Tell me about ALDI...

[gemjoy]

I pick up some items at Aldi... not everything. But I've found a few items that my family loves ~
I love their small pork tenderloin roast... fresh, not frozen and it's delicious!
string cheese for the kids
fresh bags of baby spinach are as much as $1.00 less than other stores!!!
milk, eggs, chocolate chips
they sometimes have a thin crust "veggie lite pizza" with lots of fiber that was awesome ~ nice and crispy...but you can't always find it.

 

[mrsmagic]

I started shopping at Aldi this summer, thanks to this board, and I love it! It has made a HUGE difference in our grocery budget, and I actually look forward to shopping there. It is very liberating to shop in a smaller store, and to not have spend time deciding if you have a coupon for something, or what is the best deal based upon brand/size... I also spend less because it isn't a supercenter type store with lots of other items.

One helpful thing is a list they have in the front of the store with all of their products and prices. I pick one up each time and use it to make a shopping list for the next time. I'm trying to make a big trip there every 2 weeks, and fill in with a few things at a store closer to home in between.

We have found the quality to be very good overall. We love their bran flakes (hold up great with milk), the fit and healthy caramel rice cakes are fabulous, dill havarti cheese is very yummy... And their $2.50 winking owl chardonnay is good (we also liked the cabernet but didn't like the merlot)! Sometimes I think I convince myself that something inexpensive is good because I want it to be (does that make sense?) but these products are truly good. You're always going to find some things you don't like at any store, but Aldi does guarantee your money back if you don't like something.

I think if you're open-minded about brands, and also realize that it doesn't look like a "fancy store", you'll like it. Sometimes the check-out lines appear long, but the cashiers are the fastest I've ever seen. I actually like bagging my own groceries, because I can group it the way I put it away at home.

The 25 cent cart rental cracks me up! It amazes me that it only takes 25 cents to get people to put their cart back. I wish all grocery stores would do that (you know how frustrating it is to start to pull into a parking space and realize someone left their cart there?)

Enjoy!

 

[maelcu]

Aldi wine is E & J Gallo. My hubby is a rep for Gallo, everytime we go to Aldi he just shakes his head. Aldi's orders count toward his numbers but he doesn't get the commision on them.

We have been shopping there for years.

 

[nuke]

I have to agree that the Animal Crackers are absolutely delicious! They taste like the McDonaldland cookies that I used to get years ago.

 

[Tinkerbelle32]

I guess I'm the only one who doesn't like Aldi's. I personally think their food is very bland.(Cream of Mush soup,etc.). Also their produce tends to be bad and spoils soon after purchase. I used to be an asst. manager there years ago. I do like their bagels though. Give it a shot and see what you think.

 

[MELSMICE]

I have to agree that the Animal Crackers are absolutely delicious! They taste like the McDonaldland cookies that I used to get years ago.

I think those cookies are one of their best products. They taste just like those "Barnum" ones - at least that's what I call them.

Also, someone mentioned the pork tenderloin. It's fabulous. I put 2 of them in a crock pot in the morning with a bottle of bbq sauce & by dinner time we are eating pulled pork sandwiches. We've had them numerous times for different things. My neighbors, parents, sisters, brothers, DH & DD's, along with friends all love them!!!!!

 

[Todd&Copper]

I only went to one Aldi's, in Brick, NJ when visiting my grandmother, and I wasn't impressed. I thought it was old and dingy, and their prices were not really any better than I get at regular grocery stores following sales/using coupons. I think some stores are better than others, though, kind of like Shoppers Food Warehouse here in the DC area - some are complete dumps and some are pretty good.
Interesting aside - the same company that owns Aldi also owns Trader Joe's.

 

[curlybop]

I love ours!

Everything I've purchased so far has been wonderful. I don't remember anyone mentioning my favorite purchase there:

Aldi's brand of Oreos.

.99/pack, and they are the closest to real thing I've ever had - and I'm a big time Oreo snob. I usually buy 3 packs at a time, since DH loves them even more than I do.

