ALDI & LIDL Food and Drink Worth Trying?

[davek_964]

Balmoral said:

I find it interesting that generally people are having good experiences with Aldi, I've found them to be terrible and have given up. We recently had a big new shiny Aldi open up in our town, so I was happy to switch from the Lidl I'd been using in the next town, but I've had to take things back after every shop at Aldi (once a week over several weeks). I can't remember the last time I've had to (or even been bothered to) return goods to a supermarket, if indeed I've ever taken anything back over the decades.

Stock shortages (Yes, I know that you just can't do a full shop in Aldi/Lidl, but they should at least have adequate stock of what they do purport to sell).

Appalling shelf life (don't think this can be put in the cupboard/fridge and eaten towards the end of the week, it's about had it right now as it is).

Rubbish fresh produce (veg/meats), and I do mean rubbish, stuff that is actually rotten and when the bag is opened the stench makes me wretch (I've had to take back a number of butchery items).

It does seem good (and good value too) for stuff in tins/jars/bottles/packets/boxes, but that's about it.

Anyway, I've given up on them and had started to return to the Lidl in the next town, although it too has similar issues (but I've never had to take anything back because it was unfit for consumption). But I did a one off full shop this week at the local Morrisons that I used to use for twenty odd years and I'd sort of forgotten just how good the usual big UK chains are, I can shop just as well, just as cheaply, I can get everything I want too, with BB dates that would see me through a nuclear winter. I do wonder why I ever changed in the first place.

Not just Aldi. I stopped using my local Tesco superstore several years ago because they consistently had food out of date and I only noticed when I got home. Mostly their refrigerated stuff - the worst being something (pancetta I think) which was over its date by about a week. I still buy the occasional bit in there - it's on the way to work so I generally get fruit on Monday morning and any other minor bits and pieces I need at the same time. I made the mistake of picking up something from the refrigerated section a couple of weeks ago, but I've learned my lesson and checked the date - and sure enough it was 2 days over.
If anybody else happens to be local to the Tesco at Meadows roundabout / Blackwater I hope they check the dates when they buy!

[battered]

matchmaker said:

I'm currently munching through a bowl of Aldi Specially Selected Cullen Skink. Very nice it is too!

I think I've made this! Or worked in the factory at least. It will have an oval on the back, by the legals. In the oval will be the site (healthmark)code. Is it UK, MC001, EU?
If so then it's Baxter's, up in Fochabers, Moray. Cullen is a very interesting product to manufacture, it's low volume (so made infrequently) with a complex ingredient list, and high value. Not one to screw up. We always used to have fun getting the fish defrosted in time and all the machinery teed up ready. Baxter's CS is very good indeed.

[berlintaxi]

battered said:

matchmaker said:

I'm currently munching through a bowl of Aldi Specially Selected Cullen Skink. Very nice it is too!

I think I've made this! Or worked in the factory at least. It will have an oval on the back, by the legals. In the oval will be the site (healthmark)code. Is it UK, MC001, EU?
If so then it's Baxter's, up in Fochabers, Moray. Cullen is a very interesting product to manufacture, it's low volume (so made infrequently) with a complex ingredient list, and high value. Not one to screw up. We always used to have fun getting the fish defrosted in time and all the machinery teed up ready. Baxter's CS is very good indeed.

Made by Downies of Whitehills according to the press releases.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/business/business-foo...

[Truckosaurus]

I suspect all supermarkets have started to have short dated fresh produce so that you have to shop multiple times a week.

[Hosenbugler]

Balmoral said:

I find it interesting that generally people are having good experiences with Aldi, I've found them to be terrible and have given up. We recently had a big new shiny Aldi open up in our town, so I was happy to switch from the Lidl I'd been using in the next town, but I've had to take things back after every shop at Aldi (once a week over several weeks). I can't remember the last time I've had to (or even been bothered to) return goods to a supermarket, if indeed I've ever taken anything back over the decades.

Stock shortages (Yes, I know that you just can't do a full shop in Aldi/Lidl, but they should at least have adequate stock of what they do purport to sell).

