Tell me about shopping at Lidl's ...

Magentasue · 15 November 2004 at 7:40PM

Having read the thread about supermarket mark ups, I feel I should overcome my aversion to my local Lidl. I normally shop at Asda, occasionally Tesco.com. When our Lidl store opened, I tried it but came out and headed for Asda 'cos they didn't have what I needed wanted.

My shopping is a mixture of basics and some specifics like particular breakfast cereals and strong ground coffee. From memory, Lidl didn't have these things. Also there was a limited range of vegetarian stuff.

Anyway, this week I will attempt to do a family shop - can I use a Switch card? Best buys? Anything not worth trying? ???

malcolmord · 15 November 2004 at 7:50PM

Normally alot smaller than the local ASDA but still cheap and cheerful

Ria · 15 November 2004 at 8:00PM

Where to start? Lidl own brand ground coffee is good and reasonably priced. They do not go in for many brand names so you would not find your breakfast cereal. I have used their cereals and they are excellent, paticularly their luxury muesli. Yoghurt, cheese, bacon,ham, fresh meat, fruit & vegetables are all excellent quality at a good price. Fantastic ice cream... Over the years I have tried just about everything in the shop including cleaning stuff etc and the only thing I have found I do not like is own brand baked beans but then I think they do Heinz as well. Yes the selection is limited but all the basics are there and at a good price. I too go to Asda for anything I can't get at Lidl. Try it! You won't get soft lighting or 'ambience' that you get in major supermarkets but you will save money for sure.

Ria · 15 November 2004 at 8:05PM

Oops forgot, Yes you can use a switch card. Not sure about vegetarian because I've never looked for it.

condyk · 15 November 2004 at 8:45PM

What I do is get a twice monthly big regular home delivery via Sainsbury's and then use my local Lidl for stuff in between. So, I get all the stuff that is specific to a brand or to Sainsbury's or that can't be got via Lidl in sufficient quantity to last. Lidl is good for staples and their brands are similar to pretty much anywhere else though cheaper. Some of it is much better and some so so. But same whereever you shop.

On the coffee front I am very particular, but I ALMOST bought a pack of Lidl last time just to try it out as it is a lot cheaper. Maybe next time. Staff are always friendly BTW ... or maybe it's just me ;-)

JayneH_3 · 15 November 2004 at 9:04PM

Fruit and vegetables are often better than Tesco, yoghurts are good, high juice squash and fruit juices are excellent value. I use their washing powder tablets, but not their fabric conditioner. Their dark chocolate is wonderful, and they do packs of individual sized chocolate which I give to the children to eak out. I've also tried their bread making flour, which was perfectly OK, and I've tried their olive oil and balsamic vinegar, also good. I can also recommend the bratwurst sausages that come in a split pack. If you can shop alternately at Lidl and another supermarket it works out very well.

Lucie_2 · 15 November 2004 at 9:22PM

You have to pay for carrier bags. 3p each I think, so take your own

jaybee · 15 November 2004 at 9:56PM

Their Olive Oil is great - why pay £5.00 elsewhere?

Magentasue · 15 November 2004 at 10:42PM

OK, I'm definitely going to give it a try - I'm wondering how cheap it will work out compared to Asda own brand and the smartprice range. I don't buy much branded unless it's BOGOF - I guess I'll spend less because of fewer impulse buys.

VeryTrying_2 · 15 November 2004 at 10:55PM

I called in at Lidl on my way home from work tonight, just to see what they were like. I couldn't do my main shop there (I'm a Morrisons fan, so am quite used to cheapish prices) but I found myself doing some serious Christmas food shopping.

If you can't go to a German or Czech Christmas Market, go to Lidl instead! I bought marzipan sweets, stollen (£1.29 and as heavy as a brick), iced gingerbread cakes/biscuits (79p for a big bag), chocolate balls/little eggs, chocolate lollipops (well, lumps of chocolate on a stick, good for toddlers). Most of the packages and bags are written in a suitably exotic foreign language (well, German actually) which lends an air of mystery to what you are about to sink your teeth into.

And then I found myself slipping six bottles of red Lambrusco at £1.09 into the trolley too. It's only 4%, but anything stronger and I find myself face-first in the soup, fast asleep. At least with only 4% alchohol I can usually last till pudding.

Liking Lambrusco doesn't make be a bad person, does it?

Sub_2 · 15 November 2004 at 10:57PM

I'll second what everyone else has said, Lidl can be excellent value.

A lot of their stock is sourced from continental companies, particularly German ones. I find that European countries are less tolerant of crap food than the British consumer, and consequently much of the stuff you'll find in Lidl is good quality. Don't be put off by the unfamiliar brands.

I avoid things like their super cheap beans and spaghetti hoops etc. Their dried pasta is great though (100% durum wheat), and cheap.

Oh, and I agree about the ice cream, mmmm....

The queue at the checkout is often long, but that's because they keep staff to a minimum. We want cheap prices, we have to put up with a few inconveniences.

Tell me about shopping at Lidl's ...

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