Good and bad buys from Aldi and Lidl

Doc_N

How Aldi won the class war - and became the fastest-growing supermarket in Britain. The supermarket is opening its 500th store and its festive fare is beating that of luxury rivals. How has the German giant conquered Middle England?

Aldi has been best known, until recently, for its ultra-low prices and pile-it-high selection of strangely branded baked beans and cornflakes. Bramwells Mayonnaise or Tamova vodka, anyone? But in the past few years, the chain has been winning over an increasing number of upmarket customers. Tomorrow its relentless march into Middle England will be confirmed when its 500th store opens in Bury St Edmunds, the affluent Suffolk market town. This follows hot on the heels of its branch in chi‑chi Knutsford, in George Osborne’s Cheshire constituency.

Verdict, a retail research company, has calculated that last year 12.9 per cent of Aldi’s regular customers were from the A B socioeconomic group – what most people would call “middle class”. That figure has leapt to 18.6 per cent this year.




http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/10412195/How-Aldi-won-the-class-war-and-became-the-fastest-growing-supermarket-in-Britain.html

paulineb_2

Lynsey wrote: »

Thanks.
I think we'll also try the Toro Loco rose also. Plenty of badges awarded to that one also and £3.69.

Has anyone any reviews of the 3l boxed perry??


£4.89 for 3 litres!!

Lynsey

My mum and I tried it the other week, was fine.

sukysue

ellie99 wrote: »

I'll second this dianasnan...tried it last night and it was vile, very unusual for me to leave food but it was uneatable! Even DS who hoovers up everything put in front of him couldn't eat it.
Annoyed as I bought 2 packets, so still have one left.

I do like most things I buy in aldi though...annoying when you really like something then it disappears from the shelves, though I guess that happens in all SMs.

Yes, hate when they stop selling the things we love and change it to another 'brand' they did this with the choc digestives biscuits but we all refused to buy them and they were left on the shelves ....they have changed back to the normal ones now thank goodness. Perhaps they changed back cos of ppl not buying them? I don't know, you would like to think that Aldi's have obviously got some very astute ppl working for them to become so very good. Was dismayed this week to see their red tins of chicken curry have been changed for 'Hunter's' anyway bit the bullet and bought some for hubbs . He has tried it out and says it is nicer than the other one it is a bit hotter which he liked

maman

Doc_N wrote: »

How Aldi won the class war - and became the fastest-growing supermarket in Britain. The supermarket is opening its 500th store and its festive fare is beating that of luxury rivals. How has the German giant conquered Middle England?

Aldi has been best known, until recently, for its ultra-low prices and pile-it-high selection of strangely branded baked beans and cornflakes. Bramwells Mayonnaise or Tamova vodka, anyone? But in the past few years, the chain has been winning over an increasing number of upmarket customers. Tomorrow its relentless march into Middle England will be confirmed when its 500th store opens in Bury St Edmunds, the affluent Suffolk market town. This follows hot on the heels of its branch in chi‑chi Knutsford, in George Osborne’s Cheshire constituency.

Verdict, a retail research company, has calculated that last year 12.9 per cent of Aldi’s regular customers were from the A B socioeconomic group – what most people would call “middle class”. That figure has leapt to 18.6 per cent this year.




http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/10412195/How-Aldi-won-the-class-war-and-became-the-fastest-growing-supermarket-in-Britain.html

This doesn't surprise me one bit. Those with money have always been the most astute at hanging on to it and snobbery is much more a 'nouveau' thing anyway. 'Old' money have always been happy to hang on to old cars, old clothes etc. and don't need to impress anyone. Plus you've then got the 'squeezed middle' who are desperately trying to hang on to their lifestyle and making savings wherever they can. Then, anyone who's used to travelling would know that Aldi is a mainstream supermarket in Germany hence the fantastic cooked meats and Christmas goodies. We've just been hung up on the traditional 'British' brand names. You've only got to see the exorbitant prices charged to the ex-pats for Heinz beans or custard or ketchup in French supermarkets to know that.

The best advice I can give to any lurkers is 'suck it and see'.:)

Stompa

sukysue wrote: »

Yes, hate when they stop selling the things we love and change it to another 'brand' they did this with the choc digestives biscuits but we all refused to buy them and they were left on the shelves ....they have changed back to the normal ones now thank goodness.

Interesting, I too stopped buying them when the pack changed. Do you know if they ever changed the tomato ketchup back to something edible (like it used to be long ago)?

Doc_N

maman wrote: »

This doesn't surprise me one bit. Those with money have always been the most astute at hanging on to it and snobbery is much more a 'nouveau' thing anyway. 'Old' money have always been happy to hang on to old cars, old clothes etc. and don't need to impress anyone. Plus you've then got the 'squeezed middle' who are desperately trying to hang on to their lifestyle and making savings wherever they can. Then, anyone who's used to travelling would know that Aldi is a mainstream supermarket in Germany hence the fantastic cooked meats and Christmas goodies. We've just been hung up on the traditional 'British' brand names. You've only got to see the exorbitant prices charged to the ex-pats for Heinz beans or custard or ketchup in French supermarkets to know that.

The best advice I can give to any lurkers is 'suck it and see'.:)

Very true. Of all the people we know, the ones most likely to shop at Aldi and Lidl are the ones who least need to. And the ones who most need to are too afraid of being seen there to shop there.

Which is perhaps why our Tesco is now the downmarket store, by comparison with the nice new Aldi just down the road from it with all the smart cars in its car park.

It's like a snowball rolling down a hill - the more the word spreads, the busier Aldi gets, and the emptier Tesco gets.

sukysue

Have to say Stompa there are some things we use a certain brand for and one of those is Heinz tom ketchup but we have tried the Bramwells kethcup and it is fine just not willing to give up all the brands yet,well at least my dds aren't !Also Docn our Tesco has seen a marked downturn in their profits since Aldi's came to town. I very rarely go to Tesco now too expensive , Aldi's have ruined me hehe I begrudge paying more for the same !

Valli

They are finally building an Aldi in my town - right next door to the huge Tesco Extra!

Bring it on!

candygirl

Went today n got tons of stuff, and used my £5 voucher:j:j:j

Lynsey

paulineb - thanks. I'm assuming it has a little tap on the bag??

I'll pick up some tomorrow or at the weekend.

Lynsey