i can't find anything substantial about it online...i compared ingredients and in most cases, they're the same...i think peanut butter had corn syrup instead of sugar, and there were a couple of other differences, which leads me to believe that they're not just rebranded food lion stuff

but then there's milk...i mean, what's the difference? did the "smart option" brand come from sick cows? is it a 50/50 blend of bovine/porcine lactations?

5/17/2011 12:39:24 PM

i thought they were the same thing

5/17/2011 12:43:08 PM

5/17/2011 12:43:10 PM

i've wondered this about the "great value" (or whatever) at Kroger's.

5/17/2011 12:43:32 PM

Quote :

"i thought they were the same thing"

5/17/2011 12:45:35 PM

I, too, wonder why Food Lion offers a product that is consistently cheaper than their own house brand.

Although I noticed this week that they've "fixed" this price discrepancy in the milk department.

5/17/2011 12:46:44 PM

Why do you think they call it the smart option?

5/17/2011 12:47:10 PM

Quote :

"I, too, wonder why Food Lion offers a product that is consistently cheaper than their own house brand."

Because it makes their house brand 'not the lowest quality one', I'm guessing.

5/17/2011 12:51:02 PM

All Smart Option products, from the paper towels to the pizzas, are made from the same two ingredients: cardboard and food coloring.

[Edited on May 17, 2011 at 12:52 PM. Reason : ]

5/17/2011 12:51:52 PM

perhaps market research has shown that people are more likely to buy the "middle" brand (which FL brand has essentially become, given that you have the "top shelf" name brands and then the "bottom shelf" SO brand) and it actually makes them more money in the long run

5/17/2011 12:56:57 PM

It's made with Soylent Green.

5/17/2011 1:25:18 PM

Food lion brand is the name brand shit that is spilled on the floor. Smart option brand is the food lion brand that spills on the floor.

5/17/2011 1:30:09 PM

They've got a ton of brands.

Their Taste of Inspirations stuff is really good!

5/17/2011 1:35:07 PM

^^ So you're saying Smart Option food is name brand stuff that's been spilled on the floor twice?

5/17/2011 1:37:43 PM

Quote :

"Multiple PL Lines Strengthen Customer Connection May 28, 2007 12:00 PM, By CAROL ANGRISANI CHICAGO — Having multiple private-label tiers not only expands overall private-label sales, it also strengthens a retailer's connection with its most valued customers, according to a new study. Conducted by private-label sales and marketing firm Daymon Worldwide, Stamford, Conn., and Catalina Marketing, St. Petersburg, Fla., the study analyzed the 2006 vs. 2005 purchasing behavior of 110 million households, based on loyalty card data from nearly 3,800 grocery stores offering at least three of four private-label tiers: value, national-brand equivalent (NBE), premium and organic. All major categories were assessed except for high-volume purchases like bread, milk and eggs. Results show that consumers who buy multiple tiers are more valuable to chains. Nearly two-thirds (64%) of “high-loyal” consumers, which Catalina defines as those who spend more than 80% of their total available grocery dollars at a certain store, buy multiple private-label tiers. “Retailers who invest in differentiating tiers are better able to compete with all types of retailers and channels,” Trish Brynjolfsson, Catalina's retail partnerships vice president, told SN. The expansion comes at a time when other chains are also growing their private-label reach. Delhaize Group will soon launch a three-tier private-label offering across all its U.S. banners, Pierre-Olivier Beckers, president and chief executive officer, said earlier this month. The line is to include premium items under the Taste of Inspiration brand and value-priced products under the Smart Options label. Mid-tier store brands merchandised by Delhaize banners will retain their names but will share unified design and procurement."

http://subscribers.supermarketnews.com/marketing/multiple_pl_lines/

Quote :

"In the U.S., private brands continue to increase in importance as more customers discover our attractively priced brand ranges as great alternatives to national brands. Private brands now account for 26.7% of sales at Food Lion. Also at Hannaford, private brand sales accounted for 27.4% of total revenues compared to 26.7% in 2009. In 2011, we will further streamline and develop our assortment. An entirely new assortment of value line products called MyEssentials will be rolled out across our U.S. operations in the second quarter and will replace our Smart Option assortment. We strongly believe that private brand in the U.S. has a lot of growth potential. The recession undoubtedly led customers to discover private brands, and coming out of the worst part of the economic downturn, the positive experience surely will secure a large part of this newly conquered public. Research by Mintel, an independent provider of market intelligence in the U.S., showed that 44% of Americans believe that private brand products are high quality and already about 40% would buy them."

http://www.delhaizegroup.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=JyYMrTGkkrA%3d&tabid=255

[Edited on May 17, 2011 at 1:45 PM. Reason : bold]

5/17/2011 1:40:12 PM

makes sense i suppose.

5/17/2011 1:45:08 PM

I believe Food Dog is phasing out smart option stuff in favor of their new "My Essentials" line.

5/17/2011 1:45:14 PM

Those Smart Options pizzas are pretty good.

5/17/2011 1:51:22 PM