Own-brand products: who actually makes them?

Who makes own-brand products? The truth behind the packaging

Have you ever wondered who makes the own-brand products you buy at the supermarket? Lists claiming to reveal the mystery circulate on forums and websites: Lidl's milk would come from Leche Celta, its tuna from Conservas Garavilla, Steinburg beer from Damm… The problem is that most of these lists are false or outdated.

The equivalence business

For years, compilations have been circulating that try to pair each own-brand product with its original manufacturer. The idea is tempting: if the manufacturer is the same, the product should be identical. But the reality is murkier. A discussion thread on a responsible consumption forum, running for more than 15 years, shows that many of these equivalences are wrong. For example, it was claimed that Mercadona's Steinburg beer is made by Damm, but several participants dispute this. And Lidl's milk is not Spanish but of German origin, contradicting the list.

Moreover, manufacturers change constantly. What one company produces today, another makes tomorrow, and the lists become obsolete within months. As the most critical voices point out, the only way to know for sure is to check the health registration number (RGSA) on the website of the Spanish Food Safety Agency (AESAN).

Same factory, same quality?

The underlying debate is whether the quality of an own-brand product is the same as that of the brand that makes it. Opinions are divided. On one hand, there are testimonials from industry workers who claim that at their company the formula is exactly the same for all brands: only the packaging changes. An employee at a food company says they manufacture for Eroski, El Corte Inglés, Hipercor and Lidl with the same ingredients, and that changing the recipe for each client would be a logistical nightmare.

On the other hand, most consumers are distrustful. They point out that specifications can vary: one product may contain vegetable fat and another butter, or have a different thickness. Even in the same factory, batches that fail the leading brand's quality control end up under the own brand. The experience of a former employee of Cofresco (maker of Albal) confirms that specifications were adapted to what the client requested, sometimes with better quality than the brand itself.

The conclusion: try it and don't trust it

In the end, there is no absolute truth. Having the same manufacturer guarantees nothing. As internet users sum it up, the only thing that works is making comparisons: read the ingredients, try the products and decide. Equivalence lists are entertainment, not a reliable shopping guide. And of course, be wary of anyone who claims to know it all. Next time you see one of these lists, remember: it's probably outdated, wrong, or both. But hey, at least you save a few euros.

Related discussions on the forum

• HACENDADO [official thread] · 116 replies