Lidl - best products and what to avoid (and is it really cheaper?)

Anoneemoose

Pop_Up_Pirate wrote: »

I tried Aldi and found all their fresh stuff goes off really quickly and before the use by/sell by dates a lot of the time and hardly any of it comes from the UK

Lidl I find to be unimpressive with the same processed carp as anywhere else and the fresh stuff is also of poor quality.

I then thought about it and wondered why I would want to give my money to foreign companies when I could give it to British ones and get better products and better choice by either shopping at a British supermarket or shopping at individual shops.

Is that not the same in most supermarkets though?

I used to buy fruit and veg from a local farm, but I found it was expensive and, it also didn't last long at all either. Same with the market as well. I tend not to buy a lot of processed stuff (always have a box of fish fingers and oven chips in the freezer for 'those' nights)! I get meat from a local butchers, so it's mainly just bread, milk, fruit and veg I need. As I say, it seems ok for now, but time will tell!

Sadly, we don't have Waitrose here, so can't try them.

Prinzessilein

I could never do a full shop at our Lidls.....even though it has recently reopened as a big, swish new store...it is still far too limited.

The instore bakery looks really tempting - but tastes really bleargh....there is a good choice of fruit and veg, but it goes off REALLY quickly...sandwiches and ready meals etc are packed with sugar and fat (no 'healthy' options)

However....the continental deli is pretty decent (obviously nothing like I am used to from in Germany!)....and their laundry detergent isn't too bad for the price.

I always like to book a visit before Christmas...the Favorina Stollen is one of the better supermarket versions (Mum bakes her own, but we also buy a few for 'everyday'....we do like our Stollen!)...and it is well worth looking at the craft-items when they are on a weekly special.

I have the app on my Fire - so I can tell which 'week' it is and decide from that whether a visit is warranted.

Stoodles

It is currently Greek week. I love their giant beans in tomato sauce, so have stocked up on them and on tinned octopus, and would normally buy halva but am resisting as I want to be thinner.

Aubergines are usually well priced too, though this week not so good

bertiewhite

We do virtually all of our weekly shop in Aldi and the only thing we don't like are the carrots (go off too quickly) and beef (too tough).

Our store even does gluten free flour & other stuff so the only thing I have to go elsewhere really is for lactose free milk.

beautiful_ravens

I like Lidl for store-cupboard items that would have 'boring/value' packaging in the normal supermarkets [tinned stuff, jars, loo rolls etc]. And I like these cake things they sell..like a large brioche cake with custard and icing in and on it... not very healthy...!
I also get bark chips and compost from there every year.

jackyann

I only go occasionally - when I am in that direction- but I do have stuff that I stock up on when I am there. I always look down the 'specials' aisle where I have picked up some great bargains.

Organic milk
Fish - especially smoked salmon and prawns in brine
Cured meat
Olives, cornichons, pickled onions (the little silverskin ones)
Fruit juice (unless you like posh ones)

Other 'odd' things, like the chocolate filled 'cigarillos' that I got last year to serve with ice cream.

Avoid (IMHO)

'de-luxe' stuff - it's dearer than other supermarkets and not that brilliant
Wine - but I know Aldi has some fantastic bargains.

davestocker

The fresh Pain(s) au Chocolat are really good, at a ver modest price.

Purple_kitten

We do our full weekly shop at Lidl each week.

It can vary to what they actually have in but can't fault the fresh veg and fruit.

Florence_J

We have a Lidl nearish us, it is not the most easy to get to supermarket for me which is why I rarely go there. Our Aldi is even further away-about a 45 minute walk (I don't drive) so as much as I would love to I don't go there too often either.

I had been feeling bad about not going to Lidl more often, as it is only slightly less convenient to get to then our Tescos, but when I went on Saturday I compared the costs of everything I bought against the prices in Tescos, and it was cheaper, but only by 18p. And if I am honest I preferred what I could have bought in Tescos.

What I do like about Lidl as someone above mentioned is it will be the same price as basics stuff in a supermarket but will have prettier packaging, and hands down the meat is cheaper, and I love the bakery.

I do like Lidl and will go again, but since I only buy own brand basics stuff anyway the price difference isn't too extreme for me.

Livelongandprosper

We have a Tesco, with Lidl across the road and then our local shops, Spar, Mace, SuperValue

I shop in lidl and the local shops 99% of the time

I scratch cook so my shopping is 90% fresh food, meat, veg and dairy. Lidl have to supply local produce, as do our local stores. Our lidl has a very small selection of products which means we are in and out within 20 mins. The meat and dairy is superb. Veg and bread can be hit or miss. The in store bakery is so much better then our Tesco , but their own brand white slice is abysmal

As to it being cheaper? In a way yes it is because there is a limited range so you don't fill a trolley with bits and bobs. But you do need to know your prices. Just recently for example frozen peas went from 88p to £1.05p. And I've noticed my basic weekly shop is now more towards £30 then the £25 it was this time last year

However some products, for their price, are much better then quality brands elsewhere. I wouldn't buy parmasan, ham, dry cured bacon or even mince anywhere else. You have to give it a try with an open mind