Tell me about ALDI'S

[lemondog]

The ALDI near me is very clean and well organized. Everything I have ever bought there is very good, with the exception of produce. Much of it is "older" hence the cheaper costs, and rots faster. My ALDI takes cash and debit cards. If you're looking to save some money on groceries it's definitely worth a trip, especially for things like pantry staples (flour, sugar, oil, etc.) canned veggies, dairy, etc.

 

[xominnieox2]

We've had Aldi stores by us for some years(atleast 10 that I can remember). When they first came in our area, they used buildings that were already there. Some were pretty dirty, but when they built a new Aldi the facility was clean, bright, and well organized.
We do all of our weekly shopping there! We have 5 hungry kids, so we need to stretch our budget. I think the quailty of the food is great. They also have a double guarantee, replace product and give you your money back.
Bring a quarter for the cart, which you'll get back, some bags and cash or debt card and you're good to go! (or you could use the boxes from the store or buy bags)

 

[bjgrazi]

I've been in a few they were all dirty and gross. Last year we went to the one in Middletown, NY and my husband walked out saying he'd never walk in one again.

 

[budbeerlady]

Everyone on here loves it.

I went once. NEVER AGAIN. Dirty and disorganized...... I don't want to shop at Dirty stores!

Our store is really gross also. But so is the Walmart, there can be good and bad ones!

 

[cbrfan]

I don't shop at the Aldi's in our town. I think their store and their produce smell like mildew! But DD shops there every week. To each his own.

 

[happycampers]

Even though there are some mixed reviews on produce, I'd definately check it out. Hopefully, yours will be one of the good ones. The produce I get at my Aldi is better than the local produce stand. I've had 2 boxes of strawberries in the fridge, one from Aldi purchased first, one from the stand purchased more recently. The ones from the "fresh fruit market" were rotting by the next day, but the ones I got at my Aldi were still great. I just make sure and inspect the produce before I put it in my cart. I haven't had the best luck with pre-bagged apples at Aldi, but that seems to be the case anywhere around here so I go for the individual ones.

 

[Hedy]

For those of you curious, Aldi's was on unwrapped on food network last night.
None in MA yet, but there are a couple of new ones in RI. I'm curious to try them.

 

[Dashzap]

I don't shop Aldis due to the small scale or unknown sources of the food since we have allergies and need to keep up on recalls and cross contamination issues.

 

[las3888]

I shop at Aldi's on occasion. It's not super-close for me and I often need things (diet Coke, certain type of cheese or whatnot) that they just don't carry so it isn't a regular trip for me. I do like to make quick trips there for general stuff. I always save a lot of money when I go. I find their store brands are comparable to store brands anywhere else I go.

Our store is not dirty. Our store does offer bags for purchase...I think it's .05 for paper and .10 for nicer plastic bags. The stores are not very large. It makes shopping go by really fast.

I would definitely give it a try...let us know what YOU think!!!

 

[JJMom93]

We don't shop there, due to the terrible quality of the meat (bought rotten meat there more than once) and the produce.

The quality overall of the food they sell there is terrible ~ there's a reason why it's so cheap.

 

[SamIAm21]

I have three Aldi stores in my area, south suburban Chicago, and all three are wonderful. Clean, bright, and the only thing I have had from there that I absolutely would never buy again is their Applewood Farm ribs. They are heat and eat and tasted like dog food. Besides that, I have never ever had anything from Aldi's that was bad or poor quality. Their ground hamburger rocks! The fresh pork chops are very good as well. I cannot tell their breakfast cereals apart from name brand. The produce is pretty standard, nothing outside the ordinary, but they are always fresh and snappy. I will more often see rotten strawberries at Jewel or Dominicks, but they will be fresh at Aldi. The low prices causes a quick turnover. Nothing good sits there for long!

They have a new line of Italian foods that is really good. One of the red sauces is a big hit with my husband because it's very red-peppery. For garbage bags, paper plates, paper towels, even toilet paper or kleenex, you really can't beat this place!! Those are things that I am not that finicky about.

I'm an Aldi-Lover and now when I have to shop at regular grocery stores, it just kills me! I hate paying them that money. I spend $100 at Aldi and walk out with two weeks worth of food. Spend $100 at Jewel and you might have two meals worth! Ugghh. I feel so used when I pay full price!

 

[Chelley00]

We don't shop there, due to the terrible quality of the meat (bought rotten meat there more than once) and the produce.

The quality overall of the food they sell there is terrible ~ there's a reason why it's so cheap.

I think it totally depends on your Aldi. We have two close by that are newer, one not so close. The one farther from us is a pigsty, the meat sits for days and always looks green and the carrots are always in bags that are full of liquids. The newest one near me is great. I made beef burgandy the other night and my husband commented on how great the beef was - not tough or chewy. It was from Aldi's. Sometimes I'll get meat and produce there, depending on what looks good. If it looks bad that week, I'll go to the local grocery chain on my way home.