Appalling shelf life (don't think this can be put in the cupboard/fridge and eaten towards the end of the week, it's about had it right now as it is).

Rubbish fresh produce (veg/meats), and I do mean rubbish, stuff that is actually rotten and when the bag is opened the stench makes me wretch (I've had to take back a number of butchery items).

It does seem good (and good value too) for stuff in tins/jars/bottles/packets/boxes, but that's about it.

Anyway, I've given up on them and had started to return to the Lidl in the next town, although it too has similar issues (but I've never had to take anything back because it was unfit for consumption). But I did a one off full shop this week at the local Morrisons that I used to use for twenty odd years and I'd sort of forgotten just how good the usual big UK chains are, I can shop just as well, just as cheaply, I can get everything I want too, with BB dates that would see me through a nuclear winter. I do wonder why I ever changed in the first place.

I'm amazed by that. I've been using Aldi on and off for close to10 years now, and I cannot recall ever haveing a problem with anything. Anyhting at all. On the other hand, I long ago gave up on Morrisons after consistently buying veg that looked good, but was off next day. Some of the Aldi stuff way surpasses some of the premium brands in quality , particularly Mayo, salad cream , pickles , wheAT shreds, etc, to quickly name a few. All to their own I suppose.

[battered]

Just up the road from Baxter's then. Good for them. Cullen skink made near Cullen. got to be good.

[matchmaker]

berlintaxi said:

battered said:

matchmaker said:

I'm currently munching through a bowl of Aldi Specially Selected Cullen Skink. Very nice it is too!

I think I've made this! Or worked in the factory at least. It will have an oval on the back, by the legals. In the oval will be the site (healthmark)code. Is it UK, MC001, EU?
If so then it's Baxter's, up in Fochabers, Moray. Cullen is a very interesting product to manufacture, it's low volume (so made infrequently) with a complex ingredient list, and high value. Not one to screw up. We always used to have fun getting the fish defrosted in time and all the machinery teed up ready. Baxter's CS is very good indeed.

Made by Downies of Whitehills according to the press releases.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/business/business-foo...

Fairly close to Cullen, then!

[Balmoral]

Hosenbugler said:

Some of the Aldi stuff way surpasses some of the premium brands in quality, particularly Mayo, salad cream , pickles , wheAT shreds, etc, to quickly name a few. All to their own I suppose.

I don't disagree on that, it's the same with Lidl, alternative Twix/Snickers/Mars etc, alternative cereals and so on. Anything in a box/jar/packet etc.

But with our new Aldi, I've had a consistently poor experience since the day it opened, I've also heard of Aldi fans who used to travel, trying this new local store, then going back to their old Aldi store they used to use. (I've found similar with Lidl, prefer the old store in one town over the new one in another). There seems to be a level of inconsistency between stores.

[Pothole]

I get most things in Aldi, with a top up for some in Asda. I've only had dodgy produce a couple of times, both times bell peppers.

[sidekickdmr]

Popped to LIDL on my lunch break, picked up crusty bread and some fancy "mould ripened brie", lovely and soft, with a layer of mould on.

It wasn’t till I got back to the office I looked and saw that despite being "mould ripened", the layer of mould was unintentional, it went out of date on the 2nd January

Took it back to the store, went to grab another, not quite so mouldy one from the shelf and found another 2 dated the 2nd Jan.

The pack at the back with less mould and a date of sometime in February was great though

[Hosenbugler]

Balmoral said:

Hosenbugler said:

Some of the Aldi stuff way surpasses some of the premium brands in quality, particularly Mayo, salad cream , pickles , wheAT shreds, etc, to quickly name a few. All to their own I suppose.

I don't disagree on that, it's the same with Lidl, alternative Twix/Snickers/Mars etc, alternative cereals and so on. Anything in a box/jar/packet etc.

But with our new Aldi, I've had a consistently poor experience since the day it opened, I've also heard of Aldi fans who used to travel, trying this new local store, then going back to their old Aldi store they used to use. (I've found similar with Lidl, prefer the old store in one town over the new one in another). There seems to be a level of inconsistency between stores.

