Does anyone have an Aldi by them?

[Finnishwife]

Bavaria,


Is Aldi like Lidl? I often shop at Lidl when I visit Finland.

 

[bavaria]

Lidl and ALDI are similar concepts. Usually Lidl carries more brand names and ALDI more house brands. I prefer Lidl most of the time. Lidl also is more local customer oriented - the one which just opened by the train station in Munich for instance stocks a lot of items for their Arab customers.

But yes, very similar!

 

[twinklebug]

Do you shop at Trader Joe's? It is owned by the same (German) family, and much of the food is not 'American' either. It is German, or French, or imported from other countries, and labelled under their house brand.

Now, having said that, as a German who has shopped (and whose family has shopped) at the Albrecht family stores since they began decades ago, I don't like ALDI in America. The food that they carry is far more processed food than one would find in ALDI in Germany, so that puts me off. The stores are nowhere near the products, quality, and selection that one would find at ALDI in Germany. (And as a side note, there are 'two' versions of ALDI, each run by one of the brothers, and the ones south of the ALDI line are actually better in my mind)

Many people here do report however finding their staples for very good prices, and it sounds like the stores do vary by state. I have bene to several ALDI stores in America in several states and have noticed as well that quality does vary.

The stores are small for a reason. That is how many grocery stores are in Europe, since we don't stock up or hoard due to lack of pantry and fridge space.

Ah, that makes more sense now. The store is sandwiched between a Staples (office supply) and a Dollar store in a strip mall without any other food stores. Sort of an out of the way location to me. But, perhaps that will work better for them rent-wise. I'm all for competition to walmart, they put a lot of businesses under when they opened here.

I've never shoped at any of the other stores you mentioned, but am familiar with Ikea - granted most of that store is about household items and furniture, but the small food area has a similar feel to it as Aldi (but they don't present items on palates). I think I just need to grab a few item and try them to get comfortable with it.

Their food is american with a few exceptions for some chocolate, etc. Their major suppliers are Tyson(I know they supply the pork chops) IBP for beef(they also supply the major grocery stores around here) and Sara Lee to name a few.

We like European chocolate... mmm... maybe it's time to visit again, hehe.

 

[Planogirl]

This store almost sounds like the opposite to Auchan. I wish that we would get one of those or Trader Joe's but we are also getting an Aldi's. I'm interested in the produce for sure so I'll check them out.

 

[mamo-4-wdw]

We have an aldi's in our town. I only go there once a month for some items we like to stockpile. I bring my quarter and also my own shopping bags. I keep a cardboard box in my trunk if I need it. They have always had boxes.

What I really like is that their sale paper comes out in the sunday paper and Walmart will price match.

I got 2.99 pineapple at walmart for the 99 cents in Aldi's sale paper.
They have red,yellow,green 3pk peppers for 4.99 at walmart, Aldi's sale price .99

Saving money is so cool

 

[bettyann29]

I got 2.99 pineapple at walmart for the 99 cents in Aldi's sale paper.
They have red,yellow,green 3pk peppers for 4.99 at walmart, Aldi's sale price .99

Wow

 

[GenieCat]

We have Aldi's and it seems to be doing well. Trader Joe's which is owned by the same family, does not seem to be expanding as rapidly as Aldi. What I wouldn't give for a pound of Trader Joe's Kona coffee!!

 

[nuke]

Aldi animal crackers are the best! I will make a special trip just to buy them.

 

[ZPT1022]

We have one near us, about 15 minutes away. They are close to DD's orthodontist so we usually go when we are over that way for an ortho visit.

I stock up on the cereals the kids like, and some snacky stuff for their lunchboxes. In the summer, I kept a few boxes of their brand of uncrustables around for trips to the beach- those are so much easier for the kids to handle and Aldi's were cheaper than even buying them by the case at BJ's. A couple other people have mentioned that their milk is by far the cheapest and when I was there one time I did recognize a local dairy making a delivery. Last time we were there we picked up a huge refrigerated pizza for about $7, that made a great dinner for DH and the kids after a late night at sports practice. It's definitely not where I would want to do all my shopping but it is definitely a good place to pick up some staples and some convenience foods.

 

[AntePrincess]

Ok, I'll admit my real problem with Aldi's, although it's not 100% (or even 60%) Aldi's fault.

We've been over that they tend to sell a lot of junk food already, and many people have mentioned that they cluster by WalMarts. Here, and elsewhere, they plant themselves in the middle of the lowest income neighborhoods. They're the only "real" grocery store that will go into these areas, aside from the farmer's markets, bodegas, and so on that can get going there if its more of an urban setting. The nearest Aldi's to us is the only source of food within walking or 15 minute bussing distance of a huge swathe of downtrodden folk in subsidized housing, besides for a few fast food chains. These people can't go anywhere else, and their options at Aldi's are so bad that lots of us on this thread have said we wouldn't get our regular groceries here.

