Aldi: Low Price Grocery Champ

I'm always on the lookout for low price groceries. Usually that means I shop at Walmart and Costco. Recently gave ALDI's a chance and was very impressed. They are least 20% below WalMart on average. Aldi's business model cuts costs to the bone and passes on the cost savings to the shopper. The store is small - easy to get in and out in 30 minutes. They carry house brands only, one item per category. No credit cards accepted - debit is OK. You pay extra for bags and you have to put a quarter into the shopping cart to use it and get it back when you turn it in. I was really impressed with their produce dept - its all fresh, unlike WalMart's produce which is awful.

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Comments:

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You're absolutely right. Aldi's is the key to low cost shopping. They are run by the same people who own the popular Trader Joes supermarket chain.

I make Aldi's my first stop on my weekly grocery shopping trip. I typically pay 40-50% less on produce. Their dairy prices and canned food prices are also really cheap.

You can't do all of your shopping at Aldi's because they carry fewer items. Aldi�s typically carries 1300 items compared to the nearly 30,000 items carried at a typical supermarket.

But what you can buy at Aldi's is much cheaper than conventional supermarkets and even cheaper than Walmart.

Posted by Charlie-paylessforfood.com on February 05, 2009 12:05 AM

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I think all stores should charge for the bags used, might get people to use less bags! Ikea has been doing this and has cut down significantly on waste. Sadly, no Aldi's near me.

Posted by anonymous on February 05, 2009 1:59 PM

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I love Aldi. But there are a few choice products that I prefer most. I try to steer clear of some sections. Sometimes their produce is a little on the verge of spoiling. Sometimes their meats have additives that are questionable. I do love their business model.
Favorite items:
Peanuts Walnuts Generic cereal canned sardines toilettries condiments burger/hot dog buns chicken/beef stock
Special items:
Root beer, Sony DVD player ($40!), unsuccessful name brand products

Posted by Jabez on February 06, 2009 12:58 PM

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It is interesting that trader joe's and Aldi's are owned somewhat closely. but they are not owned by the same person or entity. At least per Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldi There were apparently two brothers who had a split many years ago. The company with Aldi's in the USA is with one brother and Trader Joe's is with a trust of the other brother.

The article is good reading. Especially about how 95% of Blue Collar Germans shop there in the country where it started. It really is an international store. And if you know European wines, you can see that in the selections in the USA as one example. And they do now sell some brand names, but I bet they negotiated a price reduction from the vendor to allow the vendor to build its brand on sales in their stores rather than building the Aldi brand and trademark with a private label sale.

Posted by Mike on February 06, 2009 5:43 PM

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I had never heard of Aldi's until I read an article about them a few months ago in the NY Times called "The Allure of Plain Vanilla". I found one 25 miles from my house and have become an avid fan. Aside from my agreement with the above posters comments, I've found their body lotion and body wash are top shelf (and low priced). I bought 120 count baby aspirin (81mg.) for $1.49, tall kitchen trash bags (.9 mil) 30 for $2.49, German-made moisterizer ($4.99) and eye cream ($3.99). What a find!

Posted by anonymous on February 09, 2009 4:36 PM

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I love Aldis! I save so much shopping there! Some people I know won't shop there because they carry "generic" brands, but I'll tell you the products I get there are just as good or better than name brands.

Also they have a Fit And Active brand now so you can eat healthy and it's affordable! I think my favorite thing to get there is the bagged frozen chicken breasts- I just take what I need out of the bag to thaw for dinner. I usually get about 3 meals (for a family of 4) out of one bag for about 6 bucks!

Posted by Nae on February 10, 2009 10:55 AM

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I love Aldis. I go there for their milk a gallon of 2% at 1.99! Their chocolate bars are delicious! I also, get my bananas there! Their deli meats and cheese are wonderful, I also buy their multi grain bread, my husband actually likes it! I make Aldis my first stop of the week!

Posted by anonymous on February 11, 2009 11:32 AM

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I have never heard of them and there happens to be one less than 20 miles from me. I'm going to check it out tomorrow. Thanks so much.

Posted by Susan H on February 13, 2009 11:14 AM

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I started shopping at Aldi last year and I love it.I do all my food shopping there,I am a no frills gal and if i cant get it there I don't need it.

Posted by Robbin on February 17, 2009 5:33 PM

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Aldi's produce and meat freshness must vary by location...ll

My nearest aldis is 45 minutes away. Its been a long time since I shopped there (used to when I worked practically across the street from it). their canned and dry goods were ok, but the meats and produce had a lot to be desired.

do they have their prices online now? would be nice if they do- I know all my local store prices and what coupons I have and if they double. would be nice to see if it would be worth the time and gas to drive all the way there....

Posted by randommusings on February 18, 2009 2:52 PM

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Aldis is the best store to go to and save almost double what you would pay at Walmart. I have not had one bad product from Aldis. I LOVE THIS STORE! It is hard to clip coupons when you can go here and usually save more w/o using coupons. Taste their German Chocolate!

Posted by amy on February 23, 2009 11:20 PM

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Aldi is great... I can't deny that, but I do most of my shopping at Save A Lot. I find it's actually cheaper.

Posted by Shosha on March 13, 2009 2:41 PM

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Aldi's and Angel Food Ministries [Look up on the computer} are the two best places for groceries. I save at least 25% because of those two sources alone. Try each twice and you will be hooked on a very good thing.

