I think I've now visited most of the UK's main supermarkets over the years; except the Co-op and Morrisons (not interested).
However, yesterday was my very first visit to Aldi, and I must say I was extremely surprised. It wasn't my main shopping trip of the week, but Lady M wanted some excellent wax-wrapped cheese that they'd sold at Christmas (we'd received some as a present), but, sadly, it was no longer available.
Anyway, I bought an average mid-week selection of groceries etc. Three bottles of red wine, bread, sardines, beansprouts, pak choi, celery, a red pepper, sweet chili sauce, fruit, tinned tomatoes, and some honey.
Cost; £23.86. I could hardly believe my eyes. Just over twenty quid for all that? Amazing.
I made sure that I bought nothing that could be a cheap and tacky version of a better known brand. A celery, is a celery, is a celery, etc. However I did buy an unknown brand of Worcestershire Sauce (Bramwells), but I've already tasted it, and it's OK.
I was very impressed with Aldi. I had been to one years ago in France, and it was awful. I have never been back. This English version, however, was very good, and I shall certainly return. It's not in the best part of town, but I'm prepared to suffer for a 49p celery, and a 49p red pepper.
Well done Aldi; I'm a convert.
Your Aldi's sounds like our LIDLs. Much cheaper and over the years we know what is worth buying. Their butter, Irish, is half the price of other places.
ReplyDeleteThey also have really good gorgonzola and olives stuffed with salmon over Xmas but we never find it at other times.
So you're a convert. Suffer, Cro, suffer
I have visited a Lidl here in Brighton. Their Charcuterie section was very good. However, I bought some 'Mature Cheddar' that wasn't too good.
DeleteTry Lidl, you will really be impressed. Plus, they have weeks dedicated to a particular country and stock delicious specialities. My favourite is French week!
ReplyDeleteTheir instore bakery produces wonderful baked goods. Croissants as good as any boulangere!
The last time I visited Lidl, I did notice their bakery dep't. It was very extensive, and right inside the entrance. The aroma as you entered the store was excellent.
DeleteI use both Aldi and lidl, they are both fine but as with any shop they do stock some rubbish. The positive is that their rubbish is cheaper than Tesco's or Somerfield's crap. Asda and Morrison's are two chains I tend to avoid.
ReplyDeleteI did notice quite a few things that I avoided at all costs. It's very much a 'pick-n-choose' shop. However, the good is very good, and amazingly cheap.
DeleteI have a Morrisons in walking distance so tend to use them regularly. They are useful for 'emergency' lavatory visits but so far I have never used their cafe. Thought you ought to know.
ReplyDeleteThank you for that. I don't know why, but Morrisons always sounds unwholesome to me. I'm sure they're OK, but it's just that name!
DeleteSince they changed hands they have gone seriously downhill on the stock and employment conditions ( Pirate's niece works in one) the only good thing about the nearest branch to me is a pharmacy with late opening hours
DeleteYou are very fortunate to have so much choice there.
ReplyDeleteOver here we only have the execrable Tesco or the Co-Op.
As a Tesco shareholder, I would recommend that you use them; exclusively!
DeleteI have been going to Aldi once a week since one opened about 5 miles away a couple of years ago.. My second food shop of the week is at Waitrose here in Harpenden. Once you learn what is worth buying at Aldi it is a great shop . There is a lovely white wine that I get 2 of (£3.99 each) and the saving pays for the petrol for the longer journey! The veg are all as good as anywhere else and the " middle aisle" can be fun to browse. If there are more than 2 people waiting for a till, they open another one! Their car park is flat, unlike Waitrose where if you have bought eggs they are scrambled by the time you get to the car! Waitrose are always short staffed too, with all the problems that entails. I still have to go there though as Aldi sadly doesn't stock some of the things I need for certain recipes.
ReplyDeleteMy main shop will remain Sainsbury's, but I will certainly return to Aldi for fresh fruit and vegs, wine, certain canned vegs, etc. It's a great store for all those cupboard essentials.
DeleteWell done Cro! I shop at Lidl mainly as it's nearest to me and I can't fault it. The fruit and veg are always fresh and nice looking and last well, unlike other supermarket brands which sometimes look past it when they're still on the shelf. The centre aisle can be a bit of an adventure, as is the whole shop, you never know what they're going to have in next!
