Good and bad buys from Aldi and Lidl

A._Badger

Doc_N wrote: »

Exactly. Only in Britain is Aldi regarded as downmarket (but only by the intellectually challenged 'brand followers') - but mainly because the supermarket majors have been ripping us all off with ludicrously high prices for many years.

Personally, I think the 'intellectually challenged' are those who worship anything uncritically.

Scritti

A._Badger wrote: »

The ambience makes ASDA feel like Fortnum and Mason, so it's back to Morrisons for me - still pretty low rent but good quality, a lot cheaper than Sainsbury's and a lot nicer than being mugged in Tesco.

I don't agree with you at all but thanks for the funny post!

A._Badger

daveyjp wrote: »

The chicken will be from Thailand or Brazil and don't think its only Aldi who source it from there. Morrisons and Asda certainly do.

Well, the chicken may be from Brazil or Thailand. It would be nice to be told. Wherever it is from is it an inferior product even to the Princes equivalent - and that is an inferior product to the Shiphams brand which Princes destroyed when it bought the company.

Shiphams used to use British chicken exclusively and clearly provided the own brand Waitrose equivalent. When Princes took over, the source of chicken was switched to 'wherever we can get chicken cheaper' and Waitrose dropped it (good for them!).

Unfortunately, that is what happens when people chase low prices at the expense of value . The two terms are not interchangeable.

maman

Doc_N wrote: »

I suppose it depends on your attitude and perhaps where you live. Our Aldi has a much more upmarket clientele than Tesco, Asda and Morrisons.

Same here. Our Aldi has a lovely cosmopolitan mix of shoppers whereas Asda seems to be where people go to shout at and beat their children.;)

A._Badger wrote: »

Personally, I think the 'intellectually challenged' are those who worship anything uncritically.

I think the whole point of the thread is that we are critical. Some things in Aldi (and Lidl) are good others are not.

A._Badger

maman wrote: »

I think the whole point of the thread is that we are critical. Some things in Aldi (and Lidl) are good others are not.

It may have been the point of the thread, but as the 'intellectually challenged' remark demonstrated, there is an almost cult-like attitude that has grown up around Aldi, in particular. Some commenters seem more prone to it than others.

Blue264

Doc_N wrote: »

Exactly. Only in Britain is Aldi regarded as downmarket (but only by the intellectually challenged 'brand followers') - but mainly because the supermarket majors have been ripping us all off with ludicrously high prices for many years.

Only the arrival of Aldi and Lidl has exposed their high prices and high profit margins. Once you've discovered that Aldi food is of a better standard that Tesco's (at much lower prices) you're unlikely to go back.

I used to work for a major food manufacturer for many years, and part of my job was to change the packaging on the production line. The produbt was exactly the same, but the packaging was Tesco, Morrisons, Aldi, Sainsburys, M&S, Waitrose, etc...

This is standard practice throughout the food industry in the U.K., with group of manufacturers (some of which have their own major brand name) supplying the own brands of the supermarkets.

Aldi are notoriously hard taks masters when it comes to quality control, and are swift to change suppliers if a provider fails to meet their exacting standards.

I remember being in the works canteen with my colleagues years ago reading the taste tests in a magazine, and laughing that we produced 8 of the top ten of a certain product, and the only difference was that packaging and decoration on the top layer of the product.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/23002

Doc_N

What's all this stuff I'm reading above about Aldi chicken from Brazil, Thailand etc? Aldi do a perfectly good range of British chicken (including some excellent free range). Is there some confusion here?

• 100% Fresh British Chicken
  
  Olly Coles is a second generation poultry farmer located on the edge of the Salisbury Plain. As well as running their own family farm, Olly and his wife Sally have grown their business to offer specialist services to other poultry farmers in the South West.
  
  "On our family farm we rear all the chickens to the highest welfare standards where they are cared for 24 hours a day, every day of the year," says Olly. "The birds have access to food, water and warmth which encourages them to express their natural behaviour. We also demand the highest levels of husbandry to achieve Class A quality chickens". He adds, "by sourcing 100% British chicken, Aldi receive the very best in freshness and quality".

• Olly Coles, Chicken Farmer, Salisbury Plain
  
  The British poultry industry operates with world-class standards and makes a crucial contribution to feeding the nation. The work of the BPC helps ensure that British poultry is recognised as an essential part of this country's agriculture and food production.

• Below is our 100% British range of fresh chicken. Look out for our recipe links to help create the perfect meal solutions.

daveyjp

The post was about a particular product. Tinned chicken in white sauce which does state the chicken is non EU sourced.

VfM4meplse

daveyjp wrote: »

The post was about a particular product. Tinned chicken in white sauce which does state the chicken is non EU sourced.

Dead animal preserved in perpetuity in a tin can. Who would want to go anywhere near it?

Baileys_Babe

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Dead animal preserved in perpetuity in a tin can. Who would want to go anywhere near it?

My thoughts exactly.