Tell me about Aldi

[KLAIT]

I am heading out of town and see there is an Aldis that I will stop in to see what it is about.

What are your recommendations of what is good?

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

I like to shop at Aldi's at least 2 times a month.
I buy all my staples...
canola oil, olive oil, flour, sugar, raisins (my DH and DS eat 4 boxes a month for snacks) vanilla,choc. chips, peanut butter, granala bars, cereals, oatmeal, poptarts, catsup, lt mayo, pickles, chips (baked potato chips, cheese curls, wheat tortilla chips) This is just what I buy in the first row

I love the Hearty 12 Grain bread, mini bagels and vanilla almond cereal. If you try something and do not like it they will give you your money back with no fuss.

 

[crazelion]

I love there cook chicken wings and there corn chips. If bring bag of these corn chips in the house they is gone in the matter of house. It not kids that eat them up it my mom. LOL I know sad. I how buy least 5 buys of corn chips just have some.

 

[MARCIAKAZ]

Aldi just came to my part of Texas. It's a small store, like a big Walgreen's or CVS, so easy to get in and out of. Mostly all the products are their own brands. The prices are great, and so far, I have liked all the products. I have bought many staples--eggs, milk, cheese, nuts, cereal...all good quality. My DH loves the frozen breakfast sandwiches, the ones like egg mcmuffins. Bring your reusable grocery bags, or you will have to pay a few cents each for theirs.

 

[ssawka]

I think it depends on where your at. The ones around here (D.C.) are pretty nasty!

 

[tinkarooni]

I would also point out that I used to shop there until I discovered many of the canned goods were processed or packaged in China, fruit I believe. If that is important to you make sure you read the labels.

Aside from this problem I will say that many of the products were tasty and you can't beat the pricing.

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

I would also point out that I used to shop there until I discovered many of the canned goods were processed or packaged in China, fruit I believe. If that is important to you make sure you read the labels.

I was told by a clerk that many American companies make their food She told me Ralston makes their cereals.

 

[eliza61]

In South Jersey Aldi's ran into a bit of legal problems, evidently they were taking poultry & ground beef that was past expiration dates and simply repackaging them with new dates. This was maybe 3 summers ago. Unfortunately I'm one of those consumers that once you lose me on a safety issue, it's very hard for me to go back, so I haven't shopped there in a while.
It may also be the reason why they have a huge maketing campaign going on in the SJ/Philly area, trying to win back the customers.

So I'll echo the previous poster in saying, if you shop there just super check the quality.

 

[gandycat]

Things I buy at Aldis: fresh fruit and vegetables, fresh mozzerella cheese, eggs, milk, some cereal, canola oil, sugar, flour, spices

You have to make sure you read the labels b/c lots of their products contain trans fat. My kids picked up chocolate chip cookies there once and I let them get them w/o checking. 3 g of trans fat for 2 cookies. I also don't buy their meat b/c of the repackaging issue, plus a lot of it is full of sodium soilution to keep it fresh longer.

But you can't beat a pineapple for .99! I've never bought strawberries there that didn't go bad in a day or two but we eat them fast, lol.

If you do a search on this forum, you will find lots of posts about Aldi, one very long one with people's suggestions.

 

[mrodgers]

I was told by a clerk that many American companies make their food She told me Ralston makes their cereals.

Making the product and packaging the product are 2 different things. It can be made in the US, but can be cheaper to ship to China for cheap packaging and poorer quality control in the packaging (read as possible contamination as well as less "fresh" because of the time to ship back and forth) for less than just packaging here. Also, how is some "cashier" going to know where the products are made at anyways. Management of companies will tell their employees anything and are rarely truthful.

 

[JB2K]

I was told by a clerk that many American companies make their food She told me Ralston makes their cereals.

I know for a fact Ralcorp manufactures Aldi's cereals (as I live in St. Louis and have a friend who works in Ralcorp's corpoate HQ).

In fact, you'd be surprised how many store-branded cereals Ralcorp makes...

