There are folks who swear by Aldi, the discount grocery chain that specializes in no-frills shopping. There are others who hate it.
Regardless of your feelings about Aldi, the company recently completed a study in which the prices at its stores were compared to those at other stores. They looked at 184 items considered "very important to customers" ranging from apple juice and garden salad to cheddar cheese and frozen chicken breasts. The Aldi basket averaged $315.29 vs. an average $442.26 for the combination of discounters, big box stores and traditional supermarkets on store brands.
Feel free to share your thoughts...
Comments
Re: Shopping at Aldi...
June 9, 2009 - 4:59pm — gmanjI don't think anybody suggested it's a replacement for Whole Foods. And the whole point is we can't all afford Whole Foods, eh?
Very little of what I buy there has it, and if it does, the same product from Harris Teeter will have it too.
Re: Shopping at Aldi...
June 9, 2009 - 12:03pm — wolfpack1975Cheap prices? Yes.
High Fructose Corn Syrup? Oh my, yes. In everything except the fruit.
Re: Shopping at Aldi...
June 9, 2009 - 9:00am — labellefleurI have been very disappointed at the Aldi on 401. I just went there on Saturday hoping to get a seedless watermelon and some strawberries/raspberries but they were cleaned out. To top it off, the pregnant cashier had to be escorted out of the store when she & a customer had a verbal altercation. I don't think I'll be going back to that store, but may try the one over on WakeForest Rd.
Re: Shopping at Aldi...
June 8, 2009 - 9:38pm — jma1947I have shopped at Aldi before for a few specific items - cream soup,esp. - but can usually beat their prices with sales and coupons at my regular stores, so definitely don't make special trips there. I have bought fresh mushrooms and baby carrots that were a good price.
Re: Shopping at Aldi...
June 8, 2009 - 7:19pm — cbmullsWe shopped at Aldi's in Indiana over 12 years ago and always found their prices much better than the other grocery stores. Do hope they will consider having one built in Durham as I definitely would go.
Re: Shopping at Aldi...
June 8, 2009 - 2:37pm — jhicks4878We like Aldi's chips and cheese puffs, canned tomatoes, black beans, tomatoes w/ peppers & onions (like RoTel), fruit snacks, zucchini, squash, peppers, onions, frozen shrimp (cooked or uncooked), spiral hams, cookie dough, milk, plastic storage bags, fresh fruit, frozen fruit, IQF chicken breasts, etc. and etc.!
I became an Aldi's convert once the one opened in Cary. It was much too far to drive to the ones in Raleigh (especially the way gas prices were then).
Re: Shopping at Aldi...
June 8, 2009 - 1:55pm — northraleighTheir non brand Ritz-like crackers are as good as Ritz and much cheaper. We like their store brand yogurt,frozen wild caught salmon. The avocodos are a good size as well as price unlike Kroger's dinky size. They have extra dark chocolate bars that are great.
Re: Shopping at Aldi...
June 8, 2009 - 12:45pm — gmanjCount me as one who swears by Aldi. Their prices aren't always better - For example, Kroger has been selling peanut butter for $1 that is $1.39 there.
Fresh produce and meat can be beaten by loss leader deals in other stores.
But the quality is uniformly good, I've found, and most prices are unbeatable. And some of the prices are just sick...
Fresh Pineapple for $1.49-1.99
4 lb oranges $2.89
Frozen Waffles $1.15
12 pk. String Cheese $2.49
Frozen OJ concentrate $1.25 (and far better than any other house brand I've had)
Re: Shopping at Aldi...
June 8, 2009 - 11:44am — paprauseObviously the selection is going to be much smaller and mostly not the name brands - but you will SAVE money on nearly every single item @ ALDI
Re: Shopping at Aldi...
June 8, 2009 - 10:22am — agranthaI have shopped at ALDI for 9 years. I will be debt free by August 2009. I must thank ALDI as a contributary to our success. As for their quality, my son will take their frozen pizza over any pizza.
Re: Shopping at Aldi...
June 8, 2009 - 9:49am — slamb13I don't shop at Aldi because I haven't seen any organic options there. If they had organic dairy & produce, I'd definitely go there more often.
-Susan
Re: Shopping at Aldi...
June 8, 2009 - 9:48am — jembreeThere are things I always buy at Aldi - sugar, limes, lemons, canned tomatoes, red beans, tomato sauce and paste, soup... The prices are much lower than anywhere else and I can't see or taste any difference in quality. And I like that they force me to remember my cloth bags - I'm much too cheap to pay for bags!