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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not understand why people rave about Aldi.....

179 replies

TwilightMad · 18/07/2015 15:59

When, IMO it sells cheap, nasty, horrible food! I'm usually a Tesco shopper but I thought last month i'd try Aldi out, and to say I was disappointed was an understatement!

The fruit, yes was cheaper but it is also smaller in quantities and the raspberrys, strawberrys and blueberries looked mouldy and soft. The meat, especially the chicken was extremely fatty and the mince actually looked off and was a nasty grey colour! The tinned stuff was tasteless, the curry sauces were overloaded with too much spice and cheap ingredients and the chocolate was disgusting, so Aibu to not get why everyone goes mad for the place?.....

OP posts:
StillStayingClassySanDiego · 18/07/2015 16:23

I like Aldi and Lidl for occasional stuff; pates and Christmassy food for example.

I could never do a full weeks worth of shopping there, I love my regular supermarket way too much.

larant · 18/07/2015 16:23

I really like ALDI. But realise from reading threads like this that some branches seem badly managed. I never see any of the things in my branch that you mention OP.

fourtothedozen · 18/07/2015 16:23

I love ALDI. I don't buy much processed food so I can't comment on that, but tinned tomatoes are great. I like the smaller packs of fruit and veg, it means I can buy a bigger variety. I have found the meat fresher - and cheaper than Tesco. The range of deli stuff is great- the cooked meats, cheeses, sun dried tomatoes, antipasta, olives, stuffed vine leaves- but that's my weakness.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 18/07/2015 16:24

Twilight don't rise to a goady post. Wink

chandelierswinger · 18/07/2015 16:25

Aldi champagne is luffly though Wine

ilovesooty · 18/07/2015 16:25

Yes the deli stuff is great.

No further comment on generalisation then OP?

Original poster
TwilightMad · 18/07/2015 16:27

Yes I will agree about the tinned tomatoes, they're great. I'm currently cooking a home made spag Bol with a twist, ie mince beef, tinned tomatoes, shredded carrot, shredded aubergine, mushrooms, and a bit of this powder thing that my husband bought, can't think if the name I've thrown the bottle in the bin, but it gives it a nice kick, oh and served with wholewheat pasta, but apparently I know bong about food!

OP posts:
fourtothedozen · 18/07/2015 16:28

Have to agree that a jar of curry sauce is always going to be rank, no matter where you buy it from.

Sorry.

usualsuspect333 · 18/07/2015 16:36

Hahaha at the jarred sauce snobbery.

I don't like Aldi much either TBH. I could never do a full shop in there.

EquinoxEclipse · 18/07/2015 16:36

Grin at the poster above that was complaining the flowers are lovely from Aldi, 'but they're a supermarket, not a florist' Grin

I like it. I like all their food, but I don't buy much convenience stuff, their chilled section is awesome, sliced chicken and ham etc.

Also Aldi Doritos. They're gorgeous.

Homeriliad · 18/07/2015 16:40

I would never shop at Aldi. Harrods and Fortnum & Mason are the only places I buy my food ( well, my butler does most of the shopping for me).

Coffeethrowtrampbitch · 18/07/2015 16:42

Maybe if you usually cook fresh the tinned curry sauces tasted nasty by comparison? Fresh food and food you are used to always tastes better.

In response to someone mentioning their best before codes being different, I have a friend who worked at Lidl. He said every item had a shelf life, how long you would be expected to keep it at home before consuming it, and once there was less than that time before the best before date, the food was sent to a processing centre and given to charities.
I use Aldi and Lidl sometimes and agree they are not as good as normal supermarkets, but I remember bursting into tears when dh and I were sick and did an emergency shop for the bare minimum in Sainsbury's, and it came to over £120. I doubt that would happen in Aldi, no matter how bad I felt and how little I was able to judge and compare what I was buying.

BinToHellAndBack · 18/07/2015 16:44

I found the fillet steak surprisingly good for the price in a recent first trip to Aldi. Not butcher's quality great, but definitely superior to the Tesco Finest stuff.

Fruit and veg varied in whether they were better/worse that Tesco quality.

Also tried the Moser Roth caramel chocolate after hearing it recommended on here - so disappointing! I thought it tasted cheap and unpleasant (sorry to whoever upthread said they loved it Grin)

fourtothedozen · 18/07/2015 16:45

Hahaha at the jarred sauce snobbery.

Really? Snobbery? Not snobbery, just a love of nice food. Often simple, usually cheap, but not rank like a jar of sauce.

usualsuspect333 · 18/07/2015 16:49

Nah, it's snobbery from the cook from scratch lot.

Makes me laugh though, so do carry on.

ALaughAMinute · 18/07/2015 16:51

Glad you posted this because I don't understand why people rave about Aldi either!

The selection is rubbish
The service at the till leaves a lot to be desired
I wouldn't dare eat the meat because I don't know where its come from and it doesn't look fresh IMO

That said, it's good for cereal, loo rolls and other provisions but I like a big selection so I'd rather shop at Tesco or one of the other big supermarkets.

SirChenjin · 18/07/2015 16:51

I think it must be your store OP. I've never, ever seen grey mince in mine (although grey mince is actually fine - google it) and the fruit and veg is great, although as with any supermarket you have to check it first. Curry sauce is lovely (the one with the spice mix in the little plastic tub, can't comment on the others). I'm lucky to have a fab Aldi, with really friendly staff and quick tills.

I save loads in Aldi, and as with anything I buy what I like and avoid what I don't like - just as with other supermarkets. It's great that you don't like Aldi though - one less person in the queue Smile

Sparrowlegs248 · 18/07/2015 16:51

I shop in Aldi, top up in Sainsbury for things Aldi don't do.

I really think it must vary store to store. Both my local Aldi have excellent fresh fruit and veg, doesn't go off any quicker than usual. The meat is all good quality and tasty too - i get chicken breasts, thighs, pork steaks, turkey breast and mince, beef mince. All great. Don't use much tanned stuff but do get toms, sweetcorn, cartons of passata. The 'nicer' range of curry sauce are fine for a quick tea. Moser roth chocolate is very nice.

Yes you can't get some ingredients there, and some things (cheese, pasta) come in small packages. But i save a fortune.

Sallyingforth · 18/07/2015 16:52

Another goady thread. The last one got deleted.

SirChenjin · 18/07/2015 16:53

I do the Sainsbury top up too - our stores are close to each other, so you pass the same people in both sets of aisles

usualsuspect333 · 18/07/2015 16:54

Why is it goady to not like Aldi?

Just because most of MN love it? Do we have to toe the MN party line or be accused of being goady?

fourtothedozen · 18/07/2015 16:56

*Nah, it's snobbery from the cook from scratch lot.

Makes me laugh though, so do carry on.*

No it's not snobbery, it's a love of decent food.It's not always cooking from scratch - it's just about not eating ill tasting food.
Oh and I will have a baked cheese with local bramble jelly, crusty bread and wine. Not a healthy meal, but tastes delicious.

If you buy a jar of curry sauce you may as well eat a ready meal.

SirChenjin · 18/07/2015 16:56

It's not goady - it's just a bit thick to generalise to such an extent.

SirChenjin · 18/07/2015 16:57

local bramble jelly

Make sure you get the local in there - very important Wink

usualsuspect333 · 18/07/2015 16:59

Aldi meat always looks a bit off to me too. I'd never buy meat from there.