ALDI & LIDL Food and Drink Worth Trying?

ALDI & LIDL Food and Drink Worth Trying?

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Discussion

Gretchen

18,997 posts

215 months

Saturday 4th February 2012
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I worked for Lidl around 14 years ago. Have shopped with them since.

There isn't an Aldi locally. So I shop Lidl, Albeit not for everything I admit. But cooked meats and ham, sausages etc (look at the actual Pork content on the label in comparison to the Tesco version - typically Lidl will be 98%, Tesco is often 65%. This applies to frozen products too, Pies, Burgers etc). Lidl Fruit and Veg is graded higher than that of Tesco too, so much better quality for almost half the price.

Great for continental foods too. We have themed food for all the F1 races, Lidl is perfect for Snails in Garlic Sauce, Mussels, Game (as MC mentions). Beef Wellington is lovely at £8. Moose Steak, Partridge, Quail, Rabbit, Pheasant, Vennison, Duck, it's all there.

Fruit juices are a bargain. I drink Cranberry juice at 69p a carton, as opposed to Ocean Spray at twice the price.

There's always decent cars parked in the car park too. Often top of the range stuff, I've parked next to Lotus', Porsches, TVRs, etc.


C Lee Farquar

4,066 posts

215 months

Saturday 4th February 2012
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I don't mind a queue, at least the girls are super fast and no loyalty card nonsense.

Went to Tesco last night, it was heaving. Waited about 10 minutes in a queue before the fat munter serving announced she was close the checkout. By this time the other queues were even longer so I left the trolley and went home.

The only downside is I now need to ration the Leffe over the weekend.

Gretchen

18,997 posts

215 months

Saturday 4th February 2012
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You may have to queue, but the skeleton multi tasking staff, no fancy lighting or shelves and produce displayed in boxes, paying for bags etc all helps keep costs down, but, you should be dealt with quickly and efficiently. Often one handed scanning, the cashiers should keep their productivity high. It's not liked if you pack at the till, you should put all your goods back in your trolley and use the packing benches provided at the back of the store so the next customer can be served.

It works, as long as people don't start packing their bags in an OCD manner while still at the till point.


0a

Original Poster:

23,879 posts

193 months

Saturday 4th February 2012
quotequote all
Gretchen said:


There isn't an Aldi locally. So I shop Lidl, Albeit not for everything I admit. But cooked meats and ham, sausages etc (look at the actual Pork content on the label in comparison to the Tesco version - typically Lidl will be 98%, Tesco is often 65%. This applies to frozen products too, Pies, Burgers etc). Lidl Fruit and Veg is graded higher than that of Tesco too, so much better quality for almost half the price.
Where does the TESCO margin go? Inefficiency, overstaffing, marketing and the like? As jonah says they ALDI and the like are growing fast and I can see why. It's the same with my butcher where I can get better meat for 2/3 the price (or less).

To be honest I might not have tried it until recently (the ignorant idea that cheaper = worse as I think many people had before the recession) but i'll be using them as the first port of call from now on based on this trip.

TESCO beware - the recession means it's perfectly acceptable for anyone to be seen at the likes of ALDI and we they won't be coming back!

tr7v8

7,185 posts

227 months

Saturday 4th February 2012
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Just eaten a minipack of Mosler Roth mousse au chocolat with the 85% cocoa & orange. Absolutely delicious, I struggle to pace myself to one per night.
Missus TR7V8 thinks the brekkie cereals are great especially the one one with the strawberry pieces in.

Very good tool selection as well. I suspect 40-50% of our trolley spend is tools/diy etc.

Gretchen

18,997 posts

215 months

Saturday 4th February 2012
quotequote all
0a said:
Gretchen said:


There isn't an Aldi locally. So I shop Lidl, Albeit not for everything I admit. But cooked meats and ham, sausages etc (look at the actual Pork content on the label in comparison to the Tesco version - typically Lidl will be 98%, Tesco is often 65%. This applies to frozen products too, Pies, Burgers etc). Lidl Fruit and Veg is graded higher than that of Tesco too, so much better quality for almost half the price.
Where does the TESCO margin go? Inefficiency, overstaffing, marketing and the like? As jonah says they ALDI and the like are growing fast and I can see why. It's the same with my butcher where I can get better meat for 2/3 the price (or less).

