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Spice mixes and other items from the Alden Mill House in Alden, Michigan. These products taste a whole lot better than similar products I've tried, and I use their Miracle Blend on just about everything. Even though their spices are available in stores in this area, we still love driving up to the rather whimsical Mill House itself when we can. Photos from our last visit, and descriptions of the Pippi Longstocking style yard, are at:

http://www.blogsmonroe.com/food/?p=324

JEP, this is like 250 miles north of you ... go for a drive! Oh, in the summer, of course ... ;-)

Skippy peanut butter - it just tastes the best to me.
Marshmallow FLUFF - has to be fluff, not creme.
Bell's Stuffing Mix - it's what I grew up on, and nothing else tastes the same for making the Thanksgiving stuffing/dressing. I think it is the amount of sage in it.
Cabot White Sharp Vermont Cheddar - hmmmmmmmmm.

There are probably more, but I am drawing a blank...

Not a food, but after all that cooking: Dawn Dishwashing Liquid. To me it is the best for getitng the grease off the pans. I won't use anything else.

hellman's mayonnaise.

land o lakes butter.

heinz catsup.

smoked fish -- must be purchased only from zabar's.

other than that i think i'm pretty open to experimentation.

I'm actually a fan of trying off-brand and generic products just for vatiety. I usually find them to be as good or better than brand name offerings, and they're almost always a good value.

I just checked my cupboards and fridge for items I purchased because of either intended or subconscious brand loyalty, and I found: Crisco Shortening, Heinz Ketchup (for the G'Kids), Good Seasons Ranch Dressing (ibid), and Miracle Whip.

Brands I like, but have to order, are King Arthur and Penzeys.

SB (okay .... and Velveeta)

I'm not brand-conscious overall -- private label works fine for the majority of groceries I purchase. But, there definitely are a few that I'm 100% inflexible about:
* Stremick's Heritage Farm organic 1% milk w/ Omega-3
* Best Foods mayo (aka Hellman's)
* Barilla Plus pasta
* Kerrygold Irish butter (or good imported French stuff if I can find it fresh enough)
* Tillamook cheddar cheese slices for sandwiches/burgers
* C&W frozen vegetables (makes store brand look inedible)
* Philadelphia Brand cream cheese
* Imagine, Pacific Foods, and Kitchen Basics broths and stocks
* Knudsen lowfat cottage cheese
* King Arthur flour
* Simply Lemonade (when my tree doesn't have enough fruit to make it myself)
* Mellitta coffee for day-to-day use
* Smart Balance original spread (margarine)
* Progresso tomato puree
* Heinz ketchup (almost never eat it, but when I do, that's what I want)

There are a few brands I prefer, if available, but not adamant about:
* Newman's Own if they offer a particular product I need
* Diestel turkey
* Boar's Head deli meats

After reading all the comments, I realize I buy many of the same brands as all of you.

JT....I'm going on a hunt for that cheese today...it must be good since you've mentioned it more than once :) And I actually have a Fresh Market here!

Zatarain's anything.
Masser's bacon (coal region of Pennsylvania)
Better Than Bouillion meat bases.
Land O' Lakes butter (unsalted)
Comeaux's andouille and tasso
Tony Chachere's Cajun Seasoning
Lindt's chocolate
Ben & Jerry's ice cream
Kansas City Masterpiece BBQ sauce

Many of the above - I'm a brand snob, I guess. I order my groceries online and have learned to request NO SUBSTITUTIONS. It also limits the variety of shopping in specialty shops (too expensive online), and grocery stores like Wegman's.

Must haves:
Pepperidge Farm products, or Arnold in a pinch for breads.
Claussen garlic kosher dills.
Dannon yogurt
as many organic, hormone, antibiotic free products as are available to me

I hate cheap toilet paper! haha

PG Tips, tea
Chock full o'Nuts, NYC coffee
Coffee Mate, coffee creamer
Cindy's Kitchen, they make the best raspberry vinaigrette
Coach Farm Goat Cheese
Kate's Homemade Miane Butter
Bell & Evan's Chicken Nuggets
Ben & Jerry's
Kashi-Anything they make is great
3400 Phinney, the best chocolate bars
Dagoba chocolate bars also good
Synder's Honey Mustard Pretzels
I could keep going but these are my favorites

KASHI! Anything makes me happy :) I like certain brands of other things as well, but Kashi is definitely the most worth noting.

Laura Scudder's organic peanut butter!

I forgot to add Eggland's Best eggs!

Muir Glen Fire Roasted Crushed Tomatoes
Paul Newman's Sesame Ginger Salad Dressing
Hellman's Mayonnaise
Thomas' English Muffins
Goya for any canned bean

Heinz ketchup
Plochman's yellow mustard
I am a new convert to Fage. I don't think I will ever eat another brand of yogurt. Nothing compares to the flavor or texture, and I discovered it at Meijer a few weeks ago- yahoo!
Peter Pan peanut butter- thanks to the husband
Duncan Hines Cake mixes
Ghiradelli baking chocolates

@ JEP- can I assume the local chocolatier is DeBrand's? If not, are you willing to name your source? They are the only chocolatier I can think of in your area and their chocolates are fabulous!

Nellie & Joes Key West Lime juice
Tony Cachere's Creole Spice
Oregon Chai Tea
Tillamook cheddar(medium or sharp)
Goya Brand Mojo Criollo ( a must for roast pork)
Hickory Farms sweet hot mustard
Siracha Chili (the one with the white rooster- I call it cocksauce-so my boyfriend knows what to buy it the store.)
Kikkoman Soy sauce (his choice)

Ha, ha, ha... So many of us mentioned Heinz Ketchup and Hellmans/Best Foods Mayo, which just cracks me up... what does it say about us that we're all SO concerned with such mundane condiments? Too funny.

Not going to help most people here, but I am devoutly loyal to my local farmers and their "brands." Nothing tastes better than naturally grown/raised and local.

@ LoCo: Mundane? MUNDANE?? HAH! How dare thou ... ;-)

BTW, for hot sauce I have to have Boneyard Brew. Oh yeah, that's some good stuff.

Crazy Richards PB, Fage (though I'll get other brands if their cheaper). Silk soy milk. For cereal: Nature's Path, Barbara's, Alpen.