Anyone shop at ALDI???

[bavaria]

In Germany ALDI is actually two entities each owned by one of the Albrecht brothers (The American ALDI is run by the one brother, Trader Joe's by the other). I shop at ALDI Süd or Hofer (Austrian ALDI) stores usually, and they are the same that run ALDI in America.

In Germany, ALDI stores are very formulaic. First park and put a Euro coin in to take a buggy (This is common to all grocery stores in Germany but I understand uncommon in America). The first aisle is usually coffee, candy, chocolate and drinks. Some are house brands, others are major brands. For instance, I can often find Maoam candy, or Merci chocolate at a good price, but won't find Ritter Sport or Milka etc at ALDI.

The back of the store is personal products; the centre aisle is usually the weekly specials which may be clothing or electronics. This is not uncommon - the coffee chain Tschibo sells clothing and electronics and household items in their weekly instore specials as well.

The far side is the cold area with good quality products and some frozen items. Here as well there is brand names, such as Landliebe, a major dairy producer. Also many of the ALDI house brands.

The check out is again common in Germany - no shopping bags as we know to bring our own and recycle. It has always been that way in Europe for the most part; some stores will charge you for shopping bags (and I was in IKEA in New Jersey last week and see that they now do the same)

At the check out there is usually a large selection of cigarettes - knock off brands ie one won't find Malboro red or gold, but a knock off. ALDI is also the largest seller of wine in Germany.

The stores are quite small, but are very clean (in Germany a store would not survive if it wasn't!) I have been into a few ALDI stores in America - in NC, PA and IL, if I recall. The one in IL was rather unkempt, but the others were similar in layout to the German stores, if not in product.

In Germany, ALDI doesn't really advertise. There is a website with specials in the area, and newspaper advertising, but not the flyers in the Sunday paper like in the US.

Overall, ALDI stores are one element to shopping in Germany. Usually one has a very small refridgerator at home compared to the US, so one buys vegetables and fruits and perishables almost every day. But one goes to ALDI to stock up on the other items. (they do sell fruits and veggies there, but as ALDI stores in Germany are usually on the edge of town it is more common to buy fruits and veggies from a fruit and veggie store, or a smaller grocery store)

For me, I go to ALDI to see what is on special, to purchase the few brand name items that I know they carry, and to buy house brand items that I like (I don't like their house brand coffee for instance, but will buy pills or vitamins or pain relief cream there)

So, I don't know if I answered your question, but that is the German common ALDI experience! I was actually just talking to my grandparents about this the other day and listening to them reminisce about ALDI in the early days.

 

[bavaria]

To compare, here is what I posted after a shopping trip this summer!

Well, techinically ALDI South. I know that a lot of you are ALDI shoppers. I have been to a few locations in America but they are definitely not the same as my German ones. Mostly I find that the American ones have fewer household items and more prepared foods. But I wanted to share my receipt from earlier this week so that you could see prices.

These are all Euros. And I always say that food is far cheaper in Germany than in America, and far far far cheaper than in Canada.

Carrybag 0,09
Sardines 0,49 x 3
Heringfillets 0,59 x 3
Kaffee (Eduscho 1 pound) 2,99
toothbrushes (2) 0,69 (I find toothbrushes and paste VERY expensive in America - paste bought elsewhere was 0,49)
Ritter Sport Mini x 2 1,45
Vitamin C capsules (60) 1,99
Joint pain capsules (120) 3,99
Merci chocolate x 6 1,49
Maoam Joymix 1,70
Cashew Peanut mix 1,49

Here is my receipt from Muller, a drug store

Milka Joy x 3 0,49
Ritter Sport x 10 0,49
Dentagard (Colgate toothpaste) 4 x 0,49
Nivea Cream large size (not available in America) 3,29

Just thought that you might want to compare prices in another part of the world. My family has shopped at ALDI since they started.

I also went to Lidl today, a similar shop. I prefer Lidl as they carry more brand names. There I purchased

Ritter Sport x 10 0,69
Nivea Cream (large size not available in America) 3,29

There were of course many many other items that I wish that I could have purchased, but I am travelling again tomorrow, so it was just a quick trip to stock up on the basics.

 

[bavaria]

Cindy, one last thought - I do shop at Wegman's when I am in a part of the US that has Wegman's (was at one last week). I would consider it similar to my favourite German grocery chain, Tengelmann (which owns the American A&P, although I have never been in one of those stores). That is where I would buy most of my groceries.

