 

[dustin92]

Arm and Hammer really isn't that bad, I don't buy it for full price, but when they run it on sale for $1.99 or $2.99 I'll buy it. Store brands usually "compare to" Tide, and usually none are worth the powder to blow them to pieces. This is a more realistic comparison though.

 

[washman]

The powder with Oxy clean stain fighters

really carries the freight. Good bang for buck.

Hi Frig!

 

[centenialguy]

Who sells it?

Save-a-Lot?

 

[lordkenmore]

>Who sells it?

>Save-a-Lot?

I saw it at Albertsons, but I wouldn't be shocked if Save-a-Lot had it, too. Save-a-Lot is owned by SuperValu (who used to own Albertsons, too, and still seems to supply some things Albertsons carries).

 

[lordkenmore]

Also note: I don't mean to suggest Arm & Hammer is necessarily bad. I know some people here have happily used it, and, in fact, I just got a jug last week. (Too early to judge my experience, but, so far, it seems to be working fine. Although my laundry is seldom hugely demanding--most of what I need is freshening, not removing stains from hell.)

It's just seems puzzling to try to market with a compare to a budget brand. Even if the comparison is probably more apt than one with, say, Tide.

 

[vacerator]

Ok,

we have no Albertsons here. only Kroge~r

 

[joeypete]

They probably made a "store brand" because A&H is so popular. I've used the pacs in the past and they seemed to work fine (and smelled incredibly awesome), but I haven't used the liquid. One of my friends uses it and it has a very distinguishable scent...at least the Oxy one Fresh Scent. I smelled some at Target and was like, yup that's what he uses. LOL. It smells good, but is very "soapy" if that makes sense.

 

[rp2813]

Pantry Essentials

I think this has something to do with Albertson's having purchased Safeway, a deal that was finalized sometime last year. 

 

The "Pantry Essentials" house brand has been on Safeway shelves for the past few years.  It really is a much lower quality line than even their regular house brand, so comparing to A&H, Purex or Sun would be about right.  At least they know the league they're in and aren't claiming to be anything else.

 

[lordkenmore]

It's been so long since I regularly shopped Safeway I had no idea that they had Pantry Essentials. Although I've noticed that Albertsons seems to be getting lots of Safeway house brands now.

 

[rp2813]

Interesting

We don't have Albertson's around here anymore.  They all returned to being Lucky stores about ten years ago.

 

Ever since the merger was first announced, the speculation was that Safeway stores would become more like Alberton's but it sounds like the reverse is happening, at least from a merchandising perspective.

 

[jamiel]

I think "compare to A&H* is just shorthand for "cheap, single-enzyme" laundry detergent---the "compare to Tide/Gain" have more of an enzyme cocktail and more active ingredients/less H2O.

 

[lordkenmore]

>We don't have Albertson's around here anymore.

I'm honestly not sure you are missing much. LOL I shop there, but only as a secondary store. Expensive (I think the most expensive chain in my market, at least for what I buy), and very little that is only available there.

>Ever since the merger was first announced, the speculation was that Safeway stores would become more like Alberton's but it sounds like the reverse is happening, at least from a merchandising perspective.

I had honestly thought Safeway would be turn more like Albertsons, too. From what little I can see, that's not the case.

I have honestly wondered--and this is just idle speculation--if part of the appeal of buying Safeway was getting their house brands, and their house brand supply channel. Until recently, it appeared that many--if not all--of Albertsons house brands were from SuperValu (who used to own Albertsons).

 

[joeypete]

Safeway was absolutely my favorite grocery store to shop at when I lived in Tucson. They had an awesome selection, clean stores, and friendly employees. The store where Gabby Giffords was shot at, is where I shopped the most. It's just a miracle I wasn't there that day.

I just recently noticed that Albertsons purchased them. We have Shaws here in NH. Though it doesn't compare at all to Safeway.

 

[jp10558]

So, just to understand the ranking of detergents, where would All free and clear liquid end up? Arm + Hammer? Worse? Tide?