Kroger house brand film? [Archive] - Rangefinderforum.com

dmr

11-04-2005, 05:16

I had to stop at the supermarket on the way in today, so I wandered over to the photo area mainly to get a look at what was (still?) available as far as film. They had a good selection of green and yellow from 200-800 in singles and 4-packs. No 100, no slide, no B&W. Prices higher than Target'. Also a good selection of preloaded disposables, but nothing fancy.

Anyway, I know I had seen this before, but they have Kroger house brand film at about 40% less than K or F. I looked on the boxes for a "Made In ?????" label to get an idea of what it really was, but there was no such label.

Anybody know what this really is? Anybody used it? Good results?

Now that the rebranded Agfa looks like it may be in short supply, if this is something else (Konica?) I'm wondering if this is worth checking out.

Thanks. :)

bmattock

11-04-2005, 05:28

I haven't used it, our only Kroger went out of business here in town. I suspect that much (most) store brand film is Agfa at the moment - using up existing stocks, no doubt. However, I also suspect that 'house brand' films change with the times and the cost to the store chain. Likely candidates would be Ferrania, Agfa, Mitsubishi. All claim to do a lot of 'rebranding' business.

I am informed that the edge barcode-looking markings on processed film have meaning - and that the one-hour labs have a lookup table that can tell you who made the film and what emulsion it is. I don't know this to be true, I just read it. I might look into that myself.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

RJBender

11-04-2005, 05:38

You still have Kroger supermarkets in Chicago, D? They closed all the stores in this area over 10 years ago.

R.J.

bmattock

11-04-2005, 05:40

Kroger owns a lot of brands. In Denver, they're "King Soopers" and they're huge. I grew up in central Illinois and we had Krogers everywhere (Peoria, etc).

dmr

11-04-2005, 05:44

You still have Kroger supermarkets in Chicago, D? They closed all the stores in this area over 10 years ago.

LOL! Some people think I live in Chicago. I'm much closer to Omaha, Somewhere In Middle America. :)

We have Bakers stores here, part of the Kroger/Bakers/Smiths/Etc. chain.

I do remember the Kroger stores from when I was in St Louis. :)

kzim56

11-04-2005, 05:51

Here in Atlanta, Kroger and Publix dominate. They're running everybody else out of the grocery business. If Publix had their own line of film, I would buy it since their store brand stuff is usually pretty high quality. Haven't used the Kroger film and have no idea who makes it. I understand the Fuji film plant in South Carolina makes a lot of private label film. Maybe it's from there.

SolaresLarrave

11-04-2005, 06:04

Kroger is very popular in Indiana. In fact, they're the third or fourth largest grocery store corporation. Last time I checked, Albertson's was the largest.

Never noticed Kroger film in my IN shopping days (I lived in Kokomo for a year and a half), but I wouldn't be surprised if it's the Mitsubishi or Ferrania kind.

wierdcollector

11-04-2005, 06:42

I use mainly three brands these days as I bought huge amounts of expired film for VERRY cheap on eBay: Kroger 200 & 400, Mitsubishi 100 and Dollar Store badged Pro Click 400. For my purposes and price I have nothing negative to say about Kroger and most of mine is two years past expiry. Works great, colours are fine by me. Don't know who makes/made it but looks ok.

derevaun

11-04-2005, 08:22

I get Kroger 110 film at Fred Meyer, which is a West Coast relative of Kroger. Anyway, it's made in Italy so I assume it's Ferriana. I don't know about the 35mm, but it's probably the same.

RJBender

11-04-2005, 08:36

LOL! Some people think I live in Chicago. I'm much closer to Omaha, Somewhere In Middle America. :)

We have Bakers stores here, part of the Kroger/Bakers/Smiths/Etc. chain.

I do remember the Kroger stores from when I was in St Louis. :)

Did you attend school in St. Louis, D (Diane, Deborah, Denise, Danielle, Darla ?? :confused: ) ?

Sorry, I feel strange addressing you as "D".

R.J.

hjfischer

11-04-2005, 09:56

For what it's worth, I just received back from processing prints from 10 rolls of Ferrania 400 which I bought for $1 per roll from York Photo. Can't tell the difference between the Ferrania results and those from my regular film, Fuji Superia. If Ferrania=Kroger, go for it.

bmattock

11-04-2005, 10:43

I get Kroger 110 film at Fred Meyer, which is a West Coast relative of Kroger. Anyway, it's made in Italy so I assume it's Ferriana. I don't know about the 35mm, but it's probably the same.

Ferrania also makes film in the USA. In the 1960's, the company was called Dynacolor. It was sold to 3M, which also owned Ferrania at the time. Later, 3M spun off Ferrania and 3M became Imation (and got the film making factory) and then later yet, Ferrania aquired Imation's film plant. Huzzah, Ferrania owns a film making plant in Oklahoma.