ALDI would be for water, some personal products, some housewares, maybe a few dairy items, and to see what is on sale and if they have any good deals on brand name items.

 

[my2boyzrock]

Well, thanks, everyone for all of your input. I am definitely looking forward to checking out the local store!

 

[disneymom3]

bavaria--thanks for taking the time to post those explanations and lists. It is so fun to me so hear and read about other areas of the world and what might be different or in common.

I love Aldi too. Just shopped there today in fact. We stock up on cereal when we go. On occassion I can get better prices with coupons and a sale of namebrand but not often. We also really like their graham crackers and their dried fruit cannot be beat. I dont' remember the price offhand, but it is quite inexpensive! Milk, eggs and cheese are significantly less. Got a very nice pineapple for $2.99 today but I do agree you have to be careful with the produce. Also bought a 5 lb bag of potatoes for $1.49. Their sour cream and yogurt are good too.

Today I bought their frozen stuffed ravioli. We have not tried that before so I'll let you all know if it works out.

I love having a cart briming with food and having the total be $64. That is astounding to me. No meat, I buy that on sale at the local grocery store because I must say I have had two negative experiences with their meat there and the local store just seems to have fresher meat.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I shop almost exclusivly at Aldis...I would say I buy about 90% of my food there and it saves me a ton of money. I would say I can buy almost twice as much food at Aldis as compared to my local groccery store chain. Like other posters, I think that almost everything there is pretty good...but there are some things I have bought that I would not buy again. Personally, I wouldn't not try something just because someone on the board says that it isn't good...it doesn't cost much to try things out for yourself.

Here is what I think is good: flavored oatmeal, olive oil, chocolates, cheese party mix, terriaki flavored asian noodles, frozen pizzas (1.99!), all canned goods, frozen veggetables, frozen meatballs, butter, cereal, crescent rolls, pasta, mushroom pasta sauce, no-cal drink mix (fruit punch is awesome), the all-beef hotdogs, cheeses, whipped yogurt, chorizo.

Here is what I wouldn't get again: dirty rice mix (I like zatarans), their cheapest american cheese (the more expensive variety was good), their version of hot pockets, cheese crackers.

Hope this helps! Even if you are very picky about your food, I would suggest at least buying all of your canned goods there.

 

[smiller]

Oh, I do not know what I would do without Aldi! I grew up shopping there and to this day it is my saving grace in my tight-as-anything budget. Plus, I prefer a lot of the items I buy there to other brands/stores!

Here's what I usually buy and keep on hand: (going in order of the aisles, if you're familiar!) milk chocolate, dark chocolate, flour, sugar, salt, corn oil, canola oil, olive oil, nuts, dried fruit, cake mix, frosting, pudding mix, salt grinder, pepper grinder, black olives, artichokes, bran flakes, milk, eggs, butter, sour cream, cream cheese, ALL kinds of cheese (brick and shredded), half and half, bagged salad, bagged spinach, pressed beef, plain yogurt, all sorts of canned tomatoes, canned veggies, spaghetti sauce, parmesan cheese, canned tuna, plastic wrap, foil, baggies, kitchen trash bags, garbage bags, tissues, toilet paper, paper towels, q-tips, various toiletries, baby wipes, tri-color peppers, baby carrots, mushrooms, citrus fruit, bananas, potatoes, onions, zucchini, bread, tortillas, frozen (or fresh) ground beef, honey ham, frozen chicken tenders, frozen shrimp (all sizes), frozen veggies, breakfast sausage, orange juice concentrate.

I'm sure that's not an exhaustive list, but it's getting late and that's about as much as I can come up with now. I don't buy a lot of processed food, but I do hear that Aldi has some pretty tasty options along the lines of prepared meals.

I love when they have ethnic-themed weeks, say Italian, German, or Asian. They have a bunch of interesting items that you might usually have to go to a big supermarket or a ethnic market to find. It helps bring some variety to my usual repertoire!

I've been to several Aldis in my area and stick to the one closest to me - it is the cleanest, nicest, and most well-stocked. If you're lucky enough to have a couple around, you might be surprised at the differences between them. Enjoy!