 

[CathrynRose]

ALDI's has my absolute favorite BY FAR favorite - Diet Cola. $1.89 a 12 pk. And it's better than Diet Coke, Pepsi - any of them.

 

[smiller]

I am a huge Aldi's fan! I grew up shopping at Aldi's, so that helps--fond memories of racing down the aisles in the cart with my dad and collecting empty boxes to take hom the groceries in (did anyone mention you have to buy your grocery bags? I try to remember to bring a few). Shh - I also used to run along the counter where you pack your groceries, back in the day before they had all those warning signs!

Another aside: Aldi's is a German company, so you can get some great German items that would normally cost an arm and a leg at a specialty store. They have good chocolate year round, but come out with noodles, white asparagus, and other special goodies occasionally.

I do just about all of my shopping at Aldi's. Fortunately, I can walk there in about 10-15 minutes. I maybe go to the big-name grocery store chain once a month (often every other month). Back to Aldi's. Here is a sampling of what I buy:

Raisin bran, triple berry toasted Os, chocolate chips, cake mix, frosting, brownie mix, baking soda, flour, sugar, salt, olive oil, corn oil, canola oil, salt/pepper grinders, artichokes, black olives, green olives, maraschino cherries, hot chocolate mix, chocolate syrup, mustard, ketchup, pickles, milk, eggs, cheese (lots of kinds), fresh oj, half & half, lunchmeat, tortillas, sour cream, cream cheese, bread, brown rice, pasta, tuna, all sorts of canned veggies and fruit (love the tomoato products and the potatoes), spaghetti sauce, parmesan cheese, all ziploc baggies, plastic wrap, foil, etc., garbage bags, kleenex, toilet paper, paper towels, q-tips, shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion, vitamins, toothbrushes and toothpaste, baby wipes, carrots, celery, potatoes, onions, grapes, grapefruit, lemons, limes, cranberry juice, frozen chicken tenderlons, frozen ground beef, frozen oj, frozen veggies, chocolate, Tyson chickens (the kind you microwave), spiral-sliced ham, peanuts, raisins, cooking spray, peanut butter, jam, vinegar, bullion, multi-colored peppers, zucchini.

There are also a lot of snack items such as chips and "little debbie"-style treats. I haven't tried most of thier frozen items. I also don't care for their deodorant or mayonnaise.

Have fun at the Aldi's! I think the best part is taking your receipt to the big-name grocery store, comparison shopping, and seeing how much you saved!

 

[Zoemakes5]

We just got an Aldi's here this spring. I LOVE it. The first time I went, I had an overflowing cart and spent $69. DH didn't understand why I was so excited, so we went together, we brought $100, and we were only at $89, so he went back and bought three more pkg's of corn dogs!

Things I like and think is a good buy:
go-gurt like treat
milk
eggs
sugar smacks (generic)
shreadded wheat (generic)
canned fruit
canned veggies (as another poster said, .35 per can!)
pkg. cookies (choc. chip and oreo like--.99)
lg. bag egg noodles
instant rice
soft water salt--2.99 per bag
tri-color peppers, pkg of 4-1.89
hot dogs and hamburger buns .69
mini corn dogs 1.99
fast frozen pork chops
meat balls
ice cream sandwiches 1.99
orange soda and root beer 1.99/12 pk.
Terriaki sauce
croutons
sugar
brown sugar
marshmallows
cheese
3 lb bag of bannanas, .33

Almost everything is generic, but there have only been a couple of items that I haven't liked. Even the ketchup, which I'm usually very picky about, was really good, and only .99!

 

[faith]

I like Aldi's prices! Their toothbrushes come 2 in a pack for $1.19, facial cleansing cloths .99, good "kleenex", paper towels, garbage bags, great spaghetti sauce, their brand of Fritos are yummy, like their blue corn nacho chips, salsa,... well you get the point. Good prices and good quality items. Don't forget to use their 100% satisfaction gaurantee if you do find something you don't like. I found a really nice, soft Michigan (U of M) blanket there two weeks ago for one of the grandsons. The quality is top notch. I only paid $17.99. It was a weekly special item, not something they normally carry. I have to drive more miles than to my normal grocery store , but worth stocking up. I should say the grandkids do not like any of the canned pasta products.

