IELTS W2 Essa: Are store brands good or bad? Task introduction: In some countries shops manufacture and sell they own products. Some people believe that this is a positive development while others see this as negative. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. The popularity of private-label products has grown significantly in recent decades. Some consumers embrace these products, whereas others think that retail stores should not manufacture own items at all. It is agreed that private-label products can limit the variety of different products in the market. This essay will discuss both views using the Finnish trading companies Kesko and S-Market as examples, followed a reasoned conclusion. It is certainly true that private-label products have increased competition between food brands and decreased prices in general. For instance, in Finland the two major grocery stores Kesko and S-Market have created they own brands, the former Pirkka and the latter Rainbow. These new brands have virtually challenged international food giants, such as Nestlé and Kellogg’s. Consumers have praised this invasion of smaller store brands, as global corporations are often criticised for being invasive and exploitative. According to a survey, food prices has declined by one-third after the launch of private-levels products. Therefore, customers have benefited the recent development of the food market. Although tremendous benefits that private-label brands have brought to our lives, there are also noticeable drawbacks. It is often claimed that store brands have taken over the market from other items because they are well presented in the store. Local farmers have suffered the most. This is because small entrepreneurs cannot compete with Kesko and S-Market in prices. A recent study published by the Finnish Farmers Union insisted that nearly one in four farmers have gone bankrupt over the period of ten years due to tightening competition. Therefore, it can be argued that private-labels have negatively affected the market. In conclusion, I would argue that although private-label products are dropped considerably food prices, they have been harmful for local farmers. It is predicted that the sales of store brands will risen in the future and retailers will continue to gain larger shares of the market.