To be honest I might not have tried it until recently (the ignorant idea that cheaper = worse as I think many people had before the recession) but i'll be using them as the first port of call from now on based on this trip.

TESCO beware - the recession means it's perfectly acceptable for anyone to be seen at the likes of ALDI and we they won't be coming back!
Pretty much yes. Tesco are over staffed and they are innufficient because of this. Why bother stacking that shelf or hanging those clothes when there are three other members of staff who could do it. Except they all have the same attitude. Lidl staff don't have that choice. They have to work hard.

Tesco are in trouble at the moment. They didn't have a good Christmas. They're offering 'Time for you' at the moment (hence you'll notice a lack of staff, mostly the youngsters). This is unpaid leave. And many have opted for it. They're cutting outgoings, and I think they're in trouble.




Mobile Chicane

20,735 posts

211 months

Saturday 4th February 2012
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I think the cat's now well and truly out of the bag that Tesco isn't particularly cheap, and neither is it particularly good quality. It's just everywhere.

Five or so years ago, Tesco clothing and homewares were good value, but other supermarkets have substantially upped their game, and offer better for less.

Increasing unemployment also provides time and motivation to shop around for the best value: no need to default to Tesco just because it's the most convenient.

SpeedMattersNot

4,506 posts

195 months

Saturday 4th February 2012
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The first time I went to an Aldi, I felt so out of depth it was uncomfortable. It is essentially a 'foreign market' but indoors and in the UK.

Most of their stuff is what I'd consider 'counterfeit'. Fake mars bars, fake coco-pops, fake soaps etc...All they need is some 2-stripe Addydass jogging bottoms and it is complete.

Oh and lets not forget when you finally get to the check out, you have to have your food rudely thrown BACK INTO YOUR TROLLY after you've paid for it and then go and 'bag up' at the 'bagging stations' and as soon as you leave the till-servant is off again to stack up the next tray of counterfeit goods...

I'm only going by my local towns offerings. The 99p shop here is brilliant, bird seed the size of your face for 99p, their pint ribena cartons for 99p, moisturisers for 99p that cost over £3 in Tesco's etc...and nothing you're buying is fake!

From what I've heard, Lidl is better than Aldi. On a positive, if you want a bucket load of cheap 'acceptable' food then Aldi is fairly good. But so is the pound shop...!

Chris Peacock

815 posts

207 months

Saturday 4th February 2012
quotequote all
SpeedMattersNot said:
The first time I went to an Aldi, I felt so out of depth it was uncomfortable. It is essentially a 'foreign market' but indoors and in the UK.

Most of their stuff is what I'd consider 'counterfeit'. Fake mars bars, fake coco-pops, fake soaps etc...All they need is some 2-stripe Addydass jogging bottoms and it is complete.

Oh and lets not forget when you finally get to the check out, you have to have your food rudely thrown BACK INTO YOUR TROLLY after you've paid for it and then go and 'bag up' at the 'bagging stations' and as soon as you leave the till-servant is off again to stack up the next tray of counterfeit goods...

I'm only going by my local towns offerings. The 99p shop here is brilliant, bird seed the size of your face for 99p, their pint ribena cartons for 99p, moisturisers for 99p that cost over £3 in Tesco's etc...and nothing you're buying is fake!

From what I've heard, Lidl is better than Aldi. On a positive, if you want a bucket load of cheap 'acceptable' food then Aldi is fairly good. But so is the pound shop...!
Counterfeit....mmmmmmmmm.

NismoGT

1,634 posts

189 months

Saturday 4th February 2012
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Aldi Pastrami is the best out there.

Cheese is very good too.

Their Cheese Puffs are much better than Wotsits.

