Lidl - just managed to use them for a full shop

[mph1977]

bhstewie said:

HotJambalaya said:

was vaguely planning on popping down to my local one. With stuff like the chicken breasts, where are they from?

I got the "British Free Range" which says "Moy Park" on the packet.

Moy Park in England is what used to be G.W. Padley's , who also used to ( and probably still do as Moy Park) supply a range of the supermarket own brands and have / have had contracts with the well known fast foot chains ...

[matchmaker]

Aldi Aberdeen-Angus sirloin steaks tonight (under a fiver for 227g)with English asparagus (99p), washed down with unoaked Australian Chardonnay (£5.79).

[bitchstewie]

I need to get down Aldi at some point - Lidl keeps me going back for the fresh bakery

I found myself doing the 2-shop thing today - went to the co-op and found myself picking up some bits that I simply couldn't get at Lidl but then found myself in Lidl because New Zealand lamb is cheaper and so is pure orange juice and freshly baked bread.

The lamb will probably be going in a tagine with Waitrose sauce and cous cous - we're spoilt locally for supermarkets and I'm all about equal opportunities

[Miguel Alvarez]

I forgot to update this the other day. I was in my local on Monday night. I went into get some bread and stuff for little one's pack lunch. No wholemeal bread. Granted the white bread was cheap.

To be honest I think if it was a different location I might put up with it but on the whole I can't say I'm massively impressed. Low stock levels, nothing is priced and stuff is on the wrong shelf. Sizing/ingredients aren't really comparable to other shops and for the most important part it doesn't really strike me as being that cheap. A few items here and there. For an easy life I'd just end up buying it all in one of the others. It's not worth messing about driving around ring roads parking up getting in and out etc etc for saving a couple quid.

If I'm feeling economical I'd rather go Costco.

[mad4amanda]

KFC said:

technodup said:

our average Lidl punter doesn't make 'basic meals' with fresh coriander, curry paste and light coconut milk.

Your average Lidl punter buys the jalfrezi ready meal and fires it in the microwave.

I wasn't really expecting to get light coconut milk... I was expecting to get spring onions.


I was in a non scummy supermarket yesterday and took this

2 euros a bunch !
49p in our local Lidl on wednesday I saw them and thought of you !

[KFC]

Bear in mind I'm not in UK. So for some products you have two choices. Pay more than you pay back home, or go without.

I'd far rather at least have the choice of 'overpaying'. I'll also more than win back the difference on fresh seafood etc, so it all evens out in the end Its definitely not an expensive place to shop for food (I mean Portugal in general, not a specific shop)

[Timbuk2]

How are Lidl/Aldi on organic stuff? These are health benefits from organic and I try and get it whenever I can as the price is usually pretty similar and sometimes even cheaper!

I don't really like the idea of cheap or even standard "British" chicken for example which will almost certainly be battery farmed, fed on crap and pumped full of antibiotics (also known health risk).

I read an article about organic research which suggested that three organic a day was equal to five normal a day.

Anyway every time I've been into Lidl/Aldi I don't think I've seen anything.

[LordGrover]

My local lidl has a small range of organic veg; usually has carrots, onions, potatoes - not much in the way of brassicas though. One or two fruits too.
Sainsbury's usually has a good range, sensibly priced - probably the best for me as supermarket fair goes.

[Miguel Alvarez]

LordGrover said:

My local lidl has a small range of organic veg; usually has carrots, onions, potatoes - not much in the way of brassicas though. One or two fruits too.
Sainsbury's usually has a good range, sensibly priced - probably the best for me as supermarket fair goes.

I'll second that. Sainsbury's is definitely the best of the bunch IMHO.

[Du1point8]

Miguel Alvarez said:

LordGrover said:

My local lidl has a small range of organic veg; usually has carrots, onions, potatoes - not much in the way of brassicas though. One or two fruits too.
Sainsbury's usually has a good range, sensibly priced - probably the best for me as supermarket fair goes.

I'll second that. Sainsbury's is definitely the best of the bunch IMHO.

I have found it a mixed bag... Lidl has some really good quality veg and fruit at such a price that I don't care if I then need to go to Sainsburys/Marks and Sparks to pick up the missing bits.

Overall I will say that if buying fruit and veg Lidl wins in the supermarket stakes, if I go on the correct day, the farmers market wins hands down when its 2x cauliflower(white, purple or green)/cabbage/kohlrabi/kale/broccoli for £1.

Last time at farmers market:






Doh... forgot to add cost.

