Aldi more expensive and quality declining?

Teahfc

Green beans are more expensive due to a couple of reasons, the pound is weak at the moment and most products are now either bought in US dollars or Euros.
Given both have gained as much as 6% on the pound then something has to rise and it's always the retail price.

Also the beans are all flown in and fuel has risen and also paid in Dollars.

You are correct in seeing the gram size o product is shrinking, this is to make sure the retailers reach the price point that consumers pick up.

The one thing supermarkets do not do is promote how and when to eat fruit.
Mango is very cheap at moment, best bought from a street market as they tend to sell them softer than he supermarkets do, and that's when it is best to eat it.

Feel free to ask about any type of fruit and I will give you an idea when it's good and when it's no good and expensive.

maman

HappyMJ wrote: »

What chocolate? This one? http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/product_range/product_range_18282.htm

Exactly that one. But it's been £1.09 for a couple of weeks in my Aldi.

I know it's good value, even at the new price, nada but it's still a price rise in Aldi and way above inflation. Basically, I believe, they're doing it because they can.

HappyMJ

maman wrote: »

Exactly that one. But it's been £1.09 for a couple of weeks in my Aldi.

I know it's good value, even at the new price, nada but it's still a price rise in Aldi and way above inflation. Basically, I believe, they're doing it because they can.

One problem is that 99p and £1.09 are price points. They could charge £1.01 and that would make sense in regards to inflation but the price doesn't look as good on the shelf edge label. Mentally @ £1.01 shoppers think that costs over a pound and expensive...but at 99p it's under a pound and a bargain...even though there is only 2p in it....So they probably had the price at 99p for a few years before having to increase it to £1.09 which they should, all factors being equal, leave it for a few more years then they'll bump it up to £1.19.

sassyblue

I think it has got more expensive but then so has everyone else, l think we're still saving than going to one of the 'big 4'.

I'm another one who doesn't rate Aldi or Lidls fruit and veg - cheap and cheerful is how l'd describe it - not as tasty as other shops. It doesn't last as long as the major supermarkets F&V either.

From being on here too l think it's a local thing as to where to get your fruit and veg, personally our local Co-Op and the Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsburys in town have great veg but others on the boards disagree, so as l say it's more like finding your own best place to shop for those.

Kt8

hve to totally disagree lidls veg and fruit is why we shop there- lasts ages and so fresh after a week or so.

unlike tescos etc who after 2 days is going mouldy as all their fruit and veg is pre frozen.

maman

sassyblue wrote: »

I think it has got more expensive but then so has everyone else, l think we're still saving than going to one of the 'big 4'.

I'm another one who doesn't rate Aldi or Lidls fruit and veg - cheap and cheerful is how l'd describe it - not as tasty as other shops. It doesn't last as long as the major supermarkets F&V either.

From being on here too l think it's a local thing as to where to get your fruit and veg, personally our local Co-Op and the Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsburys in town have great veg but others on the boards disagree, so as l say it's more like finding your own best place to shop for those.

And in my area, that applies to Aldi and Lidl too. Maybe I'm lucky and go in there when it's freshly delivered but I don't have a problem with their fruit and veg. Shame they don't have dates on.

Cornucopia

I'd say that prices in Aldi/Lidl are much more stable than in the big supermarkets. And excluding branded items, much better VFM. In fact I would suggest never buying main brand items from Aldi/Lidl unless they are on offer.

I used to be a bit wary of their fruit & veg, but the past few weeks have been excellent: Pineapples for 59p, 250g Chestnut Mushrooms 59p, 8 Kiwi Fruit 59p. And Lidl had 1kg of Onions for 37p a couple of weekends ago and 250g Cherry Plum tomatoes for 39p this weekend.

The prices are so stable that I struggle to think of one price rise on things I regularly buy in over 18 months of shopping there. The only one is 200g Brie which went from 94p to 99p in both Lidl & Aldi just before Christmas.

At a guess, I suspect that the smaller site size of Aldi/Lidl is much more agile in the face of the recession, and that the price rises that we've seen across the big supermarkets are not necessary for them. The only problem for me is that the more you shop at L/A, the more expensive the other places look when you go back there. (Try buying cold meat anywhere else for anything like the L/A prices).

David_Aston

Certainly the five fruit or veg. at 39p are long gone.
Interesting comments from other posters re freshness and taste. I normally unpack carrots, parsnips, tomatoes from the plastic bags and dry the veg with kitchen towels. Seems to last OK then. Tastewise you may be right, however, my wife and I are content with the taste. Maybe at our age the tastebuds are all shot!
Having just shopped in Asda, this morning and then gone on to Aldi, the latter is certainly cheaper for fruit and veg.

Stompa

I'm finding that a few Aldi items are increasing in price, and a few reducing. So, on balance, it seems pretty much unchanged to me.

HappyMJ

Kt8 wrote: »

hve to totally disagree lidls veg and fruit is why we shop there- lasts ages and so fresh after a week or so.

unlike tescos etc who after 2 days is going mouldy as all their fruit and veg is pre frozen.

Aldi's F&V is cold stored as well. Not quite frozen but stored at near zero degrees long term to extend the season or to transport it long distances.

How do Aldi mango's get here from Peru? They travel in refrigerated containers on ships.