Yes, I think you are right in respect of consistency. It reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend who uses a different branch of Aldi to me. They were of the opinion that the branch I use is way better than the one local to them, they did not elaborate , but seems to confirm what you say. I'm wondering if its down to the manager, I know they demand a lot of them, and the supplier/supply chain will be the same , so perhaps it is very much branch specific and down to the personel. The anecdote above concerning out of date produce can only be down to sloppy control of shelf stock.

[21TonyK]

21TonyK said:

V8mate said:

In the Aisle of Dreams...

I'm going to use that one LOL

And in a thread elsewhere we have "The Aisle of Unnecessary Purchases"

Sums my local Aldi up LOL

[Steamer]

21TonyK said:

21TonyK said:

V8mate said:

In the Aisle of Dreams...

I'm going to use that one LOL

And in a thread elsewhere we have "The Aisle of Unnecessary Purchases"

Sums my local Aldi up LOL

Late night Thursday shopping that section resembles an explosion at a jumble sale!.. usually populated with dawdlers

However once in a blue moon a surprise bargain does surface (like a compressor I didnt know I needed!)

[sidekickdmr]

Steamer said:

21TonyK said:

21TonyK said:

V8mate said:

In the Aisle of Dreams...

I'm going to use that one LOL

And in a thread elsewhere we have "The Aisle of Unnecessary Purchases"

Sums my local Aldi up LOL

Late night Thursday shopping that section resembles an explosion at a jumble sale!.. usually populated with dawdlers

However once in a blue moon a surprise bargain does surface (like a compressor I didnt know I needed!)

A fire extinguisher and 2 pairs of work gloves for me today

[21TonyK]

sidekickdmr said:

Steamer said:

21TonyK said:

21TonyK said:

V8mate said:

In the Aisle of Dreams...

I'm going to use that one LOL

And in a thread elsewhere we have "The Aisle of Unnecessary Purchases"

Sums my local Aldi up LOL

Late night Thursday shopping that section resembles an explosion at a jumble sale!.. usually populated with dawdlers

However once in a blue moon a surprise bargain does surface (like a compressor I didnt know I needed!)

A fire extinguisher and 2 pairs of work gloves for me today

I've been warned NOT to buy a horse coat.

We don't have a horse but Mrs knows I might buy one in case we do one day.

[V8mate]

21TonyK said:

I've been warned NOT to buy a horse coat.

We don't have a horse but Mrs knows I might buy one in case we do one day.

Aldi and Lidl are the ultimate 'prepper' stores

[21TonyK]

V8mate said:

21TonyK said:

I've been warned NOT to buy a horse coat.

We don't have a horse but Mrs knows I might buy one in case we do one day.

Aldi and Lidl are the ultimate 'prepper' stores

I did buy a compressor even though I have nothing to compress LOL

Passed on to the old man who bought all the attachments in Mallorca Aldi (but no compressor!!)

[21TonyK]

Back on track...

Aldi pork shoulder.

Had a joint roasted at the weekend. Brined for 24 hours and it was gooooood!

Another joint skinned and cubed. Browned and vac-pac in an Aldi "chilli sauce" spice pack with a few minced Jalapenos for 48 hours, slow cooked today with the sauce, a tin of chopped toms and Waitrose kidney beans in chili sauce.

Cooked for 16 hours so far... tastes pretty good for a mid week chilli.

[hyphen]

Currently tucking into some lovely Aldi 'specially selected' Wild Alaskan Boneless Sockeye Salmon fillet, also have some pole caught Yellow Fin Tuna for tomorrow.

Both say 'Im new' on the packaging, but I don't shop there enough to know if actually a new item, were in the chilled area rather than frozen.

[21TonyK]

hyphen said:

Currently tucking into some lovely Aldi 'specially selected' Wild Alaskan Boneless Sockeye Salmon fillet, also have some pole caught Yellow Fin Tuna for tomorrow.

Both say 'Im new' on the packaging, but I don't shop there enough to know if actually a new item, were in the chilled area rather than frozen.

Also have some of the sockeye salmon and yes, definitely only been around a couple of weeks.

Going to part beetroot cure it. Not sure what to serve it with though or whether to just use it as a starter for something at the weekend.