Does anyone do a full shop at Aldi?

njm123

I though I'd give it a go and visit Aldi for the first time in months and I have to say my impression that I couldn't do a weekly shop there hasn't been changed.

Fruit and Veg especially the super 6 is very good value if they stock what you like as there isn't the variety some of the others have, but I can live with that.

Dairy and meats - good value and a fair few interesting cheeses /cooked meats again lacks some of the choice the othere have particularly in fresh meat. Again not really a problem - all the supermarkets bar morrisons seem to have got poor for meat recently anyway.

Tin's, bottled sauces etc. - This is where I start hitting problems - I'm sure that their tins are fine but in some areas they are seriously lacking in choice (in my local branch anyway) - no beans other than baked or red kidney beans, no chickpeas. I don't use many bottled sauces - but the ones in Aldi seem on the pricey side.

The main reason I can't do my shopping at Aldi - is the complete lack of any dried pulses, poor selection of herbs and spices and lack of any genuine world foods section - look in any large Asda or Tesco and you'll find great value food here if you don't worry about the label not being entirely english.

The other reasons are simply that my local store is not that conveniently located and the way the store is run - minimal staffing levels, extremely rushed checkout - I got ordered to move my trolley closer to the checkout I couldn't work out why until the customer behind me took too long to pack and the cashier then stuffed his goods into his bags to get him out the way of a very short queue.


So I'll carry on using all of them to get a mixture of value and convenience - Sainsburys (convenient - on the way home from work), Tesco (value, convenient - local), Aldi/Asda/Morrisons (value on some items, I'll go there whwn I have time), Lidl (not unless they open a store in a safer area than my nearest one - I went there once when I worked nearby and they had more security guards than cashiers).

mum26

At Aldi (and Lidl too I think) it's "procedure" to line your trolley up alongside the cashier and get items in your trolley quickly then move over to the counter along the window and pack your items properly. Or you could put large jute or ikea type bags into your trolley to allow you to pack it quickly with ease. It does make the checkout move much quicker tbh but they could do with some clearer signage instructing people what to do.

irnbru_2

sassyblue wrote: »

The only problem l have with Aldi and Lidls is that their cheap veg is a great price but just doesn't last a whole week

Agreed. I tend to avoid the Super 6 in Aldi for that reason.

Tight_wad2009

Aldi's fish parcels are amazing Even my husband loves them and he normally doesn't eat any fish.
There are two different flavours, we like the salmon and green pesto; they also have a pollock with red pesto. £1.99 for four.

We had them this week with savoury rice for lunch - yummy!

My two young boys also love their chicken dippers and chicken goujons, also the lamb shanks (frozen ones around £4.75) are fab.

Also love their pull-ups (half the price of huggies and just as good), baby wipes and rado-style bubble bath to be excellent.

I love Aldi! I spend around £50-£60 a week for two adults and two children including nappies and toiletries. Once a month shop £20 approx in Tesco/Morrisons for a few other bits.

No_more_usernames

Don't have an Aldi nearby but do have Lidl and shop there regularly for a variety of items eg tinned items and some frozen veg - spinach, hash browns etc. Also juices, snacks, cheese, milk, and dried pasta and rice. Occasionally fresh fruit and veg but try to buy loose as the packaged stuff apart from the waste of plastic can look quite tired and sweaty. I used to buy their potato salad and coleslaw before I gave up dairy and the pot salad was the nicest I ever had - stopped me ever buying it elsewhere. They do it in yoghurt and or creme fraiche with chives- yum. Rarely do we buy anything that isn't good quality- certainly no more often than anywhere else. Still use Sainsburys, health food shops local markets & farmers market etc as our diet is vegetarian and vegan so Lidl cannot supply everything but then I don't believe in sticking to one place anyway- it's only by shopping around that you know what is good value and good quality.

recovering_spendaholic

I really like Aldi and shop there for alot of things, but I don't do a full shop anywhere really. In Aldi I buy all my cleaning stuff, bin bags, alot of fruit and veg, cheeses, free range eggs, caster sugar, flour, pizza (the fresh one for £1.29 is lovely), whole chicken, premium ham (the nicest I have EVER had), tea bags, frikadellen, tinned tomatoes, corned beef, beans and sweetcorn and their pasta is so much nicer than supermarket own brand, as is their rice.

I like the way they have all the special buys to browse through, and although I don't always buy them I enjoy looking to see what there is. I also think that (my store at least) is really spotlessly clean.

I like to go first thing of a morning as that is when they reduce their stuff - I get some great bargains!!

kiss_me_now9

I do a *lot* of my shopping at Aldi as it's the closest supermarket to me and I'm a student, I'm in there most days but tbh I don't think I could buy only Aldi stuff. I like to pop up to Lidl occasionally for their ACE juice drink (absolutely gorgeous!) and am often found hanging around in the M+S just behind Aldi around half 5 waiting for yellow stickers. I also occasionally go to Iceland when I really want branded stuff but rarely buy their frozen food.

Today I was in M+S and picked up a cauliflower from there; 25p more expensive than Aldi BUT they had loads so I got to pick a nice one and it was a really big one, about the size on my head. When I went into Aldi they had an empty box of them and the only one I could see in the entire store was in a freezer where a kid had dumped it.

Similarly, I really like the garlic and herb tortilla wraps from Aldi but they haven't had any in my local for over a week now!

Eta: I have to say though, I find the staff in my local really rude and I hate the way they literally scan and shove everything down the check out in a minute flat. Feels to me like I'm intruding and they can't really be bothered having me there.

bramble1

I'm going out of my this weekend to try Aldi - I hate tescos, can't afford a full shop in Waitrose and am a bit bored of the selection in sainsburys, plus being on a budget have decided to give Aldi a try.

I don't like that i can preplan what i want to buy, But i will write a list and try, where i can, to price compare with sainsburys - if it's cheaper there i won't buy it in Aldi.

meritaten

I am sure I speak for many Aldi shoppers when I say Its not just the price - its the QUALITY of the goods in Aldi (and I am sure Lidl shoppers would say the same). Overall the MORE of your weekly shop you do in Aldis the more you save - but to me, I also find the quality is amazing. The prices may compare to the VALUE ranges of the big four - but the Quality is to me at least equal or better than the premium ranges! For example Aldis German Ham is absolutely delicious - its better than you get from the deli counter! The Magnum washing up liquid is soooo concentrated it is equal to Fairy if not better.
The Mamia nappies are so good they win awards.
Their plain vanilla ice cream is absolutely lovely - knocks the other fours right out! doesnt have that awful synthetic vanilla taste.
Their jams and preserves are a knockout - I can't MAKE better tasting!

No I dont work for them - and neither do they pay me for the positive posts! mores the pity!
But, you do have to work out how to shop the Aldi/Lidl way!

renegade

renegade wrote: »

Just read all through this thread so got some good ideas on what to try next. The coffee I have just tried, not as strong as Nescafe but hell of a lot cheaper so will buy it again, the cauliflower is pristine white and beautiful.:j

Forgot to mention the kitchen towels '-Saxon 'and I can tell you I will not be buying' Plenty' ever again, these ones are just as efficient and a damned sight cheaper
Belmont rich tea biscuits, to be honest I cannot tell the difference from McVities but the price is, only 24p 300g, I am stocking up on these as they are a favourite of mine and my family when they visit.
Will take my shopping trolley next time, so many bargains!