Girl Scout Cookies roll in every year for a sweet cause — proving that doing good and indulging your cravings can come in the same box. From January through April, girls ages 5-18 dressed in their signature uniforms set up outside grocery stores and make the rounds to neighborhood houses selling boxes of Thin Mints, Samoas, and Tagalongs to raise money for their troop. Now, major retailers are being slammed for trying to undercut the charitable tradition by launching their own versions of the tasty treats for a fraction of the price. One such retailer is Aldi’s, selling their version of the top-selling Girl Scout Cookie Samoas for $2.55 a pack, which contains 18 cookies, while the Girl Scouts are selling them for $6 a pack of 14 cookies per box. Unfortunately, Aldi’s version is almost identical in taste, leaving customers with no option but to go for the cheaper box at Aldi’s. Retailers are leveraging their brand equity and consumer recognition just as it does with every other national brand it copies. As you might expect, the news of the knockoffs hit the social media platforms almost immediately, with people voicing their opinions on the matter. One commenter wrote, “I agree Girl Scout cookies are overpriced, but you don’t buy them for the cookie — you guy a few boxes for support.” Retail experts say customers shop at Aldi because they understand that nearly everything in the store is a private label knockoff, including Benton’s Caramel Coconut Fudge Cookies — the Girl Scout Samoas knockoff. Aldi’s is clearly sticking to the belief that it’s easier to ask forgiveness than permission, though at this point they’re looking pretty unrepentant. Other retailers following suit include Lidl, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Walmart.
 |
| Girl Scouts Samoas |
 |
| Benton's Caramel Coconut Fudge Cookies — the knockoff |