Weird, huh?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

dmr

11-04-2005, 12:08

Did you attend school in St. Louis, D (Diane, Deborah, Denise, Danielle, Darla ?? :confused: ) ?

Yes, Southwest, but we're talking a LONG time ago. :)

Sorry, I feel strange addressing you as "D".

Denise if you want to be formal. :) My long time nickname is Annie, which is a long story. :)

Actually, I do answer to "D" (Dee) as well, since our parents referred to us kids by our first initials as sort of nicknames. (Jay, Dee, Tee) :)

dmr

11-04-2005, 12:19

Ferrania also makes film in the USA. In the 1960's, the company was called Dynacolor. It was sold to 3M, which also owned Ferrania at the time. Later, 3M spun off Ferrania and 3M became Imation (and got the film making factory) and then later yet, Ferrania aquired Imation's film plant. Huzzah, Ferrania owns a film making plant in Oklahoma.

Hmmmmm .... I vaguely remember Dynacolor (I don't remember using it ever) but to be honest I can't remember Ferrania film at all. I may have to try it just to see what it is like.

RJBender

11-04-2005, 12:36

Yes, Southwest, but we're talking a LONG time ago. :)

Denise if you want to be formal. :) My long time nickname is Annie, which is a long story. :)

Actually, I do answer to "D" (Dee) as well, since our parents referred to us kids by our first initials as sort of nicknames. (Jay, Dee, Tee) :)

Hi Denise, :)

Southwest High School at the corner of Kingshighway and Arsenal... I know exactly where it is!
http://stlouis.missouri.org/neighborhoods/history/southwest/photo37a.gif

Tower Grove Park is right across the street.
http://stlouis.missouri.org/parks/tower-grove/

That's where I took my photo of the Beethoven statue with my newly acquired Minolta 7s.
http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12248&page=4&pp=20

R.J.

Trius

11-04-2005, 14:01

doubs43

11-04-2005, 14:37

Ferrania also makes film in the USA. In the 1960's, the company was called Dynacolor. It was sold to 3M, which also owned Ferrania at the time. Later, 3M spun off Ferrania and 3M became Imation (and got the film making factory) and then later yet, Ferrania aquired Imation's film plant. Huzzah, Ferrania owns a film making plant in Oklahoma. Bill Mattocks

I recall Dynacolor but as dmr436 says, I don't recall ever using any. For color I always used Kodak, Fuji or Agfa. I don't know if they made color film or not but GAF made some excellent B&W films and I did use some of that.

I'm not familiar with the Kroger house brand although we do have a Kroger that my wife goes to frequently.

Walker

RJBender

11-04-2005, 15:02

So RJ, you are on the Illinois side... my dearest friend from high school just retired as a French teacher at O'Fallon high school.

The parents of my ex-girlfriend/partner live in Lebanon.

Bill Mattocks' early years were spent about 50 miles form where I lived for awhile.

Help, the world is shrinking!

Trius

Trius, I graduated from O'Fallon Township High School (http://www.oths.k12.il.us/foreignl/) in the last century. I live 4 miles from O'Fallon. I've been to Lebanon, IL many times. :p

R.J.

bmattock

11-04-2005, 15:39

I recall Dynacolor but as dmr436 says, I don't recall ever using any. For color I always used Kodak, Fuji or Agfa. I don't know if they made color film or not but GAF made some excellent B&W films and I did use some of that.

I'm not familiar with the Kroger house brand although we do have a Kroger that my wife goes to frequently.

Walker

GAF owned Ansco, and Ansco made film, if that's what you mean. GAF stood for General Aniline & Film. Strangely, there were two major aniline producers that made photographic film - GAF and Agfa. And as we all know, Agfa was a major producer of cameras sold under the Ansco brand name in the USA. What was the deal with 'aniline'?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

DeBone75

11-04-2005, 18:31

This is the first time I have replyed on this forum. To clarifiy one thing Kroger is the largest food chain in the country. Alberson's is the second largerst. How ever Kroger or Fred Myer here in Boise is trying to buy Alberson's. Alberson's is based here in Boise. Enough of that. I realy enjoy this forum. I own several older and "Classic" Rangefinders along with several other cameras of different formats. I love to read and compair notes

bmattock

11-04-2005, 18:41

wlewisiii

11-04-2005, 18:45

GAF owned Ansco, and Ansco made film, if that's what you mean. GAF stood for General Aniline & Film. Strangely, there were two major aniline producers that made photographic film - GAF and Agfa. And as we all know, Agfa was a major producer of cameras sold under the Ansco brand name in the USA. What was the deal with 'aniline'?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

Dyes. According to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aniline it's major use was directly or indirectly in the production of dyes. And of course the dyes allowed them to pursue their AnscoColor process that could be processed in any lab (rather than Kodachrome and the factory processing it needed.) .

William