PLMA: Buying private-label Thanksgiving items could help consumers save nearly 33%

NEW YORK — Opting for private-label Thanksgiving staples could help consumers save nearly 33%, according to a new survey conducted by the Private Label Manufacturers Association.

The PLMA concluded this after assembling a market basket of 40 private-label food and nonfood items and compared it with a market basket of 40 national-branded food and nonfood items. The association found that consumers would save $45.13 (or 32.8%) on average by purchasing the private-label products, compared with the same market basket comprised entirely of national brand products, which would run up a grocery bill totaling $137.44.

The market basket included such food items as stuffing mix and cranberry sauce, canned corn and green beans, refrigerated crescent rolls, turkey gravy, baking shells, whipped cream, pancake mix and real maple syrup, sandwich bread, butter, soda crackers and breakfast cereal. The market basket also contained such nonfoods as aluminum foil, a meat thermometer, paper towels and napkins, antacid tablets and pink bismuth stomach remedy.