A new big Aldi store has just opened in Hove. It replaces a dreadful DIY store; Homebase.
It just happens to be en route to my usual shopping destination; Sainsbury's. So yesterday I popped-in to see what it was like. It had been open for just two days.
It was all a bit confusing with row upon row of chilled cabinets, which makes it difficult to see what's what. No doubt if I became a regular customer I would soon get to know my way around, but for a new-boy it wasn't particularly 'user-friendly'.
I bought a big Cauliflower, 2 bottles of Prosecco, a bottle of Aussie red, and some Bok Choi. The very pretty slightly-Oriental-looking checkout girl was nice, and nobody stabbed me or hurled abuse. I shall return when I've got more time to have a really good look around, but I don't think it'll ever replace my usual destination.
I was pleased to get to Sainsbury's where the layout is so much friendlier. And, frankly, if things cost a tiny bit more than they do at Aldi; I really don't mind. As usual, I filled my trolly.
Maybe I'll go to Aldi again on Tuesday and do a proper assessment. I know it's good for fruit and vegs, but I'm a bit more suspect about cheese, dairy, tinned things, and meat. I prefer quality than 'cheap'.
I now have a choice of four supermarkets on the road to Sainsbury's. Lidl, Aldi, Waitrose, and Sainsbury's itself. No prizes for guessing which two I prefer.
Supermarket locations I find odd at times - we have a local shopping centre that boasts a Tesco Extra, M&S Food, B&M, Home Bargains and Aldi. Just along the road is a distinctly up-market housing development, and all that they have in the way of shops is a rather anaemic Morrisons! We do have a Waitrose and Sainsbury's Local just a few miles away as well though, and in the opposite direction a 24 hour ASDA. Quite where all the customers come from for these I don't know, but the roads and car parks slways seem busy whatever the time of day...
ReplyDeleteAnd an Iceland and Food Warehouse in our local shops as well! After all that, we need our Greggs and Costa for a coffee break.
DeleteIn the middle of town, here, there is an M & S 'Food Hall' which is very popular. But if you visit their clothes departments, there's hardly anyone there. What used to be a clothes shop is now an excellent food store. Good quality always attracts people.
DeleteYou have so much choice there.
ReplyDeleteHere we just have a Tesco, Co-Op and the Saturday Farmers Market.
I wish we had a proper market here in the centre of Brighton. I can't understand why we don't. As a Tesco shareholder, I would encourage you to go there, rather than the Co-op!
DeleteMore fresh food things are British in Aldi than many other shops
ReplyDeleteThe Cauli I bought yesterday was from Lincs, and is beautiful. I love Caulis.
DeleteI have used Aldi for the 2nd main shop of the week since it opened a couple of years ago.Once you get used to the layout ( it seems all the stores have much the same layout...well the only 2 I have been to do!!) you may find it to be an excellent store. Their tinned goods may be cheaper. but taste much the same ( or better) as more expensive Heinz etc. There are also the middle aisles where any number of wonderful things can be found! They have perfectly nice ( for me anyway, not being an expert) white wine for just over £4 . Give it a go.
ReplyDeletePS I am not on commission !
I bought a bottle of Australian red (£4.50 ish) which we drank last night. It was perfectly good. I shall have another more relaxed look around on Tuesday. I didn't see a lot of it on Saturday.
DeleteErr...let me see.... I am going to guess Waitrose and Sainsburys because you are posh with barrowloads of money.
ReplyDeleteThat's it. And I don't even use my title!
DeleteHow wonderful that you have several choices.
ReplyDeleteWe also have 600 restaurants. It's quite a city!
DeleteI use Aldi for my main shop then Tesco for anything else. Aldi's cheese and other dairy products are excellent. I bought a pair of sheepskin slippers yesterday, I have bought them in previous years and they lasted longer than the much more expensive Ugg ones I had before.
ReplyDeleteI shall have a look at their cheeses on Tuesday. We eat a lot of cheese!
DeleteI shop regularly in Aldi - Earlier this week oddly a large security man stood to attention close to the entrance holding a plastic shopping basket with handle extended partially blocking the aisle - Think they were expecting trouble - flis x
ReplyDeleteAre you sure he wasn't just handing out baskets? It sounds very odd otherwise.
DeleteIt looked very much like he was partly blocking one aisle to the right of the entrance to stop shoplifters nipping out of the entry doors - I saw a man run out the entrance of Iceland a while ago with a sliced loaf - flis x
DeleteI find Aldi handy for a few items that they stock that others don't or that they have an especially good price on (Irish butter for example.)
ReplyDeleteI used to buy lovely butter in France. It was very white, but had a wonderful flavour. It seems to have disappeared these days.
DeleteI much prefer supermarkets where I know the layout. There's only 1 here. It has a very good choice of Prosecco. On our travels off island there are 2 we go to, one being Lidls. That's an exciting day out for us.
ReplyDeleteAustralia has some excellent wine and so does South Africa.
I'm stocking up. Whatever I can find that's not greek
You can spend ages looking around for things you want. If you know the way around, your shopping can be done in half the time. I like S American wines too; Argentina makes some superb reds.
DeleteAldi is a big chain store and in the US it is called, Trader Joe's. I do not care for their meat or fish.
ReplyDeleteThe yellow Thai curry sauce, veggie fried rice, assorted crackers and herbed dinner rolls are great. I recently bought a pumpkin pie, and it was excellent.
I think you have to know what you're buying. I've only been to an Aldi once before and I bought some really ghastly wine. I've learned my lesson!
DeleteI didn't do too well with the fresh veg .Ok if you want to eat it the same day. Still like Sainsbury the best. Lidl stock branded goods where Aldi only stock their own goods.
ReplyDeleteSainsbury's remains my shop of choice. I like everything about it. Prices, quality, variety, etc. I shan't be changing.
DeleteHere in Texas there are so many choices for food. Our favorite is Central Market - it's smaller and caters to more natural products, etc. It's owned by HEB which is a much larger supermarket that does have good food and prices, but too large for me to do everyday shopping. We do go there for special items. Tried Aldi's once... didn't care for it.
ReplyDeleteI encountered Aldi as a young wife in Germany. Husband loved the beer selection. I liked the price of toilet paper. The chocolate and cheese were very nice.
ReplyDeleteIn Spain, we tend to go to Lidl, Carrefour, and Mercadona. The Aldi is bleak. It's just not a comfy, place to shop.
There are two Aldi's different brothers. One own Aldi Nord and the other Aldi Sud. The ones in Austria are good.