Then we hear pundits blather on about "those people" and how they let their kids get obese. It's sad, it's complex, and I want them to sell some healthier, less processed foods in those neighborhoods so people have a fighting chance at better nutrition. Just being better than White Castle doesn't exactly thrill me. But it's their company, I can't dictate to them, and they still are better than the alternatives (though I've never seen so much as a head of lettuce in the nearest Aldi's, and that strikes me as odd since other Aldi's do sell produce). I manage to get better prices than Aldi's elsewhere, but I can take the time and drive somewhere to do it. Not everyone can.

 

[1PrincessMomma1]

Ok, I'll admit my real problem with Aldi's, although it's not 100% (or even 60%) Aldi's fault.

We've been over that they tend to sell a lot of junk food already, and many people have mentioned that they cluster by WalMarts. Here, and elsewhere, they plant themselves in the middle of the lowest income neighborhoods. They're the only "real" grocery store that will go into these areas, aside from the farmer's markets, bodegas, and so on that can get going there if its more of an urban setting. The nearest Aldi's to us is the only source of food within walking or 15 minute bussing distance of a huge swathe of downtrodden folk in subsidized housing, besides for a few fast food chains. These people can't go anywhere else, and their options at Aldi's are so bad that lots of us on this thread have said we wouldn't get our regular groceries here.

Then we hear pundits blather on about "those people" and how they let their kids get obese. It's sad, it's complex, and I want them to sell some healthier, less processed foods in those neighborhoods so people have a fighting chance at better nutrition. Just being better than White Castle doesn't exactly thrill me. But it's their company, I can't dictate to them, and they still are better than the alternatives (though I've never seen so much as a head of lettuce in the nearest Aldi's, and that strikes me as odd since other Aldi's do sell produce). I manage to get better prices than Aldi's elsewhere, but I can take the time and drive somewhere to do it. Not everyone can.

That stinks that your Aldi's doesn't have produce. Mine is in a very, very low income area and they have lettuce, tomato, potato, apples, oranges, cherries, strawberries, sometimes peaches, always have grapes white & red, carrotts. green beans, peppers and many other fresh produce items. You don't have to buy the processed foods.

 

[estherhead]

I never understand the criticisms of people on stores that sell processed foods. ALL grocery stores sell processed food. With the exception of maybe Whole Foods, but how would I know since there isn't one near me? I don't say, "I don't shop at Kroger's, they sell Kraft macaroni & cheese." This particular thing of dismissing Aldi's because of the processed food really does confuse me. Just don't buy that food. They don't have organics, that is true. But I'm not an organic shopper so it doesn't bother me.

I shop at Aldi's every week. I only buy things with coupons & on sale at Kroger's & Wal-Mart. But for staples, I'm all about our Aldi's. They sell: brown rice, amazing produce: berries & stoplight peppers & broccoli & pineapples for $.99, Fit & Active (their name brand) meats which have the fat trimmed. When they are getting near their sell by date they'll sell 96% fat free hamburger for $2.00 per lb which sells for almost $5.00 per lb at Wal-Mart. Oh, and they have an Eggbeaters that is their own brand which I adore. Lowfat yogurt. Low fat cheesesticks. Plus, ours has great fresh salsas. Oh my goodness, their fresh sweet onion salsa with Baked Tostitos (they don't sell those) is such a yummy treat. I tease my dh that I could drink the salsa.

They also have cheap milk, eggs, olive oil, real vanilla, etc. Lowfat sour cream, skim milk cottage cheese, the list goes on. I do like their Fit & Active brand a lot. They have these southwestern Hot Pocket type things that are vegetarian & DELISH. And they have these whole grain wraps that are my dh's favorite.

I would say I do almost all my major shopping at Aldi's. I only get things I have coupons for at the other stores & the things I can't get at Aldi's, like bread. I'm not crazy about their bread selection so I try to go to a discount bread place 15 min. away once a month & stock up.

It took me awhile to figure out what to buy there. At first I probably spent $35.00 a week there. But they've been here two years now and I would say I spend $60.00 of my weekly $100.00 budget there.

Ask me questions if you have them.

Also, just a note, I live in the poorest county in Ohio & our Aldi's has lots of wonderfully healthy choices (as I pointed out.) I think the way it works, is that stores stock what is being bought. So if they aren't selling produce, it probably wasn't being purchased and they were throwing away too much of it to make it profitable to keep stocking. I've been to several Aldi's in Columbus, Oh & other states & they all have produce & lean meats & brown rice just like my local one.

