Lidl: still a 'deep discounter'?

blackbelle_2

I normally shop at Mr. S, and sometimes at Mr. A. ! However on a whim yesterday, I decided to do part of my grocery shopping at Lidl. !

I last visited Lidl some 7 or 8 years ago, and from that time I recall a substantial price differential, compared to the 'mainstream' supermarkets.

Yesterday's receipt:
Bacon bits £1.69
Chorizo extra £2.09
Black forest ham £2.29
Grand padano £2.49!
Lighter cheddar cheese £2.39
Light soft cheese £0.79
Fresh cream £1.49
2 x Semi skim milk 2L £0.99
2 x Luxury fruit n nut muesli £1.99
Belissimo hazelnut chocolate £0.99
Neo cookies £1.19
Cherry jaffa cakes £0.99
Toilet tissue 4pk £1.59

Total came to £23.95. Working through mysupermarket.com, and!selecting *similar* items in Sainsburys, (working on the basis of either own brand (or TTD in the case of 'luxury' Lidl brands, and keeping the quantity sizes as close as possible to those purchased in Lidl), the theoretical bill comes to £26.99, and only a few pence less at Asda.

I think that the price gap between Lidl and 'mainstream' supermarkets seems to have closed somewhat? Although, no argument thus far with the quality/tastiness of the Lidl purchases we have tried so far; the muesli is just superb, and my goodness, that chocolate didn't last long!

We already 'split' our weekly shop across a few different retailers - and I think that from now on Lidl will form part of this. I do wish however that there was an online and up-to-date inventory and resource for all Lidl's prices, to assist with meal planning and budgeting.

What do you think of today's Lidl prices?

Fire_Fox

To be fair your shopping list has quite a few luxury items, there are few basics so it's a bit of a skewed comparison. You didn't purchase a single item of fruit or veg which the discounters are known for. Several items should be aged which takes time and costs money so could be difficult to offer at a bargain basement price.

blackbelle_2

Thanks firefox - a fair point since I mostly prefer to buy my fruit and veg from a local greengrocer, same for meat and fish, mostly from a local butcher.

The fruit and veg in Lidl certainly did look very fresh and in good condition though, so I will definitely look into purchasing some next time I am in store, especially if you think this is where the true bargains are to be had.

mon37

I am glad I've seen this thread. I also think that Lidl is not so cheap as some people think and prices are pretty much the same as in big supermarkets.

ash28

I shopped today and went into Lidl (I'm an occasional user) - the things that stand out in my mind were the long red peppers - pack of 2 99p in Lidl and £1.75 in Tesco and a bunch of spring onions 75p in Tesco and 39p in Lidl - saved over £1 on those 2 items alone.

Cucumber was only 39p too unfortunately had already bought one in Tesco for about double the price....

Next time I go shopping I will go to Lidl first and the supermarket last.

blackbelle_2

Thanks Ash.

That IS a very good price for the long red peppers - normally those are one pound seventy pence-something in Mr. S also. Scallions are a fantastic price too.

From reading another thread on this board, the cucumber price seems to be a special offer for this week only? Which perhaps puts the regular price in the same sort of range as the big supermarkets?

Definitely need to go back next week, and see how the cost of fruit and veg at Lidl stacks up against that of my regular independent grocer.

Would love to hear more about Lidl bargains from any regular shoppers - and next weekend I shall return with all my acquired knowledge and try to do better

gailey_2

ash28 wrote: »

I shopped today and went into Lidl (I'm an occasional user) - the things that stand out in my mind were the long red peppers - pack of 2 99p in Lidl and £1.75 in Tesco and a bunch of spring onions 75p in Tesco and 39p in Lidl - saved over £1 on those 2 items alone.

Cucumber was only 39p too unfortunately had already bought one in Tesco for about double the price....

Next time I go shopping I will go to Lidl first and the supermarket last.

I do that as retail park has large sainsburys and lidls.

We have another nearby with big morrisions next door and aldi opening up there too so choice of 3:D

Trick with lilds is check out the weekend deals.
some of thur deals also good.

I rarly bujt fruit and veg in supermarket now
we dont have green grocer overly close.

Edwardia

When I first started using Lidl it had whopping great tins of turkey ravioli and chicken soup. Tinned baked beans were as low as 11p and tinned tomatoes 19p. Lots of stuff was just stacked on pallets.

No idea whether it is my local branch or a nationwide thing but when the store had the first makeover, out went the huge tins and in came chilled Chablis.

The car park has fewer bangers and more Mercs, BMWs and SUVs. I hear more foreign languages and no screaming kids. There is a big wine section, with some bottles costing more than $15.

Whereas the first time it was available, the frozen game at Christmas didn't sell, it sells out now. My local Lidl now even sells organic milk, cheese, pasta, carrots, Heirloom tomatoes,onions,yogurt and bananas. The pre-packaged deli stuff has a bigger range too.

Mine seems more like a discount deli than a pile it high sell it cheap discounter, especially after the second makeover. It even takes denit cards, does cash back and has baskets. The Aldi in the next town is smaller and scruffier and the range of products isn't as good.

Seems to me Lidl is getting more upscale yes, That's not to say you can't get bargains. I saved 31p each on organic yogurts last week and 85p on organic bananas. Five years ago, Lidl here would not have sold them.

It does seem like a deliberate policy to offer a wider range and perhaps more importantly do stuff you can't find elsewhere like about 7 different whole salamis, coleslaw made with creme fraiche, boczek, big bags of proper frozen nasi goreng and paella, celeriacs with leaves on, garlic in cute woven baskets, lots of cheeses - not just Brie and Camembert but things like Perail and Soignon and cheeses from the Isle of Man.

Own_My_Own

I'm not sure if they are so much cheaper any more, but the quality for the lower price spent is still better.
Their black bags are twice as thick as the ones sold in the large supermarkets. Their coleslaw was recommended in Good Housekeeping a few years ago.
All in all the products are better quality, price for price than the bigger stores.

PLRFD

I went in Lidle last week the first time for ages the veg is still very poor my carrots were no good the day after buying them.

Ken68

The dearest shops in this town are... Co-op most expensive, Sainsbury then Tesco and cheaper are Lidl ,Heron and the pound shop. I find the fruit and veg in Lidl superb and the bananas are still only 68p kg whereas Tesco is over £1.
Shop around is the answer and if I was tucked for time, Lidl would be my one stop choice especially for their half price selected weekend items..
Bought some minced beef yesterday...30% off, bringing it to £2.17kg. Maybe customers have stoipped buying meat so getting rid of stock.