Opinions on Aldi??

[thomas998]

Aldi's is great for most things... The only things that are bad are the following:

You have to put put a deposit in to use the shopping carts.

You have to remembe to bring your own bags.

The lines can be very long sometimes because they try to understaff cashiers.

You have to read carefully on the frozen dinner type things... I remember getting some teriyaki chicken there once and finding to my surprise that the majority of the weight of the item was in the frozen sauce... You have to read the ingredients carefully when it lists sauces before the meat in something you know right there that you are not going to get much meat just a lot of gravy/sauce/filler.

 

[yoopermom]

I spend $200 there every two weeks, this is what I buy:
canned/frozen vegs
hamburger patties
precooked grilled chicken strips
all their Mexican products (made in a TX factory)
soups
rice/pasta/beans
cheeses (all of them, MUCH cheaper than our regular store)
milk/eggs
spices
cereal
frozen ravioli/meatballs
garlic bread

About the only I won't buy is their brand preprocessed canned stuff like pretend dinty moore, spaghettios, etc. We shouldn't be eating that stuff, anyways! You have to really pick and choose through the produce, but they tend to have high turnover so even though it sits out, it's still pretty fresh. I can usually find nonfood items cheaper elsewhere with a coupon.

Love my Aldis!
Terri

 

[punkin]

I have to 'fess up. I go there for the chocolate. Everything else is just because I am already there.

The Aldi's I go to also has quite a few "interesting" people, and while it is clean, it is just not laid out well and looks shabby.

 

[GoofyMomInOhio]

You will see a lot of products with the Kirkwood name on them and Costco's also carries Kirkwood food products. I have not had any problems with Adli's. They usually have good deals.

Costco sells Kirkland brand - not Kirkwood. They are not the same or related.

We love Aldi's. Between there and Costco we buy almost everything. Our Aldi's is always clean and the staff is friendly. My grocery bill has gone down alot since we started shopping there.

 

[Justthe8ofus]

My friend told me that we are getting one here in the Melbourne area soon I'm psyched!

ETA - I just found this Central FL store list on a hiring link:

Central Florida Store Locations
Altamonte Springs • Brandon • Clearwater • Daytona Beach • Lady Lake • Lakeland • Largo • Merritt Island • Ocala • Ocoee • Orlando • Oviedo • Pinellas Park • Plant City • Sanford • St. Cloud • St. Petersburg •Tampa • Titusville • Winter Park

Wow! I will have to keep my eye out. I did a search for them and nothing came up. Maybe they are still in the works.

 

[Justthe8ofus]

They just opened up a Sav-a-lot in Winter Garden which is almost the same as Aldi. I went there last weekend and saved soooo much money! It has the same checkout as Aldi, so don't forget your bags.

I think I will go check them out. I'm in Clermont. I have to bring the kids to the dentist in Winter Garden on Monday so I will stop on the way back. With gas the way it is I have to plan all drives. My closest food store (publix) is 20 mins away.

Where in Winter Garden is the sav-a-lot?

 

[donnabc]

Our Aldi's is GREAT. I try and go about once a week to see what all they have. Last time my best buy was a big bag of sweet potatoes (12 total) for $1.75! That's like the cost of just 2 at any other store here!

 

[C.Ann]

Love it.. Saves me a ton of money!

 

[chop456]

I shop Aldi, too! I have saved so much money by shopping there! I love their Fit and Active brand - yogurt, pudding, crackers, blue corn tortilla chips. Their "chex mix" is really good, too. I always go to Aldi first and then stop by a traditional grocery to fill in what Aldi did not have. Have fun!

 

[ohiojoy]

I love Aldi. Of course some of their products aren't the best but if you stick with the staples, things that are the same pretty much whoever makes them, you're safe. Even many of their other products are great too so be open minded and give it a whirl.

 

[jezebella]

I think I will go check them out. I'm in Clermont. I have to bring the kids to the dentist in Winter Garden on Monday so I will stop on the way back. With gas the way it is I have to plan all drives. My closest food store (publix) is 20 mins away.

Where in Winter Garden is the sav-a-lot?

It's right off 50, by the KMart shopping plaza. It's where Webb's Antique mall used to be. Next to the new appliance direct.

 

[CrazedDisFan]

Aldi is great for most things. We got a new store in our town last summer. We love it.

I find lots of great deals there. Also, for those of you in FL where they are building new stores, Aldi's pays above min. wage and I hear they are a good company.

We are lucky to have a grocery next to Aldi so I go to Aldi first for everything on my list, then head next door to get the rest of what I need. I find I save a LOT doing my shopping this way.

Things that are permanent fixtures on the Aldi grocery list:

*

• cranberry chocolate trail mix
• cottage cheese
• chips of all types
• sour cream
• shredded cheeses
• bacon wrapped turkey medallions (great on grill)
• stuffing (like stove top only more flavor)
• Mexican products - all we've tried have been great
• rice
• italian bread
• sundae cones (caramel or cudge center 6/1.99
• olive oil (EXCELLENT quality )
• brownies
• chocolate chips
• flour, sugar, powedered sugar and brown sugar are all wonderful for baking

Our store has good quality produce, but I compare prices between the reg. store ad and Aldi. Some weeks I can get berries and grapes cheaper at the bigger store.

 

[Justthe8ofus]

It's right off 50, by the KMart shopping plaza. It's where Webb's Antique mall used to be. Next to the new appliance direct.

Sweet! That is right where the dentist is lol. Thanks!!

 

[AnninIowa]

Aldi's seem to vary a lot in cleanliness and things like quality of produce. I used to go to one occationally that was dirty and in an uncomfortable neighborhood. About the only thing I'd get there was lettuce and carrots for the guinea pigs - but the reason I'd stop was it was on my way and the prices on that were fantastic. There is one out in the burbs a different direction I pass - and that one is clean and fairly pleasant.

I don't shop there, we buy most of our food local/organic and or whole now - so Aldi's isn't carrying what I'm buying.

Does Aldi carry any organics?