To shop at Lidl

[Singingtherapy]

I've done my weekly shop there for the past three weeks and in doing so have cut my food bill pretty much in half, with no reduction in quality. At first it felt like a no brainer to never go anywhere else again! But I'd change my mind if there were ethical issues. Does anyone know much about the company or have any experience from the inside? Please tell me they don't keep their prices low by paying minimum wage and generally exploiting their staff.

Google their business model.

I think they are one of the better payers actually.

I love Lidl; in and out in 20 minutes, good cheese and charcuterie, good stuff, no frills.

If youve money spare to worry you dont need to shop there. I have a choose shop ldll or not eat!

They are decent employers, I think, weren't they the first or only retailers to pay the living wage?

I have shopped at Lidl’s for past couple of years and always found it good. I believe that they announced a little while ago that they were paying national living wage - not sure if I’ve called it right name but the one that’s higher than the minimum wage as it used to be called.

I think they keep cost low by minimal marketing, no frills, low cost, sole source buying/selling relationships. I suspect they put pressure on all suppliers as all supermarkets do, but to avoid that you would have to go direct to Farm.

Aldi has the edge though for low priced supermarket as their veg and fruit lasts longer

Yes they pay the living wage and give contracted hours.

They also offer the Staff the option of different Stores and extra hours.

Don't like the shop, went into one once, never again, car park full of broken glass, not my choice ever again!

I work with several food and drink producers in Scotland. Lidl and Aldi (and Waitrose) are the contracts they want to win because they work well with suppliers. They see the others, especially Tesco, as promoting a "master/slave" supplier relationship

I thought they paid well, I’m sure I saw a till operative job advertised for £9 an hour.

Maybe they save money by throwing your food through the till as quickly as humanly possible!

I do like Lidl and do shop there, but have to top up with other supermarkets.

I do shop at Lidl about twice a month, and top up with other sypermarkets for the stuff I cannot find in Lidl (Felix, Iams and Catsan, and a few other bits and bobs for us).

What would be wrong with shopping there?

Ours is packed with posh people marvelling at how little things cost and those clearly on a budget getting by.

Once you have shopped there a while you start to adjust your habits and I can usually do my whole shop there, just need odds and ends of spices elsewhere.

I think Lidl is slightly better than Aldi(and I hate Aldi) but the smell of the bakery makes me heave.

I have shopped at aldi for years and occasionally lidl now one has opened nearby. I love the fact I can be in and out in no time, the staff are polite and cheery. When chatting to check out staff they have confirmed they are happy in their role (they have told me they have to get on because of the busnines model of all 'mucking in'). They are paid well. I also seem to remember reading that as a company they use local suppliers for some fresh produce in order to cut transportation costs. The quality and range of products at my local one is amazing. I am now an expert at the tills so not fazed by having to pack quickly, in fact I find other supermarkets infuriating. And I get to pick up amazing stuff in the random isle.

I do a big shop there most weeks. Buy lots of basics there - meat, bread, pasta, oil, yoghurt, sausages, fruit juice etc. Also treats such as icecream. There are some things we don't particularly like there that I buy elsewhere (bacon, cheddar, tinned soup). I reckon save at least £100 per month. Don't particularly ENJOY doing a shop there but whizz round in 20 mins.

I wouldn't buy meat there or any supermarket only a local
Butchers but that is not specific to Lidl . If I can't afford to buy from butchers I do without . As for the ethics re humans I think they seem decent employers if they offer contracts so that staff can plan their life , get mortgages etc .

I have never been to one because there isn't one anywhere near us.

However I hear such good things about them I would love to try. And yippee there are apparently plans approved to open one in our town soon. I am normally a Sainsbury's shopper but definitely looking forward to giving Lidl a try.

Lidl definitely has the edge over Aldi, I find the quality and freshness of their fruit and veg really good whereas in Aldi you have to eat it within two days or it has gone off, plus I find the staff really rude in my two nearest Aldi stores too

Lower overheads, shops with less staff, shops not so pretty & lit up.

Lidl has the best bakery & love their wooden toys.