How much of a shop can be done at Aldi/Lidl?

A._Badger

pumpkin89 wrote: »

I should clarify that when I said "cheap tastes", I meant it in the same way people say "expensive tastes"; it wasn't meant to be derogatory.

Sometimes "value" products are genuinely nicer than more expensive ones, but in my experience that's the exception rather than the rule. If you know the true price of things (in the big supermarkets this means best promotional price, not current shelf price), then generally you get what you pay for.

I think I would probably qualify as having 'expensive tastes' and I can honestly say that I find the average Aldi product very considerably better than the own brand equivalents in Tesco and the like. Moreover, Aldi's meat is much better, and cheaper, than all the supermarket equivalents I have tried, with the possible exception (though only in terms of quality - definitely not price) of Waitrose.

As for 'getting what you pay for', I can see no evidence of that unless you feel it is worth paying extra for the 'ambience' of a Sainsbury's over that of an Aldi. I think there is some degree of brand snobbery involved at work here.

pumpkin89

A._Badger wrote: »

I think I would probably qualify as having 'expensive tastes' and I can honestly say that I find the average Aldi product very considerably better than the own brand equivalents in Tesco and the like. Moreover, Aldi's meat is much better, and cheaper, than all the supermarket equivalents I have tried, with the possible exception (though only in terms of quality - definitely not price) of Waitrose.

As for 'getting what you pay for', I can see no evidence of that unless you feel it is worth paying extra for the 'ambience' of a Sainsbury's over that of an Aldi. I think there is some degree of brand snobbery involved at work here.

Well I do the majority of my shopping at Waitrose, so that's my benchmark I guess. I may have had an unlucky experience but when I have tried Aldi, the meat has been the thing that really stood out as poor quality (definitely worse than Tesco). I buy quite a lot of premium products so, in addition to the standard own labels, I'm also comparing Tesco Finest vs Waitrose vs Aldi Specially Selected etc.

I don't feel it's worth paying (much) for ambience. But I do feel, for example, that Hovis is significantly better than standard own label bread. Jackson's is, in turn, significantly better than Hovis.

PLRFD

I agree Hovis is better than any brown bread own label I’ve not tried Jackson’s but will do now when I see it,if you thought Aldi meat was poor wait until you try the veg.

A._Badger

pumpkin89 wrote: »

Well I do the majority of my shopping at Waitrose, so that's my benchmark I guess. I may have had an unlucky experience but when I have tried Aldi, the meat has been the thing that really stood out as poor quality (definitely worse than Tesco). I buy quite a lot of premium products so, in addition to the standard own labels, I'm also comparing Tesco Finest vs Waitrose vs Aldi Specially Selected etc.

I don't feel it's worth paying (much) for ambience. But I do feel, for example, that Hovis is significantly better than standard own label bread. Jackson's is, in turn, significantly better than Hovis.

Then you have most definitely had an unlucky experience with Aldi.

I had stopped buying steak from any supermarket (including Waitrose) until a few years ago, when a blogger whose views I tend to agree with happened to mention that he had bought an Aldi steak and it was the best he'd eaten in years. On a whim, and expecting the worst, I did likewise and have been buying them more or less weekly, ever since. Only once have I been disappointed. I can get better - but only from from a local specialist butcher and at twice the price.

However, as you speak well of Tesco's meat, I suspect we inhabit different gustatory universes.

pumpkin89

A._Badger wrote: »

Then you have most definitely had an unlucky experience with Aldi.

I had stopped buying steak from any supermarket (including Waitrose) until a few years ago, when a blogger whose views I tend to agree with happened to mention that he had bought an Aldi steak and it was the best he'd eaten in years. On a whim, and expecting the worst, I did likewise and have been buying them more or less weekly, ever since. Only once have I been disappointed. I can get better - but only from from a local specialist butcher and at twice the price.

However, as you speak well of Tesco's meat, I suspect we inhabit different gustatory universes.

We had some steak from Waitrose at the weekend and it was amazing! What type of steak are you buying at Aldi? I'd be willing to give it a go. We don't have a local butcher but I'm sure it would be nice if we did.

I didn't actually speak well of Tesco's meat (what I said was that Aldi's was worse) but I have had some good stuff from there. An example is Gressingham duck breasts, which are larger than those in other stores and therefore easier to cook well.

2childmum

I buy pork from Aldi rather than Tesco because it's RSPCA assured and Tesco don't sell that. And I buy free range chicken in Aldi too - much cheaper than Tesco. In fact, i couldn't find free range chicken in Tesco when I last looked - but that may have been a one off.
I find deli meats far better (and cheaper) in both Aldi and Lidl. I tend to get about 60-70% of my shop in Aldi - but they don't sell fresh lactose free milk (they do have long life which they keep in the fridge for some reason) but it doesn't taste very nice, nor do they sell soya yogurt, and a few other bits. I also don't rate some of the fruit and veg in Aldi (some is ok) so go either to Asda or Tesco for the stuff i can't get in Aldi. I go to Lidl about once every 6 weeks for the handful of things we like there, and try and do my main shop at the same time, but always come away thinking I prefer Aldi and find it a bit cheaper for the stuff we buy

pumpkin89

2childmum wrote: »

In fact, i couldn't find free range chicken in Tesco when I last looked - but that may have been a one off.

Tesco don't do "standard" free range chicken anymore - you have to buy either Finest or Organic.

suki1964

pumpkin89 wrote: »

No, absolutely not. We try different products and find our favourites, then I track them over a few months and learn what the best promotion is, and stock up when the price is right. Apart from fresh fruit, veg and milk, there's very little I ever pay full price for. That's the MSE bit.



I'm not willing to compromise on quality/taste in order to save a few pence. Obviously this will vary depending on different people's budgets and preferences. To be honest, though, if you can't tell the difference between Cathedral City and Tesco own brand I think you are lucky to have cheap tastes, and I will take your other recommendations with a pinch of salt.

Well are you a snooty one :rotfl:

Do you think cathedral city is a good cheese? Seriously?

I cook with it, it wouldn't end up on a cracker and talking of crackers, Lidls rosemary ones are absolutely delicious

pumpkin89

suki1964 wrote: »

Well are you a snooty one :rotfl:

Do you think cathedral city is a good cheese? Seriously?

I cook with it, it wouldn't end up on a cracker and talking of crackers, Lidls rosemary ones are absolutely delicious

Since I'm so snooty... if you'd read the rest of the thread you'd have the answer to that question

[Deleted User]

For us it is about 70 - 80%


I am vegi (but husband eats meat) and so we cook with a lot of pulses and grains.


I end up going to Sainsburys to buy big packs of wholemeal pasta, red lentils, split peas, borlotti beans, etc as the Aldi near me just do not sell them. We also buy some craft beers, garlic puree, bread flour and baking goods which we also cannot buy.