Good and Bad Buys at Lidl and Aldi stores (***Please don't expire***)

sarah1972

maman said:

sarah1972 said:

I go to Lidl probably twice a year, went to our local store with a friend last week and I noticed a few things. 

1. It’s not cheap 
2. It was set out like a jumble sale 
3. So much processed food on every single aisle 
4. Only 2 other shoppers in the store 

Where do you normally shop @sarah1972? What are you comparing Lidl with? 🤔

I'm not a regular Lidl shopper. I shop in Aldi mostly but I don't think they are much cheaper than Lidl. I believe these 'discounters' have forced the major supermarkets to look at their prices. For example, I can buy a range of items in Sainsburys that are matched to Aldi prices but if I stray from those then the shop is definitely more expensive.

Lidl, like Aldi, seems to  depend on the quality of the local manager for presentation. My local stores are fine most of the time. Customer service is excellent with all staff trained to help. 

I cook mostly from scratch and find all the ingredients I need in Aldi or Lidl except for a few herbs and spices. Processed food is everywhere but I think that the discounters were the first to introduce offers on fruit and veg rather than just junk food.

My local stores vary in terms of how busy they are, depending on the time of day. 

I shop Asda online. 

Yes I only cook from scratch but struggled to find anything decent in Lidl. Just rows of tins and packets. 

Brie

Katiehound said:

and the joke is that I read it as Brussels... as in sprouts!! thinking to myself 'who on earth would want a sprout pate??!!'  i positively hate the things. Ah, but I love pate......

@Coffeekup
I thought the same with an "EWWWW!!! That's a vegan step much too far!!!"  So glad to realise it's proper pate!!

Rosa_Damascena

dealyboy said:

@sarah1972 said:

I go to Lidl probably twice a year, went to our local store with a friend last week and I noticed a few things. 

1. It’s not cheap 
2. It was set out like a jumble sale 
3. So much processed food on every single aisle 
4. Only 2 other shoppers in the store 

1. Agree ... I can generally do better elsewhere when shopping for basics ... but Lidl good for eggs.
2. Disagree ... My Lidl is organized and neat. It is what it is ... limited range products are stacked and the middle aisles are for new stock/high turnover bargain items.
3. ... but my Lidl has a large produce and bread section ... not very different to supermarkets.
4. Size of store, time of day, weather?

1) Still better value than many but I find for fresh items Asda plus BLC cashback is better.
2) They vary. I have 4 within a 2 mile distance - eminently walkable for a small shop - and the oldest in Greyhound Retail Park is uber-grotty! Its like visiting an underdeveloped nation. The newest at London Road Retail Park is large but starting to look messy already. I don't expect perfection but I'd rather not use a store that looks like a war zone.
3) Bien sur! The specials are often particularly unappetising.
4) Usually well-frequented, low on SAs and open tills though which prolongs the agony.

Rosa_Damascena

These were in the specials aisle in my local Aldi last week. 19p per tin (originally 49p):

maman

What a bargain @Rosa_Damascena, ideal for making chilli. 

Rosa_Damascena

maman said:

What a bargain @Rosa_Damascena, ideal for making chilli. 

I've never actually had these beans before, but I like chickpeas and kidney beans (not that I get round to eating them that often!) so I thought may be worth giving these a go. 

I estimate 5 portions of protein per tin, and can probably get through the top tins by mixing into salads. It might take me a couple of years, but I'll do it. As for the gungo peas, I don't know quite what to do with them....but how bad can a bean be?

Eta: this recipe looks good. I will have to psyche myself up to cook it as I find smells so problematic. I have no issue eating curry, its the cooking it I'm less than fond of!

lillylooloo

I don't knock w if anyone has posted but Lidl gave the Emma mattress for £279.

YoungBlueEyes

I’ve a couple of each of those beans Rosa, mine were reduced to 19p as well. I was thinking of making a chili or a bean stew, but something in the back of my mind is saying you can’t reheat kidney beans because toxins/poisonous/something something…. They might have to go in a cold bean salad type thing

YoungBlueEyes

Spotted this in Aldi this morning.  I didn’t buy one cos I could never make it last ‘til 1st Dec, and buying multiples wouldn’t fit in my fridge

Pollycat

YoungBlueEyes said:

I’ve a couple of each of those beans Rosa, mine were reduced to 19p as well. I was thinking of making a chili or a bean stew, but something in the back of my mind is saying you can’t reheat kidney beans because toxins/poisonous/something something…. They might have to go in a cold bean salad type thing

Isn't that with uncooked kidney beans that have to be soaked and then boiled for a while to get rid of the toxins?