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

wild666

I think that places like Aldi and Lidl used to be cheaper because the profit they made from sales was lower than other supermarkets. Now that the prices have increased more than most other supermarkets the difference in the prices between supermarkets is lower because the other supermarkets could increase their prices by less than Aldi & Lidl and still make a profit. 
Asda's budget range used to be cheaper than the cheapest Aldi & Lidl prices so anyone on a budget could get the essentials cheaper than Aldi & Lidl, now their prices have gone up they are costing the same as the cheapest Aldi and Lidl prices, this was probably because to start with Asda were selling their cheapest budget range at below or at cost price to encourage shoppers into their store. 

wild666

Cornucopia said:

Well, I've got £1.69 and Aldi will do me 200g for that.   

I wouldn't say it was a particularly good or bad buy, but cheese/dairy seems to be an area where L&A are particularly struggling.

I would agree with that, their 900g block of cheese has gone up from £3.99 to £4.69 for the last block I bought. It might even have increased again when I come to buy my next 900g block in about a week or so.

wild666

Doc_N said:

As for ketchup, Which? revisited them very recently. Heinz scored 74% and Aldi 72%.  But Aldi was less than a quarter of the price. Heinz is an absolute ripoff company, conning people blind with the power of its branding.

For only a 2% difference in the score I would definitely choose the cheaper brand over Heinz. I haven't bought and bottles of sauce for over a year as all my meals don't require a sauce whether it's brown or tomato based.

pumpkin89

Doc_N said:

As for ketchup, Which? revisited them very recently. Heinz scored 74% and Aldi 72%.  But Aldi was less than a quarter of the price. Heinz is an absolute ripoff company, conning people blind with the power of its branding.

That's a very silly thing to write.  Heinz charges a premium because its product is generally thought to be better, which has been confirmed by a respected independent organisation.

Whether the premium is worth it depends on individuals' taste and budget, but it's ridiculous to say that Heinz is "conning people blind with the power of its branding" when their product performs better in a blind test.

maman

I agree @pumpkin89 that it's about personal taste but if you think it's value for money buying Heinz at  120% of Aldi's price for a 2% difference in taste then that's your choice. This is a money saving thread after all. As for a rip off, do you really think Heinz ingredients are that much superior?🤔

Longwalker

You pay your money and you take your choice

I actually like Lidl's , which wasnt tested 

Top 10 red sauces - Which? taste test

1. Co-op Tomato Ketchup - 74%
   £1.30 for 550g (24p per 100g)
2. Best Buy: Heinz Tomato Ketchup - 74%
   £3.40 for 460g (74p per 100g)
3. Hellmann’s Tomato Ketchup - 73%
   £1.50 for 465g (32p per 100g)
4. Aldi Bramwells Tomato Ketchup - 72%
   75p for 650g (12p per 100g)
5. Tesco Tomato Ketchup - 72%
   £1 for 555g (18p per 100g)
6. Morrisons Tomato Ketchup - 71%
   £1.25 for 450g (28p per 100g)
7. Asda Classic Tomato Ketchup - 70%
   75p for 550g (14p per 100g)
8. Sainsbury’s Tomato Ketchup Sauce - 69%
   85p for 460g (18p per 100g)
9. Waitrose Essential Tomato Ketchup - 69%
   90p for 470g (19p per 100g)
10. M&S Tomato Ketchup - 60%
    85p for 495g (17p per 100g)

With so little in it , for me, Heinz gets left on the shelf

I just wish I could find a brown sauce that is as good as HP without the price tag

pumpkin89

maman said:

I agree @pumpkin89 that it's about personal taste but if you think it's value for money buying Heinz at  120% of Aldi's price for a 2% difference in taste then that's your choice. This is a money saving thread after all. As for a rip off, do you really think Heinz ingredients are that much superior?🤔

I think if you don't like the taste then it's a waste of money regardless of how cheap it is.
Heinz has a higher tomato content, less added sugar and uses real herbs (as opposed to Aldi's "flavourings").

rhcp

Both Aldi and Heinz have 148g of tomato per 100g.

Doc_N

pumpkin89 said:

Doc_N said:

As for ketchup, Which? revisited them very recently. Heinz scored 74% and Aldi 72%.  But Aldi was less than a quarter of the price. Heinz is an absolute ripoff company, conning people blind with the power of its branding.

That's a very silly thing to write.  Heinz charges a premium because its product is generally thought to be better, which has been confirmed by a respected independent organisation.

Whether the premium is worth it depends on individuals' taste and budget, but it's ridiculous to say that Heinz is "conning people blind with the power of its branding" when their product performs better in a blind test.

I’d take issue with you there on all counts. I’m not sure which respected organisation you’re referring to, but just thinking a product is better doesn’t make it better.

And all the blind tests I’ve ever seen most certainly do not show Heinz as performing better. Very far from it in fact.

Brie

I have succumbed of late to buying an occasional sandwich wrap from both Aldi and Lidl.  Prices are about the same but Aldi is much nicer and more generous.  I tend to go for chicken with mayo type ones.  Aldi's chicken is in bigger chunks while Lidl is closer to minced.  Interesting variety of sauces in both (caesar, coconut mayo etc).  The biggest difference though is the overall amount of quality filling.  Lidl tends to stuff in a lot of lettuce (cheapest ingredient) as well as using a large wrap that is then folded in so the last bite is nothing more than bread.  

Aldi's the winner.