 

[estherhead]

I never understand the criticisms of people on stores that sell processed foods. ALL grocery stores sell processed food. With the exception of maybe Whole Foods, but how would I know since there isn't one near me? I don't say, "I don't shop at Kroger's, they sell Kraft macaroni & cheese." This particular thing of dismissing Aldi's because of the processed food really does confuse me. Just don't buy that food. They don't have organics, that is true. But I'm not an organic shopper so it doesn't bother me.

I shop at Aldi's every week. I only buy things with coupons & on sale at Kroger's & Wal-Mart. But for staples, I'm all about our Aldi's. They sell: brown rice, amazing produce: berries & stoplight peppers & broccoli & pineapples for $.99, Fit & Active (their name brand) meats which have the fat trimmed. When they are getting near their sell by date they'll sell 96% fat free hamburger for $2.00 per lb which sells for almost $5.00 per lb at Wal-Mart. Oh, and they have an Eggbeaters that is their own brand which I adore. Lowfat yogurt. Low fat cheesesticks. Plus, ours has great fresh salsas. Oh my goodness, their fresh sweet onion salsa with Baked Tostitos (they don't sell those) is such a yummy treat. I tease my dh that I could drink the salsa.

They also have cheap milk, eggs, olive oil, real vanilla, etc. Lowfat sour cream, skim milk cottage cheese, the list goes on. I do like their Fit & Active brand a lot. They have these southwestern Hot Pocket type things that are vegetarian & DELISH. And they have these whole grain wraps that are my dh's favorite.

I would say I do almost all my major shopping at Aldi's. I only get things I have coupons for at the other stores & the things I can't get at Aldi's, like bread. I'm not crazy about their bread selection so I try to go to a discount bread place 15 min. away once a month & stock up.

It took me awhile to figure out what to buy there. At first I probably spent $35.00 a week there. But they've been here two years now and I would say I spend $60.00 of my weekly $100.00 budget there.

Ask me questions if you have them.

Also, just a note, I live in the poorest county in Ohio & our Aldi's has lots of wonderfully healthy choices (as I pointed out.) I think the way it works, is that stores stock what is being bought. So if they aren't selling produce, it probably wasn't being purchased and they were throwing away too much of it to make it profitable to keep stocking. I've been to several Aldi's in Columbus, Oh & other states & they all have produce & lean meats & brown rice just like my local one.

 

[crisi]

They seem to vary a lot in quality. Here they are gross - dirty, grey meat, rotting produce. I'd buy carrots, peppers, etc. for the guinea pigs there - but I wouldn't feed my family that.

 

[C.Ann]

Aldi's has literally saved me thousands of dollars over the years.. I shop there every chance that I get.. The one closest to my place here at the lake is a "hike", so I try to go only when I really want to stock up on things..

I love their produce - always fresh and priced way below the competitors - and the savings on bread products are quite significant..

There is only one Aldi's that I won't shop in anymore (near my DD's former home).. It's not because of the store or the products - it's the neighborhood itself.. Very creepy and scary! Luckily I don't have to go there anymore because DD moved in 2006, so there would be no point in traveling way out of my way to the old Aldi's..

I think the only thing I have found in Aldi's that I don't care for is their potato chip products..

I say "give it a try".. Either you'll like it or you won't..

 

[ZPT1022]

Ok, I'll admit my real problem with Aldi's, although it's not 100% (or even 60%) Aldi's fault.

We've been over that they tend to sell a lot of junk food already, and many people have mentioned that they cluster by WalMarts. Here, and elsewhere, they plant themselves in the middle of the lowest income neighborhoods. They're the only "real" grocery store that will go into these areas, aside from the farmer's markets, bodegas, and so on that can get going there if its more of an urban setting. The nearest Aldi's to us is the only source of food within walking or 15 minute bussing distance of a huge swathe of downtrodden folk in subsidized housing, besides for a few fast food chains. These people can't go anywhere else, and their options at Aldi's are so bad that lots of us on this thread have said we wouldn't get our regular groceries here.

Then we hear pundits blather on about "those people" and how they let their kids get obese. It's sad, it's complex, and I want them to sell some healthier, less processed foods in those neighborhoods so people have a fighting chance at better nutrition. Just being better than White Castle doesn't exactly thrill me. But it's their company, I can't dictate to them, and they still are better than the alternatives (though I've never seen so much as a head of lettuce in the nearest Aldi's, and that strikes me as odd since other Aldi's do sell produce). I manage to get better prices than Aldi's elsewhere, but I can take the time and drive somewhere to do it. Not everyone can.

