As Joe points out, the manufacturer is likely to be the same for both products.

Some years ago, Kelloggs advertised that “we don’t make breakfast cereals for anyone else”.

Why are own label versions cheaper?

No advertising costs.

As Joe points out, the manufacturer is likely to be the same for both products.

If one person buys the supermarket's own label version of something rather than the branded version to save money, there we go.

But if two million people buy the supermarket's own label version of something rather than the branded version to save money, does that result in some of the people at the factory that makes the branded version losing their job?

Why are own label versions cheaper?

William

Normally the supermarkets make as much if not more profit on own brand/label items.

In some instances the company that makes the branded version also supplies the supermarkets with their own label products.

Joe

But if two million people buy the supermarket's own label version of something rather than the branded version to save money, does that result in some of the people at the factory that makes the branded version losing their job?

Why are own label versions cheaper?

William

I remember the book had printed on it a statement that if a brand was not stated then CWS brand would be supplied.

CWS was the Cooperative Wholesale Society. In effect, like a supermarket own label brand, but the various coop societies across the country did not each have their own own label products

Then there seems to have been an era from around 1960 to 2000 when there no deliveries from anybody.

I remember that as late as the 1970s in the then smaller supermarkets in Evesham the practice that in the walkway after the checkout stations that led to the exit there were piles of boxes, mostly cardboard. I always chose one that had had something reasonable in it, as there were some boxes that had contained cigarettes put out.

There were also large wooden boxes in which oranges had arrived at the store. Some were a bit useless as thin wooden slats with lots of air gaps, but some had solid sides with quite thick pieces of wooden plank.

William

People placed grocery orders by phone long before computers were available.

In those days, choice was very limited, for example, only two or three brands of jams, and a few different fruits, say. As I remember.

Most grocery stores would have a counter assistant who would be asked for, let's say, a jar of jam. Without going to the shelf and taking one of each sort to show the customer, the choice would be limited to what the customer knew of the stock, and what the assistant could explain.

Or one went to the butchers, and asked for a particular cut.  If you phoned, you would get what the butcher provided, and the nature of the cut could, I say, could, depend on the relationship of the customer with the butcher. Nowadays, my wife will carefully examine several pieces of meat before choosing one. More choice there.

William

Please say where that happened

West Croydon, and maybe a few other places. When I was still at school I had a Saturday job at a greengrocer's delivering orders by tradesman's bike https://onlinebicyclemuseum.co.uk/wp-co … DESMAN.jpg or costermonger's wheel barrow http://theragandboneman.blogspot.com/20 … arrow.html

A few customers, including a small childrens'-home phoned in their orders, although of course most customers did not have telephones then.

Of course not, but this sub-topic followed my comments about people spending money they do not have, so do have limited incomes.

People placed grocery orders by phone long before computers were available.

I have never known of that being available. Please say where that happened.

We are discussing inflation, we are discussing what items are needs as contrasted with what are not needs but perhaps desired.

There is, as far as I aware, no restriction about the discussion only being related to people with very limited income.

But in relation to Joe's list there is nothing on there apart from a computer that I would buy even if my income were much larger than it is.

I tend to buy relatively low-priced things that have some sort of special interest for me, such as what is notionally a custom photo greetings card that is in fact a print of my artwork that I produced on my computer, then I framed it in an oak effect frame delivered with the grocery. Total cost under £10. That, as it is a print of my own art, is of more interest to me than buying an expensive framed print by someone else. During the last two years I have bought several such custom greetings cards and frames. But it is a very low cost compared to the electricity bill, but i do like a warm house. Though I suppose those framed cards could be said to not be needs.

I suppose Joe's list could be extended by adding framed artist's prints and framed original paintings and things like ornate glass vases and so on. Yet not only expensive items like those.

William

We are discussing needs of people with very limited income. I do not know whether this includes William, or anyone else here, but somehow doubt it.

Without a computer I would have a big problem obtaining a food supply.

William

Are the following needed or not?

Joe, nothing in your list is needed, except perhaps in very exceptional circumstances.