It's the same stuff.
Some stuff may be, but that's not true on it all, or even on a majority. There's another factor in this, too -- and it's that the off-brand stuff is sometimes lower quality raw product (that goes into the finished item), while the "name-brand" (from the same manufacturer) is kept higher quality from cherry-picking the better raw product.
So, the product is made the same way, packed in the same container (different label), but the raw product is the lower quality "rejects" that they did not want in their name-brand.
It comes out the same factory door, it has the same basic container (but different label), it looks about the same -- but it's the lower quality product that they produce. That's what a lot of people don't realize...
BUT -- if you (or someone else) can't tell the difference, then I guess it doesn't matter... :-)
Then your explanation says why there is a flavor difference. I definately noticed on the few items I purchased, which for that I don’t buy the store brands.
Also in things like scouring SOS pads...they didn’t last as long and fell apart quickly...so though saving money initially you’d have to buy them more often so the savings isn’t there. Dish detergent was weak and suds flat unless you used more of the product. So are you really saving money?
I doubt Walmart - with their process of rather brillant deal making - would fall for shoddy products. Like I said, when there's a recall you get to see which products are identical. A shorthand in Walmart is to look at the namebrand product that has the most shelf-space - that's generally the Great Value product.