 

[JB2K]

Making the product and packaging the product are 2 different things. It can be made in the US, but can be cheaper to ship to China for cheap packaging and poorer quality control in the packaging (read as possible contamination as well as less "fresh" because of the time to ship back and forth) for less than just packaging here. Also, how is some "cashier" going to know where the products are made at anyways. Management of companies will tell their employees anything and are rarely truthful.

Do you have proof of this?? Perhaps an article from a reputable source you can link to?

I'm not buying into this, because a few years ago, I took a tour of a well-known food packing plant (not Ralcorp, as stated in my PP), and I saw that company's brand being produced, along with a dozen different store brands.

And, it was right here in the U.S.A...

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

Do you have proof of this?? Perhaps an article from a reputable source you can link to?

I'm not buying into this, because a few years ago, I took a tour of a well-known food packing plant (not Ralcorp, as stated in my PP), and I saw that company's brand being produced, along with a dozen different store brands.

And, it was right here in the U.S.A...

I have also seen the Reiter Dairy delivering the dairy products.

 

[mrodgers]

Do you have proof of this?? Perhaps an article from a reputable source you can link to?

Proof of what? That's it's possible like I said? I didn't say they "do", I said they "could".

The statement was said that "many American companies make their food". I stated that "Making the product and packaging the product are 2 different things." They are. It can be made in the US and loaded onto ships and sent to China to package. Completely possible, not that I said they do this. It is possible.

 

[MarilIncredible]

The only Aldi stores I have been in were ghetto to say the least, and in cruddy neighborhoods. Not worth saving a few cents on a few items, IMHO.

 

[hffmnheidi]

Fresh fruit and veggies really save on the budget. Noodles and tomato sauce are another great find and the noodles are made by a name-brand company and just put in the Aldi's brand box. I know Food Network airs an Aldi special.

Just remember to bring your own bags so you don't have to buy them there or splurge on their 1.99 large cloth bags-you can sure stuff a lot of groceries into one of their large bags.

 

[Minniemama350]

The only thing I haven't liked was the meat. We bought hamburger patties. They taste fine, but what would have looked to be a quarter pounder came out like a Krystal burger almost. Everything else has been great. They have chips made in olive oil and salted with sea salt! I LOVE them and haven't seen them elsewhere.

 

[tinkarooni]

Do you have proof of this?? Perhaps an article from a reputable source you can link to?

I'm not buying into this, because a few years ago, I took a tour of a well-known food packing plant (not Ralcorp, as stated in my PP), and I saw that company's brand being produced, along with a dozen different store brands.

And, it was right here in the U.S.A...

I don't think that you were responding to me however the "proof" that the canned fruit was from China was that the label said so. Now it's been about 2 years since I bought any but that is certainly what they said than. I am also certain that there are probably some Made in USA products but the canned fruit was from China.

 

[Beckypooh1972]

I used to think Aldi was a better value but now I'm not as much of a regular shopper since they increased their prices a couple of years ago (canned veggies that might have been 49 cents went up to 69 cents, etc). I really like the taste of Kroger store brand products a lot more and Aldi's really only runs about 10 cents cheaper on stuff like sour cream, cheese, eggs, canned goods so to me it isn't worth going out of my way to get since I can't find everything I need there - they are a bit limited in their selection. I will pick up tossed salad, eggs and milk if I happen to be in the area and buying their frozen chicken breasts which are great to cook from frozen on the grill. Most of their products - I'd rather buy the store brand, Walmart, Kroger, Meijer, etc. If they were closer for me I'd probably buy the basics there more often. Not a fan of their meat selection either - prices aren't better than what I can get on sale at my regular grocery store.

 

[Girlie1]

Remember:
1. Bring your own bags;
2. you need a quarter for the cart (which you get back when you return the cart; and
3. No credit cards

I was very skeptical of Aldis when they first opened. I figured I would give the store a try when it was fresh and new.

Now I go once a week and buy milk, eggs, cheese, fruit, veggies, oil, sugar, frozen veggies, etc.

Tried their hot dogs and ground beef - not a fan of either.

I am very picky about my produce and I found that they have very good quality at the store in my area (the only one I have ever been to)

Can't hurt to go once and give it a try.