Tell me about shopping at Lidl's ...

Magentasue

Well, George, I couldn't find tea - only teabags. I usually buy a pack of ordinary loose tea and a pack of Earl Grey and mix them.

Flour, I buy 3lb bags of plain and self raising at 12p a bag. Lidl's was more than that.

Cat food - maybe I was a bit hasty there, but the gravy was so watery and one of the cats didn't seem keen. Might give that another go. I'll look for the salmon one next time.

I'm seriously thinking of making Lidl's my normal shopping place with occasional trips to Asda. Just got to try out the cleaning stuff - dishwasher tablets seems just as good so far.

In some ways, I quite like having so little to choose from - Asda takes me an hour and they're making it even bigger. Haven't timed my Lidl's trips but they feel quicker!

competitionscafe

Never been to Lidl, but my flatmate is a regular visitor. Apparently the chocolate is very good (proper high cocoa content stuff).

Also an interesting article in last Sunday's Herald:

http://www.sundayherald.com/46151
"quote.......And we bring some good tidings to minimum-wage families who may, in the season of good cheer, be in want of common necessaries, to plagiarise another phrase from Mr Dickens. The answer lies at Lidl. Lidl, as you will be aware, is the German supermarket chain which supplies the common necessaries at advantageous prices. Normally at Buffer Towers, we use Lidl in Maryhill for buying cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil, jars of pimientos asados (grilled red peppers), or tins of pomodori (tomatoes to youse). None of your white bread, oven chips, and fish fingers.

But we are impressed by Lidl’s festive fayre. A whole free-range goose is to be had for £12.99. Never was there such a goose and we fondly hope that the youngest Cratchits, all over Lidl-land, will be steeped in sage and onion to the eyebrows. Before the goose, avail yourselves of the Lidl lobster. Fresh frozen from the clear waters of the North Atlantic, these Canadian lobsters come in at a mere £5.99 apiece. Or go steerage with a jar of caviar (actually lumpfish roe) at 99p.

A duck is not out of the question at £4.99 for your whole one. Or some venison for a change, not at all deer at £2.99 for half a kilo considering it has come all the way from New Zealand. Do not stint on the trimmings with pickled red cabbage at 59p for a large dollop. Get pickled yourselves, dear Cratchits, on the Navarra red wine (not the worst of its ilk) at £2.99 a bottle. There is brie at 55p a lump, mature stilton at £1.29, a bottle of port at £4.49, and mince pies at £1.18 a dozen...............end quote"

Anyone tried the lobster?

George_Bray

Well, George, I couldn't find tea - only teabags. I usually buy a pack of ordinary loose tea and a pack of Earl Grey and mix them.

You make some good points. It's so long since I used tea leaves, I'd forgotten they existed! I didn't realise flour came any cheaper than Lidl's but it seems you've found it.

Actually some Lidl prices have increased recently making them a bit less exceptional, and there are some products I don't rate highly at all, like their wines, which seem very ordinary. Another is the dry cat food, which the cats wouldn't touch.

But I still rate 90% of their stuff.

Plumpud_3

Don't buy the dry catfood. Even the local stray cats won't eat it

We buy Aldi's dry cat food - far better.

George_Bray

Don't buy the dry catfood. Even the local stray cats won't eat it ...We buy Aldi's dry cat food - far better.

If anyone from the Lidl management team is monitoring this thread, I hope they will take action on the few inferior products which we have mentioned. Who knows? Maybe in-house people start some of these threads in the first place.

Mumstheword

think the washing powder os a personal thing...my littlest two came out in a rash to aldi's own, but are fine with lidl's

Magentasue

It's so long since I used tea leaves, I'd forgotten they existed!

Not just you - kids don't know what a tea strainer is! One is mentioned in the first Harry Potter book, have to explain it to most children.

Once you've got used to proper tea and coffee, it's hard to go back to instant and tea bags.

But I'll give the washing powder a go next week - I'm using liquid at the moment because it was a BOGOF deal - is that as good at Lidl's?

DavidVince

lidl rocks!!!

because...

* very cheap, high quality candles.
* cheap dog food - big tin for about 29p
cheap dog bscuits - think they where 59p for a decent size box
* cheap and high quality shwoer gel at 32p (same as what is put in slazenger shower products im told)
* cheap, good selection of wines
* cheap veg on a thursday night
* 55p for kids carton drinks


beer isnt cheap - nettos starberg at 20 stubbies for a 5iver is better.
aldi offers generally better quailty beers to and high quality brands.

i go to aldi for biscuits
lidl for chocolate
netto for berr and crisps.

brilliant.


will never do a big shop in rip of sainsburys agian.


has anyone else noticed how similar the labelling for sainsburys frosted flakes and dog food is to nettos ones?
and they are both made in the same place?

coincidence?

how about the nerly double price difference?


btw - everyone see's netto as a really poor mans store. Yet, i was in stockholm last weekend (thanks to a very cheap ryanair flight) and netto is the supermarket of choice!

George_Bray

...I'll give the washing powder a go next week - I'm using liquid at the moment because it was a BOGOF deal - is that as good at Lidl's?

I see a key challenge with washing powder/liquid is to calculate how far it should go, based on suggested doses in ml. and pack contents in Kg. Almost impossible without a calculator and perhaps some paper to write on.

I use Lidl powder at present but I haven't made a considered study of all the options at all the supermarkets.
Does anyone have strong recommendations based on quality+value?

Polly

I started using the washing powder tablets this summer and will never go back to the extortionately-priced market leaders. I have noticed absolutely no difference in the results and despite two of my children having slightly sensitive skin, no problems for anyone. Used Fairy sensitive for these two for years but no more.....! The dishwasher tabs are great too but have to admit I bought Fairy again today as they are BOGOF in Safeway and worked out cheaper. I'm a laundry tart!