 

[LorlovesStitch]

Hey LisaNJ25 in Dover and wdwaholic in Randolph--------I am in Rockaway Township!! I'm also looking forward to Aldi's opening up! Where is the Trader Joe's supposed to be opening around here? I would LOVE that! I also used to work in Florham Park and would go alot. Now that I work in Dover, I don't get to go down that way much! One locally would be awesome!

 

[momof1princess]

we have a relatively new aldi's (open less than a year) and the store is clean, well-lit and very organized. you have to take a GOOD look at the produce before you buy it, but they have many other great bargains-milk is 1.99/gallon at our aldi's right now (usually 2.99 which is still CHEAP!) and i can buy baking items much cheaper. DH and DD LOVE their cookies, but DH wasn't thrilled w/ their "GT Cola". it can be hit & miss, but when you get a hit, you save a good bit of money!

 

[musclemouse]

Unfortunately our closest ALDI is 30 miles away. So I don't go so much anymore. But I would do the majority of my grocery shopping there and finish off at Meijer. But HONESTLY their food is really really good. The meat is beautiful (i know, dorky i am...but it's such good quality), they offer items (popular brands) for a limited time. My husband and kids have mentioned that they love the ALDI brands better. They also have a healthier brand called Fit and Active. It's all very very yummy. I can't complain about anything other than they recently discontinued my Fit and Active muesli cereal

Love it!

 

[C.Ann]

I'm a big Aldi's fan.. Unfortunately, the closest one up here at the lake isn't "close" at all, so I have to wait until I have a good size list and then really stock up..

The first Aldi's I ever went to was near my former home.. Absolutely spotless (even the rest rooms); well laid out; and terrifc bargains.. At that time, my late DH had to have a banana every day.. They were 24 cents a lb. at Aldi's -as high as 89 cents a pound at the chain supermarkets.. Potatoes were much cheaper - and I never came across a rotten one in the bag (something that frequently happens at the traditional markets).. All fresh produce was cheaper - in excellent shape - and cost far less than the traditional markets..

Baking is a favorite hobby of mine and the ingredients to do so are at least50% less at Aldi's..

I use a lot of evaporated canned milk (in my coffee) and buying it for 49 cents a can in Aldi's - as opposed to $1.09 (and up) in the traditional markets - saved me a bundle right there.. (When I do get to Aldi's I will buy 24 to 36 cans at a time..)

Have never had a problem with rotten meat - or anything even close to it.. Milk is cheaper - eggs are cheaper - and most all of their dairy products are cheaper - unless one of the traditional stores is running a "draw-you-in-sale"..
(Once you're there, they make up the difference in the higher cost of other items..) My late DH worked in the supermarket industry for years and it's a common trick that they use..

Since I moved from my former area, there are now two other Aldi's that I frequent whenever I can.. Both are very clean and very well organized..

It could be a "hit or miss" thing, but I have found that there is such a quick turn around on food at Aldi's (due to the huge savings) nothing really has a chance to get soggy, moldy, stale, or go "bad"..

I have quite a few sturdy canvas bags that I bring to pack my groceries in - as well as some extra plastic bags I tuck inside of them "just in case"..

When I shop at Aldi's my cart is always filled to overflowing and the most I think I have ever paid is $86.. A few months ago (when things were cheaper than they are now) my DGD and I went shopping at a traditional supermarket (Aldi's was already closed).. We had 2 carts of groceries and it cost me over $450!!!!!!!

'Nuff said.. I'll shop Aldi's whenever I can..

 

[simonkodousek]

I agree with the other posters about being careful with the meats and produce. Some of the produce is good, but plan to eat it within three days of purchasing it because most of the time, Aldi's produce is a bit "older" than other stores'. I do not buy meat there because of the strange hot-pink look to the beef.

 

[Took]

Our Aldi's is yucky--dirty, noisy, smelly. I just shop at Kroger with store brands and coupons and do almost as well, plus it's much nicer in my town. However, MIL loves her Aldi's and shops there frequently. I do know, for any of you that this might matter to, that's it's a very anti-union chain. For some, that could be an issue (one way or another). They do offer good wages but only part-time employment for the most part.

Took

 

[Plantlady]

I love aldi.

Just love it.

Not only do they have cheap groceries, they have very fancy yummy chocolate!

 

[julezdisney]

I love Aldi. Try it out- it's hit or miss. After shopping there a # of times- you'll find what products work out well for you, and what items you will remain true to your other stores for. In order to get the best deals- you have to shop around! But for the staples of any household- it can't be beat- that's for sure.