Brand V. Generic: Diet Soda – Meijer V. Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi
Author: WIBIA | Filed under: Brand V. Generic
Call the current economic situation what you want, but people are trying to cut costs all across the board. If brand name cola is not on sale, it is almost as much as cheap beer! That is my breaking point. To help you navigate the grocery store and make the most of your dollar, WIBIA decided to launch a segment on Brand V. Generic.
The competitors:
Round 1: Diet Pepsi V. Meijer Diet Encore (Blue)
Round 2: Diet Coke V. Meijer Diet Encore (Red)
All of the test subject kept in the same cooler, served in the same type of cup, etc…. 3 people involved in the blind taste test. 2 males, 1 woman. IndianapolisEater was one of the males. I asked 2 questions:
1. Do you think this is the brand or generic?
2. What one do you like better?
Round 1: Diet Encore Blue was served first. Everyone like it and thought for sure this was Diet Pepsi. I served Diet Pepsi next. People thought that it was flat in comparison.
Result:
1. Everyone guessed the generic as the brand name.
2. Everyone preferred the taste of Meijer’s Blue Diet Encore to Diet Pepsi
Round 2: Diet Coke was served first. Everyone preferred the taste of the colas from Round 1 compared to the first sampling here. I served the Diet Encore Red second.
Result:
1. Everyone again guessed the generic as the brand name.
2. 2/3 People preferred the taste of Meijer’s Red Diet Encore to Diet Coke
Final Results: The Meijer brand was mistaken for the brand each and every time. Meijer Diet Encore was preferred 5 out of 6 times to the brand equivalent.
Winner: Meijer Diet Encore and it wasn’t even close. Also, Diet Coke was $4.59 a 12 pack, Diet Encore was $2.25 a 12 pack (neither on sale). Meijer Diet Encore is less than half the price and 5/6 votes prefer the taste. Hmm…
-wibia
Tags: Coke, Cola, Diet Coke, Diet Cola, Diet Pepsi, Meijer, Pepsi, Taste Test
WOW!!!! That’s interesting. I’ve really been wanting to try something similar to this (a blind taste test).
FYI: When doing taste tests, in short tests where not much is consumed, diet sodas with the most saccharine will always win as the tongue is trained for sweetness on short tastes, though in longer tastes those with less saccharine or any form of sweetener tend to prevail.
I was interviewing for a job with Dollar General a few years ago when they rolled out their new private label and they asked me to taste test as a part of the interview process, I was able to nail theirs every time- the major difference between private label and diet coke, specifically is that private label loads up on artificial sweeteners whereas diet coke is a little less. diet pepsi is a bit harder as diet pepsi is pretty high in artificial sweeteners.
I’ve never had Meijer diet soda, guess I oughtta try it!
Wow, good to know!
I typically will buy 2 Liters of my supermarket label soda. I don’t find much different between their labels at Diet Coke, and I like that at Weis markets (Mid-Atlantic grocery chain) they sell Diet Birch Beer, Ginger Ale, and Root Beer. Come to think of it I think most Diet Ginger Ale tastes the same, and I don’t even know of a “major” company to carry Birch Beer (and at .75 per 2 liter that is a freaking steal.)
The problem with these market brands is that they can’t match a coke zero or a sprite zero. Thus, all their citrus sodas suck as far as I’m concerned, and none can match a Diet Dr. Pepper either.
@Adam – Spot on on none being able to match the Diet Dr. P!
Yea. Safeways “Diet Thunder” is a joke compared to the real deal. And nobobdy (and I mean nobody) can make a Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr. Pepper clone.
Best. Diet. Soda. Ever.
How do you read the expiration code on the cans?