 

[Crazy4Disney72]

I shop at Aldi's usually once every two weeks for basic staples, especially cereal. We go through 4-6 boxes a week so it's nice that I can always count on getting a good price for it at Aldi's. Produce is very iffy there, sometimes I buy it, sometimes it just doesn't look that good to me.

I bought fresh meat there once, cube steak, and cooked it the day I bought it. The sell by date was still a couple days away, but it didn't smell right, not necessarily bad, but just different. I should have just stopped right then, but I continued to cook it and it really smelled funny cooking, I tasted a tiny bit once it was cooked and about gagged, it was definitely spoiled even though it looked fresh before I cooked it. I put it right back in the packaging, tied it up in a plastic bag and took it back along with the receipt and they gave me my money back. Since then, even though it could have just been a fluke thing, I can't bring myself to buy fresh meat, though I have gotten the frozen chicken breasts and they have been fine.

 

[JimboJones123]

Just like any store. If the produce looks good, get it. If it doesn't, don't. They aren't afraid to put the nastiest batch of cucumbers out there where a finger will get lost in each and every one you try to pick up. SO JUST WATCH. But if everything looks fresh -- it is fresh. We have gotten out of Aldis with $80 worth of groceries that lasted nearly a month. We were tired of that "generic" taste on some items after a while (avoid the chocolate chips), but most was just fine.

 

[mickeyfan2]

There are two Aldis by us. One the produce is great the other it is gross. I don't buy prepackaged meats as they are the ones that get recalled. I love their romano cheese from Italy. Since DH and I try to avoid salt laiden food, we don't buy their canned food. There is canned food without salt added that we buy at the regular grocery store, but we prefer fresh or frozen. DH loves their cereals. Milk is cheaper elsewhere.

I believe Aldi's is hit or miss. Check it out. The stores are small and do not carry a variety, but in many ways I like this better.

 

[powellrj]

since we have changed our eating habits, we are shopping at Aldis much more. They have a great selection of frozen fruits and vegetables and are much cheaper. Fruits and vegetables are much cheaper and the red grapes and grape tomatoes are better than I get at Kroger.

The turkey roasts are the same brand that Wal-mart sells for $3 a pound less and we love them. We like the frozen chicken breast and the canned veggies. The things like flour and oils and shelf stables are comparable to the supermarket.

Just don't forget your quarter for the cart and you need to bring/buy your own bags and sack yourself!

 

[Cindy B]

Cindy, one last thought - I do shop at Wegman's when I am in a part of the US that has Wegman's (was at one last week). I would consider it similar to my favourite German grocery chain, Tengelmann (which owns the American A&P, although I have never been in one of those stores). That is where I would buy most of my groceries.

ALDI would be for water, some personal products, some housewares, maybe a few dairy items, and to see what is on sale and if they have any good deals on brand name items.

So the pay for your cart,and bag yourself is very European.. interesting. The last time I was at Ikea we did not have to pay for bags (they had those large blue/yellow bags for in store use).

I do like brand names for some items and Wegmans brand for others.

 

[pamjb]

You don't really pay for the carts. It is a deposit type of deal. The quarter pops back out when you put it in the corral with the other carts. Keeps down the stealing of carts, and car damage in the parking lot.
The bag part doesn't bother me, since I have started carrying my own canvas bags to the store rather than using the plastic sacks. I even do that at Wegman's and the other chains in the area.

 

[grlpwrd]

My family used to shop at the very first ALDI store ever in Germany and still shops at ALDI regularly. ALDI in Germany IS quite different than ALDI in the US (But did you know that one of the Albrecht brothers also owns Trader Joe's?)

In Germany we have a lot less processed foods in the stores and more house brand of personal care products, etc.

I haven't been as happy with the American ALDI stores, but sometimes I don't find that much to my taste in the German stores either. I think that you have to go with general wants in mind as some weeks they don't stock certain items.

Yes, I remember reading someone on a couponing board posting that and so I looked it up on Wikipedia. I didn't know the background of Trader Joe's until now. lol

I have been to an Aldi's in Baltimore. I don't know if it was the particular store, but I wasn't impressed. Then again it may have to do with the fact I rarely eat packaged foods anyway.

 

[Cindy B]

You don't really pay for the carts. It is a deposit type of deal. The quarter pops back out when you put it in the corral with the other carts. Keeps down the stealing of carts, and car damage in the parking lot.
The bag part doesn't bother me, since I have started carrying my own canvas bags to the store rather than using the plastic sacks. I even do that at Wegman's and the other chains in the area.

