““The sales potential of generics was always going to be limited by their poor quality – imagined or real – when compared to major brands. Since the bottom of the market is limited in size (most people seek average or premium quality), generics can take only a limited share. Retailers realised there was a greater opportunity to compete directly with national brands for some of their volume, and, by not incurring the brands’ advertising and sales force costs, be more profitable. Hence copycat brands, close copies of manufacturer brands, were a natural progression and have become entrenched in the market.””