Edited by Du1point8 on Monday 8th June 16:51

[daytona365]

Lidl stuff is very good quality and very competitively priced, the only possible drawback is some of the immigrant Clientele you have to rub shoulders with, but take a shower when you get home and everything will be fine.

[Parabola]

daytona365 said:

Lidl stuff is very good quality and very competitively priced, the only possible drawback is some of the immigrant Clientele you have to rub shoulders with, but take a shower when you get home and everything will be fine.

You horrible .

[KFC]

Parabola said:

daytona365 said:

Lidl stuff is very good quality and very competitively priced, the only possible drawback is some of the immigrant Clientele you have to rub shoulders with, but take a shower when you get home and everything will be fine.

You horrible .

I stopped in Lidl tonight - it was even worse than Aldi. I couldn't help but laugh as I thought back to this comment, as I tried to manoeuvre further away from some (real) gypsies to avoid going home without my wallet.

[bitchstewie]

daytona365 said:

Lidl stuff is very good quality and very competitively priced, the only possible drawback is some of the immigrant Clientele you have to rub shoulders with, but take a shower when you get home and everything will be fine.

I'm wary to say too much as I'm not sure if you're serious or trolling a little here, but let's assume you're serious and ignore the slightly odious nature of that comment.

It isn't something that's even occurred to me once in Lidl any more than it has when I'm walking around Waitrose, funny thing is I find Lidl a more pleasant environment simply because it's quieter so I don't feel as rushed (except at the checkouts who throw stuff at you and hopefully it hits the barcode scanner on the way).

[Miguel Alvarez]

Strange comment. Mine tends to attract the middle class bargain hunters.

[227bhp]

bichstewie said:

It isn't something that's even occurred to me once in Lidl any more than it has when I'm walking around Waitrose, funny thing is I find Lidl a more peasant environment simply because it's quieter so I don't feel as rushed (except at the checkouts who throw stuff at you and hopefully it hits the barcode scanner on the way).

EFA

[Japveesix]

Miguel Alvarez said:

Strange comment. Mine tends to attract the middle class bargain hunters.

I'm a middle clas bargain hunter and spend far too much time in Lidl and Aldi (both within 5 mins walk).

Much nicer to shop there than in the local giant ASDA which is full all day of the very worst, weirdest and drunkest members of society. It makes Lidl seem positively serene and classy.

[KFC]

The ones here seem to be a mix of working class Brits in their 60's, people living in a holiday caravan park nearby and scummy romany gypsies. The first two are obviously fine, the latter you don't want to be anywhere near.

[don4l]

KFC said:

The ones here seem to be a mix of working class Brits in their 60's, people living in a holiday caravan park nearby and scummy romany gypsies. The first two are obviously fine, the latter you don't want to be anywhere near.

Funny, I had come to the opposite conclusion. I went to the local ASDA once, and it was a terrifying experience. The aisles were wider than Sainsburys, but you could only get two people side by side in them.

Last week in Lidl, the bloke in front of us at the till queue looked at my (very full) basket and offered to let me go through. I declined and pointed out my wife's equally full basket. Very civil! We also had other pleasant encounters with our fellow shoppers.

Tonight we had a lovely dinner. Two pork shanks in black peppercorn sauce. Only £3.50. It was delicious, although a bit lacking in peppercorns. A few turns on the pepper mill sorted that out.


For lunch today, I had an unexpected treat. I have been trying out different things. Today, I decided to have a sort of ploughman's with a bottle of craft ale and some tiger loaf for lunch. I bought some cheese, Italian meats, and "German deli poultry salad". I was expecting a coleslaw with chicken bits in it.

The German salad was absolutely fantastic. I took my first mouthful and thought WTF?

If you have never tasted white asparagus, it is probably because it is a bit expensive. This salad had loads in, along with plenty of chicken and turkey. £1.29.


I should add that the pork shanks would feed three people.

[bitchstewie]

I keep meaning to dive into some of the more "german" stuff they have - Frikadellen and some of the sausage stuff and other meats etc.

I must admit to being a bit pissed off that they don't have "normal" frozen stuff like roast potatoes (yes I'm one of those lazy sods who uses frozen roasties) and hash browns, but I still can't complain at a single thing I've had from there other than a couple of Pukka Pies that incinerated after 10 minutes in the oven as it looked like the "temperature to gas mark number" conversion on the box was wrong - can't blame Lidl for that though.

I keep meaning to try one of the ones I pass on my way to work just to see if and by how much the choice differs by store - found myself at Waitrose today for some meat and honestly it was manic, couldn't wait to escape to relative peace for the stuff I didn't get there.