E31Shrew

5,920 posts

191 months

Saturday 4th February 2012
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Fresh orange in the plastic bottles and camembert

dazco

4,280 posts

188 months

Sunday 5th February 2012
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I have shopped in Aldi and Lidl for years, the clientèle are much worse in Asda and tesco.

Mobile Chicane

20,735 posts

211 months

Sunday 5th February 2012
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dazco said:
I have shopped in Aldi and Lidl for years, the clientèle are much worse in Asda and tesco.
Agreed.

Anyone who doubts this should visit Asda in Burgh Heath. Half of the customers appear to be accompanied by some sort of 'minder'.


Toaster Pilot

14,615 posts

157 months

Sunday 5th February 2012
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Can't say I give that much of a fk about the clientèle scratchchin

Wait, that means........

Oh frown

Japveesix

4,476 posts

167 months

Sunday 5th February 2012
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Mobile Chicane said:
Agreed.

Anyone who doubts this should visit Asda in Burgh Heath. Half of the customers appear to be accompanied by some sort of 'minder'.
ASDA in Bedminster in Bristol is one of the worst places I've ever been, anywhere, for any reason. I have a lot of time for both Lidl and Aldi.

Tend to prefer Lidl, better choice, possibly slightly cheaper and more treats I prefer. But there's not much in it and I think both have some great deals and some really quality products you won't beat in ohter supermarkets without paying a fortune.

Lidl salami and chorizo are both far cheaper and (imo) nicer than any equivalent from Tesco etcVeg is always pretty good, especially when they have big veg sales on. Aldi baileys (Ballycastle) is half the price of real baileys and hardly anyone will be able tell the difference, some will prefer it (we tested this at Xmas alongside Tesco finest cream liquer).

Cereals, as mentioned above, tend to be good. We eat a lot of Morning harvest cereal. Pizzas from Lidl are horrible. Lidl 12yo Ben Bracken whisky is ace, very cheap, decent flavour and you don't feel quilty having massive glasses of it as it's such a bargain.

Both shops need a bit of care to sort the excellent stuff from the rubbish but I always leave both thinking I've got some interesting stuff (and a lot of it) for far less than I would have spent elsewhere smile

Gretchen

18,997 posts

215 months

Sunday 5th February 2012
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On the subject of cereals Lidls Luxury Fruit Muesli is a great buy. Loaded with fruit and nuts and often just over £1 a bag. I know people who go there solely for this.



anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 5th February 2012
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Reginaldo said:
Next time you go there try their treacle cured bacon. You can thank me later. wink
Sweet Jesus. I've never tried it (or even heard about it) but just the thought made me salivate.

Gretchen said:
I worked for Lidl around 14 years ago. Have shopped with them since.
Was this in the UK? Didn't realise they had been around that long.

ETA:
Wikipedia said:
Since establishing in the UK in 1994, Lidl has grown consistently and today has more than 580 stores throughout the UK
Had no idea they had been in the UK that long.

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 5th February 21:53

kiteless

11,682 posts

203 months

Sunday 5th February 2012
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Great tings from Aldi:

Prosciutto Cotto
Frikadellen
Moser Roth chocolate
French "Torchon" ham
Nasi Goreng
Four-Bird Roast
1599 Cromwell Gin
Cheese selection
Alpenmark Ghoulash Soup
"New York Chicken" ready meal (!)
The occasional Alsatian Gewurtztraminer

Not to mention the overall shopping experience, which usually is a joy.

Trustmeimadoctor

12,522 posts

154 months

Monday 6th February 2012
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thing i find with both aldi and lidl is the fact i cant get half the things we need from there so need to go to tesco anyway

i refuse to go to asda as everyone does have special needs or is an oap on a jolly shopping trip.

im getting annoyed with tesco selling rotten mouldy fruit though really gets on my tits !


mercfunder

8,535 posts

172 months

Monday 6th February 2012
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SpeedMattersNot said:
Most of their stuff is what I'd consider 'counterfeit'. Fake mars bars, fake coco-pops, fake soaps etc...
WTF...so do you consider Waitrose own label to be "counterfeit" as well?