Aldi’s

ryantt

So I’ve never been an Aldi’s shopper, but Sunday after church we needed a few items, so I stopped in the new one by my house.  All I can say is what the heck...boy was I wrong!! They had tons of good looking produce, fresh salsa, a nice selection of organic stuff and name brands.   Totally different than what I expected it to be like(was thinking save a lot), I’ll be going back.  

If you’ve got one of these in your area can you tell me if the produce always looks good or was this a fluke.  

WeberWho

My wife and I find some of their produce might not last or stay as fresh as other grocers. We still buy it but know to use it within a few days. 

We really like Aldi. We have no problem with any off brand names. It's not a grocery store replacement but a nice stop for certain items. 

Carhoch

They have a walnut bread that’s excellent 

alaskanassasin

love aldi but I don't like that I cannot get everything on my list in one stop

WeberWho

We really like their pancake mix. We served pancakes at the Midwest eggfest one year and had a taster rave about them. She said, "Where did you guys get that pancake mix?" Our response, "Aldi". You should have seen her disgusted face after finding out was Aldi. It was awesome!

ryantt

We bought some avocados, tomatoes, jalapeños and cilantro for nachos, all of it was good quality.  
@WeberWho I’m going to grab some of the pancake mix for the Blackstone.  

Carolina Q

ALDI is always my first stop, unless I know they won't have what's on my grocery list. As for produce, in general, I find that theirs doesn't last as long as that from my "traditional" grocery store. Brand names? Once in a while I find a few, but not often.

Pancake mix? I make my own. It's really little more effort, but mostly, it contains far less sodium. 

Botch

A more general comment, regarding "good-looking" produce.  
Best "looking" produce around here is at Target, but the best tasting produce is from the farmer's market, or the two dive groceries that try to buy locally.  The "organic" grocery on my way home, too, the produce doesn't look that good.  And yes, it spoils faster.  
The bigger, chain-style groceries buy produce that's bred to travel well, have great color, and uniform size; NOT necessarily taste better.  Its hard to determine the taste in the store, but try smelling the stem end of the veggie.  It's a pretty good indicator.  
FWIW.    

kl8ton

https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1216179/ot-aldis

Discussed a while ago. Not even sure this is the aldi thread I remember.   I like @The Cen-Tex Smoker fun facts

GregW

Nothing wrong with Aldi, They are really coming on strong in my area. The selection is not as good as Publix, but for the better prices, I can adapt.

Botch

Oh, and kinda related.  Standard supermarket "fresh" tomatoes, year-round, suck.  They now have "vine-ripened" tomatoes in many places, which look much more red and are even "still on the vine"!  So perfectly spaced, it's almost scary.  They taste marginally better.  But, the cherry and grape tomatoes that come in small containers, taste pretty damn good, even thru the winter, and I always have a container on my desk at work.  
Never tried them for sauce (I'd hate to peel them!) but canned tomatoes thru the winter are just fine!  

Botch

Gah.  One final thing and I'll shut up: to date, science has not developed a preserving yet economical method to freeze a tomato.  

buzd504

Botch said:

Gah.  One final thing and I'll shut up: to date, science has not developed a preserving yet economical method to freeze a tomato.  

Canning is much better for tomatoes.  I just wish I could produce a crop with enough yield to be worthy of canning.

SaltySam

We overdosed on their seasonal pumpkin seed bread during the month of October.  They also have a good loaf of sourdough that makes killer panini sandwiches.  Love that place!

Funny thing, we recently moved to the east side of town. In the 12 years we’ve been in Omaha, I’d never been in to Aldi.  The new house is about four blocks from one and I’ve been there probably 20 times.  I look for reasons to go.  I clicked on your post immediately 

kjs

What about their competitors Lidl? They were popping up like wildfire in NC 2-3 years ago. Their stores appear to be a little bigger, flashier and brighter. Products and price seem comparable to me.

fishlessman

im in there weekly, they have cleaned up their act and re vamped their stores. have not had a problem with the produce but i never buy more than a day or twos worth anyways. i get the italian speck alot, something most stores dont carry.  the hams are seasonal but better than a store bought coronado or cooks ham. milk and eggs are cheap, bread is good, they used to carry racer candy bars which tasted like snickers but now carry snickers, great low priced granola cereals.  i get the grass fed burger often.  cabots seriously sharp cheddar cheese in the waxed paper wrapping.  they had 30 dollar rotomolded yeti type coolers this summer. they never have enough cash register girls, the line builds up

gamason

Yall are lucky. The one by my house is awful. the ONLY thing I have ever found worthy of a repeat buy was their Appleton Farm hams. They are good. The rest is bargain basement crap. JMHO!

fishlessman

inexpensive avacado oil, really high smoke point

how could you resist

shtgunal3

My only gripe with Aldis is the wait time to check out. There are only two cashiers and the store is always packed. It literally takes longer to check out than it does to shop. I don’t go there often for this reason.