ReplyDeleteI agree, it's fun as well as practical. The centre aisle seems to have almost anything.
DeleteThere's nowt wrong with either The Co-op or Morrisons Crozier. Both supermarket chains were formed in the north of England. However, Aldi and Lidl prices tend to be lower.
ReplyDeleteWe had a Co-op here (now Waitrose) and it was dreadful. As for Morrisons, I just don't like the sound of it. We don't have one nearby anyway.
DeleteMaybe Morrisons should change their name to Rees-Moggs... you'd like it then right enough.
DeleteYou should suggest it to them. A great idea!
DeleteI used Aldi 30 years back..... it was like Netto, a warehouse where they just cut the fronts off boxes and used them as the shelves.
ReplyDeleteBut 20 years ago I went into a newly revamped Aldi and was very surprised.... a bit like a downmarket Lidl... but now there's little difference 'twixt the two in France.... I buy their sausages especially because they are made to the German quality standards of 95% meat and no cereals... veg is always fresh and I saw in Aldi in Loches, a member of staff mist spraying the salads to keep them fresh, rather than stocking them in a chiller. Bread is always good from both, too... here and in the UK.
But, try a Morrison's as well, you'll be pleasantly surprised there, too...
Co-op stores can be a bit unpredictable, again dependant on the manager and local policy.
I did buy some bread from Aldi, but I have yet to try it. It's in the freezer for one more day. I didn't look at their meat dep't, but I will on my next visit.
DeleteThere is an Aldi near us, I go there a couple of times a month. The prices are generally very good. The selection is limited, but quality is generally good.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good venue to have under one's belt.
DeleteI do hope you wore a disguise!
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone recognised me; but it WAS a worry.
DeleteAldi's are thin on the ground around here but we make a point of visiting the nearest one at least once a month. The savings are well worth the trip. As others have pointed out, it's worth trying their off name products as the pricing is so good and if it doesn't delight, you're not out of pocket for very much. Wondering if you have to bring a coin to free up a shopping cart in the UK as one must here. An innovation here in the US and one that keeps the parking lot clear of stray carts as everyone wants their quarter back when properly returned!
ReplyDeleteI have a plastic cart coin with the car keys.
DeleteThe Sardines I bought aren't as good as I'd hoped, but they will be used. Everything else was fine.
Aldi and Trader Joe's are owned by the same company. Trader Joe's has locations in MA and NH. Their eggs ($4.49/dozen) are fresh as are the berries and veg. The pricing is generally competitive with Market Basket (another big chain) in the Northeast.
ReplyDeleteUK grocery prices seem a bit better than ours.
The veg' prices are often very low, and good. I think they do 'special offers' every week, and one never knows until you're inside what the offers will be. One can buy ALL one's week's requirements for just a few £'s.
DeleteAldi is one of four supermarkets within a five minute drive from home. Lidl is another, and the other two belong to Spanish national chains. I frequently pop into Aldi because the dog prefers their dog food and treats and I like their interesting selection of cheeses. Their fresh baked bread section is fairly small but I recently tried their cornbread for the first time and found it excellent. I'm not much of a bread fan, but that, and their brown seeded baguettes have become a firm favourite.
ReplyDeleteThere isn't a centre aisle as such but the equivilent seems to be a random selection of household goods (this week bedding, towels and blankets) toys, foorwear, gardening items, DIY products etc., all mixed up with whatever didn't sell in previous weeks! It's not neatly ordered as it is in the UK. The one big complaint is that unlike Lidl, frequently only one check-out is manned and there are queues of a dozen or more people - all with loaded trolleys!
I think both Aldi and Lidl are German. The 'centre aisle' is a bizarre idea, but people seem to love it. It's almost like an in-store Jumble Sale.
DeleteWelcome to Aldi. I have one but it is a 45 minute trip just to get there.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I'd go if it was 45 mins away, you might spend more in petrol than you'd save!
DeleteCro, we tried Aldi once here and weren't impressed. But I have to admit all those groceries for that price is impressive... in today's world. We shop at Central Market for our main meat and veggies. It's owned by HEB... don't know if either of those are in France or England.
ReplyDeleteI've not heard of Central Market. But give them time and they'll be here.
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