Posted by joyce on March 13, 2009 5:44 PM

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Yes Aldi's has some great products. There stewed tomatoes, and diced tomatoes are the best tasting. Also there sloppy joe mix is great. They have enlarged there products in our town,

Posted by Jan Eakins on March 13, 2009 8:16 PM

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If you go to Aldi's meal planner web site, they have recipes using Aldi products and you can even create your shopping lists online for those recipes.

Here is the site: http://www.aldimeals.com/

Posted by Tim on March 13, 2009 11:01 PM

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We just got Aldi where I live. I have tried items cautiously, trying items before stocking up. I have been 100% impressed with every item tried. Prices are noticably less expensive than Wal-Mart. Quality is OUTSTANDING! Dole fresh pineapple for .99, milk for 1.89, Driscoll's strawberries 1 pound for .99, unbelieveable!
I have tried ice cream, chicken nuggets, yogurt, pop-tarts, cookies, chips, oatmeal, cereal (1.89!!!), baby soap, cat litter, frozen pizza, and produce is top notch! (Wal-Mart's is horrible!)
The store is innaculately clean, and employees are friendly and helpful. I am a HUGE fan!

Posted by David McCurdy on March 13, 2009 11:21 PM

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I used to shop at Aldi's but I find with my coupons I can buy my stuff cheaper at the regular grocery stores. I do have one grocery store in our area that doubles coupons. They are high when things that are not on sale, but if you use coupons when things are on sale you can get them almost free. Around our area we have three to four grocery stores all in a five mile radius from my house so the grocery stores are always competing with one another. This makes it nice for the consumer!

Posted by anonymous on March 14, 2009 5:36 AM

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I have enjoyed shopping at Aldi's for a few years now. I buy most of my staple products there. Their 99 cent speghetti sauce is wonderful & thick. Eggs are usually a great price & their 1/2 gal of OJ at 1.79 is wonderful. The best part is if you aren't satisfied with any product, you can return it for double your money back, although, I haven't had to return anything, yet! Their spinach artichoke dip (freezer section) is great. Their stuffed rigatoni with mushrooms is wonderful. Potato chips & tortilla chips for around a $1. It is worth checking them out.

Posted by Barbara Klein on March 14, 2009 9:47 AM

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I think that Aldi's quality has really improved the past few years. Their produce and fresh fruits are #1 and cheaper than any other place. I use their trash bags, which are thicker and better (but cheaper) than other brands (even name brand), their toilet tissue and paper towels are comparable to Charmin or Bounty, frozen chicken and fish are excellent ETC. ETC. ETC. You can bring your own bags (I use Wal-Mart, other store bags, etc.) but they also have empty boxes you can have for free. Well, I use MOST things that Aldi's makes and we are very pleased. I just hope they expand to Lubbock, TX soon so that my Mom and Grandmother can take advantage of their great prices. We "loaded them up" with canned goods when they were here in the fall.

Posted by Diane Fowler on March 14, 2009 7:01 PM

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The aldi prices quoted are cheaper than the aldi in my area. Their products are tasty.

Posted by bill on March 15, 2009 1:53 PM

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I do love certain things at Aldi's like the chocolate and the Fit and Active brand. But items distributed don't say their country of origin. Where are all the Aldi items produced? Doesn't say and no one in the store knows. I like the prices and quality, I guess but I don't fancy buying foods made in China -- where are they made? The chocolates say Germany or Austria -- the cerals just say "distributed by Aldi's"..... from where??

Posted by Emily Kullman on March 17, 2009 8:02 AM

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I have never heard of Aldi's, however, I find Winco the cheapest place in town. As far as Trader Joe's is concerned, they are very expensive. I bring up TJ's due to the comment Posted by Mike on February 06, 2009 5:43 PM

Posted by Jeannie on March 17, 2009 10:58 AM

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I LOVE ALDI'S!!!!! My kids love the crackers and poptarts. I love the fact that thier prices are WONDERFUL!!!

And they even have a selection of toys, household items, and other non-food items. The one in my area even has clothes.

They have a freezer and fridge section. I can do almost all my grocery shopping there. They have the Aldi's brand and then in some items they have "name" brand as well. It really is a wonderful place to shop!!!

Posted by Misty on April 20, 2009 10:27 PM

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I recently lost my job. I had been going to Aldi's for the only meat my swimmer son would eat; ground turkey. At the freezer section in Aldi's you can buy the ground turkey in the tube for $1.19 a lb. That is an incredible staple that goes in all your ground beef recipes and is less in the cholesterol groups. I recently, while still unemployed, made all the food for my son's graduation party from Aldi's for $100!! We had over 50 guests and the left overs fed us for an entire week. Our menu was not the typical fare; we had a taco bar, chili, spaghetti with Turkey meatballs (the fit and active brand), a fruit salad, potato salad, a yogurt bar with fresh fruit and granola, a sheet cake I made from the Aldi's cake mix that everyone raved about, turkey ham and pineapple scewers (sorry, spelled wrong), a tangy lemon-limeade beverage we made from a recipe, home made cookies, and calico beans....all made from Aldi's products!! $100 to feed all those people plus leftovers for a week? who else can do that??? See, in this economy, there is a place to eat well and pay your bills even on a tight or non-existent budget.

Posted by Lisa in Naples, NY on July 31, 2009 9:21 PM

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