I know that. I've shopped at Aldi's. I shopped at them about 14 years ago when I lived in Ohio. My scariest shopping experience was at an Aldi. (Euclid Ave in Cleveland store).

I was in the endless line with my young child and I was pregnant. The Aldi on the edge of a fairly dodgy section of town. I was busy pushing my box with my foot while keeping my baby in line. I glance behind me and see a sort of unkempt guy behind me. He sort of looked homeless.. but that part didn't bother me. The part that bothered me was the sawed off handcuffs hanging off his wrists! He was sort of hiding it under his coat, but it was still sort of obvious.

I sort of sheperded my son in front of me and told him to stand straight ahead like a soldier. I held my breath until I got home!

 

[bavaria]

The last time I was at Ikea we did not have to pay for bags (they had those large blue/yellow bags for in store use).

IKEA does have bags to use to carry items around in the store, but I have been to two recently in North America with signage that shopping bags to take your items from the store now cost money.

I don't know if that is North America wide, but I hope it does become a trend. I am used to carrying a larger bag while shopping for small purchases, and keep a sturdy plastic bag folded in the bottom for groceries, etc. Even in America I often decline a shopping bag and just put the items directly into my purse. Any little bit helps.

 

[MelAnderson]

I've shopped at Aldi and I will agree with another poster about them having great sales clearance on Toys. I picked up a couple of really good bargins that I used for this year.

I don't purchase meats from Aldi (with the exception of the Purdue cooked rotisserie chicken, just heat it up in the microwave), but I've purchased...
Their "Gogurt" substitute
Cheese sticks
Diced potatoes
Fit & Active Turkey meatballs
Fit & Active frozen peach pops
Fit & Active yougurt covered raisins, cranberries
(Their Fit & Active stuff is pretty good)
Tombstone and Red Barron pizzas

They do have name brand items from time to time (Lean Cuisine and Boca Burgers).

They also have pretty good prices on paper goods such as toilet tissue and paper towels.

From their produce, my store is fine, I've purchased...
Tomatoes, apples, pineapples, mushrooms, onions, green peppers, etc.

If you like sweet tea (I grew up in the South), I like their brand of tea, just add water. They also have some good "grinder" seasonings - sea salt and the chicken is particularly pretty good. They've also had those Hershey 100 calorie pack snacks for a good price in the past.

HTH

 

[HopingToGetEngaged]

I know that. I've shopped at Aldi's. I shopped at them about 14 years ago when I lived in Ohio. My scariest shopping experience was at an Aldi. (Euclid Ave in Cleveland store).

I was in the endless line with my young child and I was pregnant. The Aldi on the edge of a fairly dodgy section of town. I was busy pushing my box with my foot while keeping my baby in line. I glance behind me and see a sort of unkempt guy behind me. He sort of looked homeless.. but that part didn't bother me. The part that bothered me was the sawed off handcuffs hanging off his wrists! He was sort of hiding it under his coat, but it was still sort of obvious.

I sort of sheperded my son in front of me and told him to stand straight ahead like a soldier. I held my breath until I got home!

Having a grandmother that lived in Euclid (many years ago)... this some how doesn't suprise me!

 

[bebelle]

Alot of their products contain trans fats and HFCS. That being said--they have excellent brownie mix. I also buy their cashews, walnuts, butter, sour cream, sugar, cake mixes, corn bread mix, canola oil, pepperoni, grated parmesan, coconut shrimp, frozen chicken, spaghetti sauce, canned veg, paper towels, tissues, pain reliever, fruit bars, Oreo type cookies, grinders, chips and salsa, cereal, coffee, bagels, and cream cheese. We love to comb the isles for speciality items and toys. By choice we are a single income family and Aldi has been a huge budget saver!

 

[eatatmidnight]

I have shopped at Aldi for years. Fortunately ours is in a nice part of town. I buy the following at Aldi:

Nuts, flour, baking powder, vanilla, milk, eggs, butter, block cheese,quick oats, old fashoned oats, rice, beans, pasta, sandwich bags, freezer and storage bags, canned fruits and veggies, frozen fruit and veggies, 100 percent juice, potatoes, most fresh fruit and veggies (except bananas) and ,when I splurge, fresh flowers.

HTH