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

mikb

MisterPym said:

S_uk said:

Brie said:

S_uk said:

I've only shopped at Aldi a few times, mostly because Lidl is very slightly closer to me where I live, plus the Lidl app and bakery. I guess I might try Aldi one week for my shop and if the stock is better in that store then I might as well switch.

The Lidl bakery is rather alluring.  We use both as we've discovered things in each that we like - Lidl coffee, Aldi wine etc.  

Where I live Aldi and Lidl are almost the same distance from my house but in opposite directions, so it's a bit of a faff I wanted to shop at both in one journey. I know Aldi sell some good stuff that Lidl doesn't and vice versa. Maybe one day Lidl and Aldi will merge and we'll get the best of both..

And call themselves Laldi?

My money's on "Al-diddle-Lidl" (with the aisle in the middle) ...

Brie

S_uk said:

Brie said:

S_uk said:

I've only shopped at Aldi a few times, mostly because Lidl is very slightly closer to me where I live, plus the Lidl app and bakery. I guess I might try Aldi one week for my shop and if the stock is better in that store then I might as well switch.

The Lidl bakery is rather alluring.  We use both as we've discovered things in each that we like - Lidl coffee, Aldi wine etc.  

Where I live Aldi and Lidl are almost the same distance from my house but in opposite directions, so it's a bit of a faff I wanted to shop at both in one journey. I know Aldi sell some good stuff that Lidl doesn't and vice versa. Maybe one day Lidl and Aldi will merge and we'll get the best of both..

They did used to be one company but the owners (brothers?) had a falling out.

S_uk

Brie said:

S_uk said:

Brie said:

S_uk said:

I've only shopped at Aldi a few times, mostly because Lidl is very slightly closer to me where I live, plus the Lidl app and bakery. I guess I might try Aldi one week for my shop and if the stock is better in that store then I might as well switch.

The Lidl bakery is rather alluring.  We use both as we've discovered things in each that we like - Lidl coffee, Aldi wine etc.  

Where I live Aldi and Lidl are almost the same distance from my house but in opposite directions, so it's a bit of a faff I wanted to shop at both in one journey. I know Aldi sell some good stuff that Lidl doesn't and vice versa. Maybe one day Lidl and Aldi will merge and we'll get the best of both..

They did used to be one company but the owners (brothers?) had a falling out.

I believe that was just Aldi, which split into Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud. Lidl has always been a different company.

Edit: was reading this, according to the Telegraph:

However, in 1960, the business and its 300 shops were split by the brothers after they fell out over whether to sell cigarettes. This led to Aldi being separated into Aldi Nord, which operates shops in the north of Germany, and Aldi Sud, which is based in the south and now operates the 421 Aldi stores in the UK.

rhcp

Rosa_Damascena said:

This might sound a little weird given that we're having to watch expenditure so carefully...but is it just me that now finds shopping at Lidl in particular to be monotonous? My trips there are perfunctory with no reason to browse. It feels like there is a lack of variety / interesting new products at affordable prices.

Whereas other supermarkets have plenty of interesting things at prices I am not prepared to pay. Am I wanting to have my cake and eat it too?

That's how I prefer it.  Have my list and in and out without anybody noticing.  I'm like the SAS!

Rosa_Damascena

rhcp said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

This might sound a little weird given that we're having to watch expenditure so carefully...but is it just me that now finds shopping at Lidl in particular to be monotonous? My trips there are perfunctory with no reason to browse. It feels like there is a lack of variety / interesting new products at affordable prices.

Whereas other supermarkets have plenty of interesting things at prices I am not prepared to pay. Am I wanting to have my cake and eat it too?

That's how I prefer it.  Have my list and in and out without anybody noticing.  I'm like the SAS!

I've never been a foodie but am bored eating the same old stuff and would like to see a lot more variety in the fruit and veg section.

LindsayT

Brie is not alone in thinking Lidl and Aldi were the same company, quite a lot of people get this mixed up. S_uk is correct in that the Aldi brothers split. Lidl belongs to the Schwartz Group and if anyone has been abroad and seen a Kaufland store, they also belong to the Schwartz Group but are totally different to Lidl, as in Kaufland tend to have huge stores.

Cornucopia

I've been getting lunches at Lidl recently, and I've been quietly impressed with their "Select & Go" chiller section.   This is Lidl at it's best - a diverse range of interesting things, good quality, and good VFM.

I particularly like the Sushi, but there is also a good range of sandwiches, salad bowls, snacky things, fruit portions, and various drinks including the good value water/sparkling water at 25p.  

There's no meal deal, but you can easily buy lunch for less than £3 without it.

robrymond

The Langhams Grain free dog food in a 1.5kg bag is now £3.99! It's cheaper to buy online from a 'named' brand than pay those prices. Used to cost £2.79 and has had about four price increases in the past six months!

pumpkin89

Rosa_Damascena said:

I've never been a foodie but am bored eating the same old stuff and would like to see a lot more variety in the fruit and veg section.

Variety costs more.  You can get loads of different fruit and veg at other shops, but Lidl won't sell anything unless they can undercut the others on price.

harz99

pumpkin89 said:

Rosa_Damascena said:

I've never been a foodie but am bored eating the same old stuff and would like to see a lot more variety in the fruit and veg section.

Variety costs more.  You can get loads of different fruit and veg at other shops, but Lidl won't sell anything unless they can undercut the others on price.

My main Aldi this morning had loads of variety in veg/salad/fruit, sounds like maybe Rosa should jump ship to Aldi for fresh stuff...