Aldi - I just don't get it and no one agrees with me

[user7654321]

All of my friends, family etc don't have a bad work to say about Aldi and say they do the majority of there shopping there for both cost saving and better quality produce.

My DH and I feel we are missing something, as based on the all recommendations, we have tried Aldi 5 or 6 times in the past 6 months or so, and have found the products not to taste as good as the well-known brands. The fruit/veg doesn't stay fresh for long etc, and we have wasted so much food that we have tried but preferred the branded version (e.g. cereal, jars of sauces). We have tried hundreds of Aldi products, but I'd say only a handful are as good as the branded version or even a mainstream supermarket's own brand. Even their nappies, which are reviewed as amazing gave my poor DS terrible nappy rash.

So, AIBU to say i actually don't think Aldi products are the same or better quality than other brands? I understand they are cheaper but the impression I get from others is that its not cost that's the driving factor for them shopping at Aldi - its there amazing quality. Why don't I feel the same? My DH and I are so confused about this that we've even done 'blind tests' on some products and the Aldi one has always been identified as the 'fake'

[Bluntness100]

I went at Xmas, and I wasn't a fan, but i do have to say the produce I bought was lovely and cheaper. I just didn't like the shopping experience and there was a whole load of shite for sale. However it could be xmas wasn't thr best time to try,,,

[ChocolateButton15]

I think Aldi is just cheaper because there's not much as much choice and theres not as many aisles selling non food produce. I agree that the fruit and veg have a shorter life. I do love aldi but being very pregnant I've stopped shopping there as I can't cope with the super fast tills and carrying the shopping. I'm using Tesco online for the moment and it is working out about £30 a week more expensive so I will be going back to Aldi when I can face the tills again.

[Eolian]

I disagree with you - I love Aldi. I think some people are very fixed on the brands they use. Just because you can tell the difference between two brands, that doesn't mean one of them is fake! Aldi tomato ketchup isn't a Heinz fake, it's just one among many brands of tomato ketchup, all of which taste slightly different.

You probably only think the Aldi one tastes worse because you are so used to one brand. You wouldn't expect lasagne or mushroom soup to taste exactly the same in 10 different restaurants, so why does ketchup/cereal from supermarkets etc always have to be the same? I don't tend to be wedded to one particular brand of anything, so I'm used to variation and am not suspicious when one brand doesn't taste exactly like another.

[Heartoffire]

The rib eye steaks are bloody awesome.

[flagnogbagnog]

We shop there because it is cheaper. Also not tempted to buy things we don’t need because ‘it’s on offer’. But given the choice, yes actually, I’d prefer, say, Tesco. Just a nicer shopping experience. But every time I go to Tesco I think, I’m not going here again to spend £50 on food for a couple of days!

[ThisLittleKitty]

I could easily try 100s of different products from a shop in 5/6 shops. I've just gone a tescos shop and it was 70 items that's for a weeks shop so not sure why pp is doubting that!
Anyway I've never shopped at aldi as I've always heard they "throw" your shopping at you so that alone has put me off as I purposely only ever use the self checkouts so I can pack at my own speed. I think this about Lidl though people rave about it but personally I find it's not very nice and I don't know if it's just my local one but it looks grotty aswell.

[SusannahL]

Another one here who agrees with you op. Yes the food and products are cheap but you have to ask yourself why.
Inferior quality is the reason why.

I have tried them a number of times (and Lidl) and still much prefer
Waitrose.

Interestingly, whenever there is a food scare in the news ,people desert those cheap supermarkets and head to Waitrose, as their sales figures at those times prove. People trust them.

[user7654321]

The handful of items I thought were fine were:

washing up liquid
stage 1 baby pouches (DS didn't spit them back out)
honey roasted peanuts
Aldi version of 'Pom Bears'

Cant think of any others that I would buy again

[roses2]

I love Aldi and am lucky enough to live a ten min walk from one.

I buy everything except meat, fish and biscuits there except their specially selected beef which is good. Their meat and biscuits aren’t as good as Sainsbury. I save a fortune compared to going to Sainsbury. Fruit and veg does go bad a bit quicker but the Sainsbury products must have chemicals to have such a long shelf life.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Ha im.with you.