The closest Aldi to us is in a business district- sandwiched between a bowling alley and a strip mall that has a garden center, a medical office and I believe a few other things, and as previously mentioned, near DD's orthodontist.

I do agree that it is sad that poorer people tend to feed themselves and their children more processed foods but I don't really blame Aldi. Even if you have a regular grocery store or a Super Walmart or something, the processed stuff is still cheaper.

I can afford to feed my kids mostly whole grains and veggies (we're not big meat eaters) and save the processed stuff for every once in a while or limited to things like oatmeal packets and a few lunchbox snacks. Not everyone has those means though and if you only have a few bucks left for groceries after paying other bills, you are going to try to make that stretch with cheap calories, which tend to be on the junky side. Unfortunately, it's cheaper to buy a box of ring dings than a bag of apples.

And honestly, and sorry OP for the major hijack here, but I think things like the school lunch program, don't really set a good example. My kids are currently going to a magnet school in our state capitol- they applied as suburban transfer students because the school has a lot of great programs. When I went in to set up lunch accounts for the kids like we had at our old school- good for days we ran out of time in the morning or they liked the entree- I found out that due to the amount of poverty in the area the entire school was on free lunch. I guess if you have a certain amount of kids eligible the whole school gets free lunch and breakfast. It's good and it's a nice way to make sure that some of those kids that might not otherwise get two meals a day get fed, but my goodness, the meals are not balanced. So for those kids who those may be their only two or best two meals, they're not a good example and they're not that healthy either. I didn't mean to go off on a rant, just trying to say that there is a lot more at play than just grocery stores. And yes, I do agree with you that it's a sad cycle.

FWIW, our Aldi carries produce but we haven't had the best luck with it lasting long. I do much better at farmer's markets, farm stands, BJ's and Whole Foods. But at least it is there, although it would be discouraging if that were the only place I went and my produce went bad so quickly

 

[bavaria]

There is very little produce (and very little bread) at ALDI in Germany, because we go to the produce store/stand and the bakery for those things. Maybe that is just something that isn't high on their list in America, because in much of the rest of the world it isn't that common to have a lot in the grocery store.

 

[bavaria]

By the way, the name of the store is ALDI - for Albrecht Discount (except for in Austria and Slovenia and a few other places where it is Hofer)

It isn't 'Aldi's' or even 'Aldi' the way that it is common on this website.

Just a point of spelling from an ESL poster!

 

[MsDisney23]

I went to Aldi's today, and mine is located in a great part of town. I picked up produce, some baking items, Heresey's candy, including Reese's Cup, brown sugar, walnuts, oatmeal, saltine crackers, pork chops just to name a few. Anyway my bill was $25.04 I could have never gotten that much food in a regular food store for what I paid at Aldi's.

Yes, like some have said, I am not a fan of their chips, cheese, yogurt, etc. You have to try different items to see what you like. It pays to be a good shopper and know your prices.

I also picked up a pound of their ham today. DH like it a lot, I tasted it and it was very good, I was surpised to be honest, it was not salty and was very lean. This comes from a very picky eater... me!

 

[AntePrincess]

I never understand the criticisms of people on stores that sell processed foods. ALL grocery stores sell processed food. With the exception of maybe Whole Foods, but how would I know since there isn't one near me? I don't say, "I don't shop at Kroger's, they sell Kraft macaroni & cheese." This particular thing of dismissing Aldi's because of the processed food really does confuse me.

I'm not dismissing them for selling processed foods, or even especially blaming them. If I recall correctly, I said that I wished they'd offer more in the way of staples and produce, but that I was grateful someone was being an alternative to White Castle. The issue here is not the processed foods, it's the lack of options. How can you say "just don't buy the processed stuff" to someone whose two options are a) the Aldis I described where there's no produce or b) a fast food chain? Throw on top of that the fact that these people are castigated for having overweight children in our current atmosphere of food Puritanism. ("These people," for the record, are my friends and neighbors.) I'd have overweight children too if my options were the Aldi like mine, or the one like Crisi and other posters where the produce is dicey at best, and my neighborhood were scary enough, like a different PP's Aldi's environs, that I would be frightened to let them out to play.

I figure you and I, with our internet connections and leisure time to discuss this, do have options besides processed foods, so it would make sense to tell me to just not buy it (and I take that advice, actually), but not the single mother next door with two jobs and no car.

I'm glad to hear that other Aldis are nicer than this one and the one or two others I've seen. It's interesting to hear that the model at these Aldi's reflects their German origins. That's sort of how I shop: farmer's market or farm for meat, dairy, and produce, fish market for fish, and warehouse store or old fashioned co-op for bulk things like canned foods, grains, nuts, flours, and so on.