Good and bad buys from Aldi and Lidl

mcculloch29

I think that was me recommending the Aldi Spec. Sel. chips, glad you liked them! They are definitely real potato, so yummy. I have some in the freezer, I'd planned to use the slow cooker today but now fancy these too.

A huge amount of kerfuffle on FB and other media at the moment over certain supermarket(s) use of non-British milk to make 'British' cheeses.

All Aldi's British cheeses are made from British milk, how ironic that a German supermarket should support British farmers where at least one British supermarket does not. They are on offer at Aldi at the moment too, with a reduced price.

A._Badger

mcculloch29 wrote: »

.

A huge amount of kerfuffle on FB and other media at the moment over certain supermarket(s) use of non-British milk to make 'British' cheeses.

All Aldi's British cheeses are made from British milk, how ironic that a German supermarket should support British farmers where at least one British supermarket does not. They are on offer at Aldi at the moment too, with a reduced price.

And Aldi's vintage Cheddar is really quite good, too.

dandelionclock30

Doc_N wrote: »

All grapes vary - they're not factory-produced! Aldi grapes (red, black and green) are much the same as grapes from any major supermarket. Except that they're about a third lower in price.

I'm aware there not from factories but there are big variations in quality just like with other fruits. The grapes I've had from Aldi have been not very nice and from other places they are much better like plumper and more juicy.
The difference isnt the price its that the ones I've had have been rubbish.
Some things from Aldi are just not that great and people on here dont seem to like Aldi being knocked at all. Its a generally good shop but some things like the grapes and some of the cereals are just dreadfull.

Feral_Moon

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

I'm aware there not from factories but there are big variations in quality just like with other fruits. The grapes I've had from Aldi have been not very nice and from other places they are much better like plumper and more juicy.
The difference isnt the price its that the ones I've had have been rubbish.
Some things from Aldi are just not that great and people on here dont seem to like Aldi being knocked at all. Its a generally good shop but some things like the grapes and some of the cereals are just dreadfull.

The red grapes I bought last week from Aldi were plump, juicy and very sweet. Delicious! They barely lasted a day as everyone kept eating them otherwise I'd check the packaging to see which variety they were.

A._Badger

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

I'm aware there not from factories but there are big variations in quality just like with other fruits. The grapes I've had from Aldi have been not very nice and from other places they are much better like plumper and more juicy.
The difference isnt the price its that the ones I've had have been rubbish.
Some things from Aldi are just not that great and people on here dont seem to like Aldi being knocked at all. Its a generally good shop but some things like the grapes and some of the cereals are just dreadfull.

I agree and I'd go even further. I often shop at Aldi then do a top-up shop elsewhere. When I do, I buy most of my fruit and veg at my second port of call. Now and then Aldi seems to have some decent quality fresh produce but by and large I've found the quality quite poor - from potatoes to strawberries and, yes, definitely grapes.

One exception has been fresh peas, however, which have been of excellent quality and at a better price than the rest.

Generally, though, I feel this is an area in which Aldi needs to improve.

robrymond

Continually have issues with the bread in my local store (Norton, Stoke). The bread always feels quite cold and hard (like it is being stored in a cold store or semi-frozen). This causes the bread inside to be stale around the crusts straight away and takes the freshness away.

The loaves have fairly short use by dates as well compared to other stores. This happens even on Roberts and Kingsmill bread which when sold at Heron Foods, Co-op etc are really soft and fresh.

dandelionclock30

I dont know how Kingsmill stay in buisness their bread is that bad. I would rather go without than eat it.
I had a slice of a malted bloomer from Aldi and one of the seed husks was really big and got stuck at the back of my throat. I was choaking and it took a while to get it out. My eyes were streaming and I was gagging.
Thats off the list as well as the grapes.

Stompa

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

I dont know how Kingsmill stay in buisness their bread is that bad. I would rather go without than eat it.

I agree, it is pretty grim - I'm not sure I'd even describe it as bread! I'm always rather surprised that Aldi never seem to have got their act together with bread, just about every type they sell is pretty awful.

buglawton

Had bad luck with Aldi butternut squash in a roasting tin. Tasted sour! I worked out that the oil coating must have gone rancid (made it same day as bought). The journey's too long to take small stuff back to Aldi, but also, don't you get the impression that they'll either bite your head off or just laugh out loud of you ask for a refund? You have to interrupt the till staff to do it I guess.

Stompa

buglawton wrote: »

...but also, don't you get the impression that they'll either bite your head off or just laugh out loud of you ask for a refund?

No, quite the opposite.