 

[staceyfe]

Here's a tip for taking your own grocery bags: stuff the plastic sacks you get at Wal-mart or the grocery store into an empty tissue box. You'll always have plenty of sacks, 'cause you can really stuff in a lot!

Also, about the cream soups, I always use cream soups in a recipe, and can't tell a difference between Aldi's brand and Campbell's.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

Just bring your own bags and a quarter for the shopping cart (refundable when you return it to the bunch). I always seem to forget the quarter..

I never bring in my own bags. (nothing wrong with that though) I always just grab a couple boxes out of their freezer section and use them. I try to find comparable sized boxes, and put one box over the other. It keeps the food cold in a hot car longer that way, and I think its easier to carry in a big box of groceries than several bags. JMHO. Im a guy, and ladies might think otherwise. Besides, I never could remember to bring bags!

 

[chop456]

I've been going to Aldi recently and like the Fit and Healthy brand. The yogurt is only 33 cents! It had become a game for me to see how little I can spend to get so much! Oh yeah, the trail mix bars are great!

 

[BeccaGrace]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have an Aldi near us that I've never visited...I was tempted after the thread a few months back about it but still never went...but today I was literally driving right by, had some time to kill before dropping the kids off at school and had visions of all these great deals dancing in my head.

I LOVED it!

There were a lot more name brands than I expected, the Fit & Healthy items looked great, my kids loved all the choices (I even got them pajamas for under four dollars!) and everything we tried already was awesome!

I appreciated all the tips on what to know (no bags, quarter for the carts, cash/ATM only)...one more to add at least for ours (New Brunswick, NJ) is that you need a key for the bathroom and once the door shuts it locks (in our case with my 5 year old inside ...luckily the manager walked by right then and we got her out only slightly traumatized!

It's definitely my new favorite store and it will be even better to explore if I can get there without the kids in tow...I already saw a ton of things for my daughter's birthday party!

I just can't get over how great the prices were!!!! And the store was clean, well organized, easy to get through...I can't say enough good things! Thanks again Disers!

 

[OntFamily]

I love Aldi. I can't get all my groceries there, but I go there for staples like milk, eggs, cereal, crackers, cheese. They don't have name brands, but I think I have heard that some of their items are made by name brand companies, but just labeled different for Aldi. My favorite is the Peanut Butter Crunch cereal, but I also like their ice cream and their frozen french bread pizza. I eat healthy, can you tell?

I work for a company that manufactures name brand and store brand products. The store brand products are usually a different (lower) quality level than our name brand products.

 

[dznyacct]

I finally went to Aldi's today. I think what sold me was the post someone made that said that they were owned by the same company that owned Trader Joe's. I LOVE Trader Joe's! The closest one is an hour away and my sisters and I do a road trip to Indy every so often to get our "fix". I was very pleasantly surprised at Aldi's. I'm glad I was forewarned about the quarter for the shopping cart. I save all change for WDW, so I had to make sure I brought a quarter with me today . The chocolate bars are heavenly . I got my son one (OK, so I took a bite or two ) with almonds and he LOVED it. DH tried the dried apricots and thought they were mmmm. I tried the animal cookies. Yes, very McDonald's like indeed . I spent ~ $40 and got quite a few things. Thanks again for the encouragement.

 

[famofsix]

I have to agree that the Animal Crackers are absolutely delicious! They taste like the McDonaldland cookies that I used to get years ago.

We are big Aldi's fans too but watch out for the trans fat content in some of their food including the off brand ritz type cracker and the Animal Crackers.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Wow, wish we had this store in MA. Just looked, closest would be in CT, but they have 4 & they are all west of Hartford. Kind of far. Nothing else in New England that I can see.

I'll have to keep watch to see if they add any closer in CT.