Aldi and Lidl are shit. Fruit and veg go off on the way home.

Meat is tastless and watery and has weird texture.

I've tried so many recommendations and it's all awful.

I'm not fussed about brands but I am fussed with stuff tasting like it is supposed to. And this cheap (well not so cheap any more) tastless immitation nonsense just doesn't do it for me.

Waste of time and money and huge disappointment 99 percent of the time.

[mirime]

I wouldn't judge all Aldi stores by the one you go to.

We found that Morrison's were dreadful for fresh fruit and veg and it would go moldy very quickly. I've known other people to rave about their fresh produce, so I think it might have been a problem with our local store and others may be better.

When I lived near an Aldi they did have some good stuff and I did quite a bit of shopping there even though it was a bit of a pain as it was at the wrong end of town for me and I also liked the Co-Op that was at the other end and a lot nearer to home.

[Heartoffire]

Customer service in our Aldi is great

[Onlyoldontheoutside]

You have to pick and choose.
I don't like their tomato sauce but like the mayonnaise as much as Helmand.Love the fish cakes,pizzas,fresh fish,lots of veggie options which are mostly good.I do buy fruit and veg their when I'm going to eat it in the next few days if it's a green veg not potatoes,carrots,apples, bananas all last as usual.
Mine is on the way home from work so I pop in when I need.And definitely cheaper

[demirose87]

I like Aldi and shop there the most as it's local and I save a lot of money by shopping there. But I agree about the fruit and veg. All the bananas in there were black the other day and the peaches were mouldy the day after I bought them. Everything else I like and I love their nappies.

[hidinginthenightgarden]

Snacks are fine - nice even. Some cider and wine is nice.

Most things we get are either okay or crap. Nothing is driving me to go back there. I often wonder if I got it wrong but the small saving comes with poor quality.

[Namechangetempissue]

Our local Aldi is fantastic. Always well stocked, neat and clean, great fruit and veg and good variety.
Personally I can't stand Tesco. I have never been in one that isn't a total dump -they all look run down and dirty, the meat is water filled and bland and so expensive for what it is and the fruit is tasteless and often knocked about and bruised.

[Heartoffire]

Agree I think there’s a massive difference between some Aldi stores. Morrison’s fruit and veg is shocking quality

[SolemnlySwear2010]

I don't get it either, we have tried several times but i never end up saving money so i just stay with my usual Tesco delivery.

The only thing i disagree with you on is the nappies, they were fab for my DD. We never had any rash/leakage and were usually much cheaper than other brands

[Helspopje]

I love Aldi
Most of our core shop is costco with aldi and lidl and v occasional waitrose essentials/offers/knockdowns

[guessthisisnormal]

I am with you I don't get it either I have yet to find any thing that is comparable to my normal shop or even better .
We have also tried Lidl but still end up back at our normal store.

[pontiouspilates]

I agree with you OP. Fruit and veg seems to either never ripen or go off super quick and many of the own brands are not if the same quality of branded goods. Also, I have never managed to get a whole shop done there and have had to faff about gong to other shops.

[GlitterGlue]

The fruit and veg seems to vary by store. Ours is fine.

I'm not keen on their hummus though.

[lilybetsy]

I agree with you. I hate Aldi and Lidl. Shopping there is horribly stressful and the fresh food is generally not good quality. Or at least not enough is good to make it worth a special trip ...

[Whowhatwhy]

Wouldn't touch it with a barge pole to be honest.

[HarvestMoon9]

There are loads of items which aren’t actually any cheaper in Aldi (compared to Sainsburys where I usually shop)

And there are a lot of false economies - loads of the household/toiletry stuff we’ve had from Aldi don’t last anywhere near as long so you have to buy them more frequently and either spend the same as elsewhere or more.

It’s not amazing but we’ve found some of Aldi’s things alright and save enough to make it worthwhile doing a monthly shop for non perishable stuff.

Don’t know why people rave about it though!