Carolina Q

I find that, no matter how long the ALDI checkout line is, it moves very quickly. Far faster than a "normal" grocery store (or Heaven forbid, walmart!). And, at my store anyway, they are pretty good about opening another line if it starts to back up. Happy with the house brand stuff too. Their orange juice is awesome!

Went to a brand new Lidl store in VA last summer (visiting Mom). Looks nicer, more name brands as I recall, larger store, wider aisles. Still, 800+ miles round trip is a bit too far to go to buy groceries.  I like ALDI better, though I was only at Lidl the one time. Apparently no plans to open any Lidl stores up here any time soon.

fishlessman

Carolina Q said:

I find that, no matter how long the ALDI checkout line is, it moves very quickly. Far faster than a "normal" grocery store (or Heaven forbid, walmart!). And, at my store anyway, they are pretty good about opening another line if it starts to back up. Happy with the house brand stuff too. Their orange juice is awesome!

Went to a brand new Lidl store in VA last summer (visiting Mom). Looks nicer, more name brands as I recall, larger store, wider aisles. Still, 800+ miles round trip is a bit too far to go to buy groceries.  I like ALDI better, though I was only at Lidl the one time. Apparently no plans to open any Lidl stores up here any time soon.

my aldis on island time, the customer should have a chair just like the checkout girl. time of day makes a huge difference, its fine in the morning and mid afternoon

MNEggerandStuff

The Aldi I go to is really good, to the point I can drop in there for one or two things and not have to wait to long.  

Eggs $.79!!! a dozen local grocery is $1.79

I'll get pork chop and chicken there occasional, not fresh from the cow good but as good as the local grocery

Store brand tortilla chips (clarks or carls or something) are better than the name brands

And most importantly, Kerry Gold Butter!

Employees are great, hardworking as in always doing something and doing it rather efficiently (not just pushing a mop cause they were told to), and helpful!

fishlessman

6.5 quart enameled ci dutch ovens are 29.99 right now

caliking

Waterproof box for $5 in the summer. Works well for keeping my phones dry by the pool when caliprince is trying to drain the pool by splashing water EVERYWHERE. 

DoubleEgger

The Aldis around here look and smell like converted Goodwills. No thanks. 

WeberWho

DoubleEgger said:

The Aldis around here look and smell like converted Goodwills. No thanks. 

Dang. That sucks. Growing like weeds around here. Almost all brand new stores.

The newest Aldi across town is nicer than most grocery stores around here. Spotless and very inviting. 

fishlessman

DoubleEgger said:

The Aldis around here look and smell like converted Goodwills. No thanks. 

they redid the stores here, much better now and more common name brands are showing up

thetrim

caliking said:

Waterproof box for $5 in the summer. Works well for keeping my phones dry by the pool when caliprince is trying to drain the pool by splashing water EVERYWHERE. 

Does it keep your phone safe from the water dripping off of the models that the Prince hangs out with poolside?

caliking

thetrim said:

caliking said:

Waterproof box for $5 in the summer. Works well for keeping my phones dry by the pool when caliprince is trying to drain the pool by splashing water EVERYWHERE. 

Does it keep your phone safe from the water dripping off of the models that the Prince hangs out with poolside?

That is precisely the reason why I bought it.

CPFC1905

Mate - the UK is heaving with Aldi and Lidl store.  They are bang on trend right now.   Formerly the preserve of our friends in the community who needed to take their money go a long way - but now, awash with the middle class.  In fact it is now so socially acceptable to shop there that you don't need to take your Waitrose / M&S bag for life to stash the goods in to avoid being 'caught' by your peer group and excluded from the tennis club, amateur dramatics society and local council meetings.  All reasons I carrie their bags, FYI. 

Highlight for me & SWMBO as;
1) low price
2) fresh bakery
3) chocolate (so I am told)
4) the Isle of Sh*te (for me) - you know the one,  its in the middle of the store and its where you find a toilet seat next to the wet suits next to the socket sets next to the foot spa next to the motor oil nest to the child's play tent.....

If we are getting detailed, they have an interesting origin and business model.  A minor plot spoiler here, but they have fewer staff but pay them very well - knowing that competitors then have to drive up staff costs to keep their talent.