To ask you what’s good from Lidl?

[WhatisaNarwhal]

Always done the weekly shop at Sainsbury’s- but to be honest the quality hasn’t been very good for a while, and I’m in a financial pickle for the next few months (Emergency taxed for no apparent reason last month and will be again this month, and couple of big unexpected costs have come in)

So heigh ho off to Lidl I go. Need to
reduce costs anyway- have always been shit with money, and had a short sharp shock since I became a LP on a quite low pro rata salary (after years of a v good salary).

So what’s good? It’s just me and the toddler to shop for. I’m gluten free and low carb, toddler loves fruit and cheese particularly.

Of course I love wine. Haven’t bought any recently due to the aforementioned poverty, but could definitely do with a sub £10 treat (with my birthday money before I get a lecture!!!)

Also what’s good for cleaning products? Which seem astronomically expensive everywhere at the mo.

TIA

See, I find Sainsbury’s unrivalled for fresh food quality.

I am right near a brand new Aldi and Lidl (next door to each other ) and whilst there are some great things to be had, I fins fruit and veg dire (especially Aldi)

Lidl, basically all the bad stuff chocolate, milkshakes, pudding pots, massive tubs of Greek yogurt (especially the chocolate one) and granola cereal. Also their own brand cola “freeway” is v.good, that’s about it from there. The bakery stuff being uncovered freaks me out, dirty hands touching it, people coughing and sneezing on it and as mentioned by PP a fly sitting on it.

Aldi, tend to find these better for “freezer stuff” burgers, pizza, etc, as much as I want to, I can’t buy fresh meat/fish from these places (somebody is paying for the meat being that cheap and it certainly ain’t Aldi and Lidl). Bakery stuff at Aldi is better (not fresh baked of course)

Cleaning products at both seem fine (as do toiletries), I usually stick with my branded detergent as one supermarket or other has always, but always got it on offer so no dearer really.

The one thing I have NEVER found a supermarket own brand substitute for is instant coffee. They just can’t do it.

Lidl is cheaper, but obviously some products may not be - usually the beaded products are more expensive in Lidl.

But the fruit and veg is good value, as well as dried groceries. I live the white chocolate bars for 30p too! The salad stuff is great as well as the bread/cake. Basic toiletries are good.

The only thing I wouldn't buy in there is frozen stuff, but I'm fussy.

Branded not beaded

I have found Aldi prices creeping up

See, I can’t help but feel what’s going to happen is, Aldi and Lidl are going to get the market share they can (they’re both opening stores like madmen) and then stick the prices up to what the supermarkets already charge.

This of course being after some of the main chains closing some stores and some towns will be Aldi and Lidl only.

Under no illusion that supermarkets are greedy and have had it good for a long time, but things cost what they do (as a minimum) for reasons (supply, wages, running costs etc).

If it really were sustainable to have such low prices, then all the main chains would have crashed their prices down when Aldi and Lidl started their expansion and they wouldn’t have lost their customers at the rates they are doing.

Their anti-wrinkle moisturiser with hyaluronic acid in the black tube is very good and costs about £2.

Crefe garlic cream cheese. I had to stop buying it because I'm so greedy I'd eat the whole lot in one night

Their cured meats and cheeses are great value. Chocolate is awesome and cheaper. Milk cheaper...

We've just started doing our big shop at Lidl (for 5 people). I've gone from spending c £140/week at Tesco to it being under £100/week inc a top up of c £10/week at Sainsburys for the bits Lidl don't have (lemon mousse, fruit flakes, Quorn stuff mostly).

Just back...

Trolley full of fruit and veg that looked at least as good as the stuff I buy from m&s or Sainsbury’s. chocolate for baking was v cheap, as were own brand crumpets etc (and much lower in salt).

Also picked up a bottle of Malbec for a fiver that I’ll be interested to compare to my usual preferred bottle, and their fresh flowers looked immeasurably better than anything I’ve seen in m&s/Sainsbury’s for a long time.

We were already well stocked for meat and pulses, so this “top up” shop should see us through the week, and was £40 including birthday “treats” (5 wine, £3 flowers, £3 chocolate).

The unbagged nuts (?!? ) looked like a great value option... until I saw someone sticking their hand in the barrel to weigh them out... (not envy)
out.

If it really were sustainable to have such low prices, then all the main chains would have crashed their prices down when Aldi and Lidl started their expansion and they wouldn’t have lost their customers at the rates they are doing.

Unpicking this...

It really is sustainable. Both Lidl & Aldi have been working with the same basic models for well over 20 years, although they’ve been tweaked over time.

They sell far fewer lines so supply & distribution are simpler & cheaper, & they have multi-skilled skeleton staff so everybody is always working flat out.

The main stores did cut prices sharply, on many of the lines which directly compete, once Aldi & Lidl started becoming much more popular & taking market share (& profits) from them, but too late to stop their popularity expanding. Also they just didn’t get that it was never just about price. (And they still tend to price match their own budget lines with Aldi’s standard ones, which are much better quality.)

Which? magazine prices a large ‘basket’ of branded & own-brand groceries every month. Aldi & Lidl aren’t included because they don’t have the brands, but it’s noticeable that the price has plummeted on the last 5 years - was over £200 in 2013, currently around £130 (has fluctuated more over the last year)

Which? do say:

We calculate the average price of each individual food or grocery product over the month, and include special offer discounts, but not multibuys. We rotate the products in the basket and only compare items that are available in all the supermarkets. This means the prices aren't comparable between months or years

But they do give complete lists of what is included, & they’re not that different month to month. Obviously there are eg seasonal (& Brexit ) factors too but IMO the main influence is the German competition

The hand-finished cake is good and about £1 cheaper than rivals.

Chocolate twists on the bakery, especially when they're 3 for £1.
Black forest ham, lovely in an omelette or with cantaloupe melon and strawberries, black pepper and balsamic
Cartons of gazpacho soup during their Spain weeks.
Chocolate covered almonds at Christmas.
Pflaumenkuchen, a plum tart with a crumble topping.
Aldi for bags of bake at home rolls and black bread.
Cold meats and sliced cheeses for lunches only though.
Vegetable crisps.

Neither is as good as they were 30 years ago in Germany though, sadly, becoming mainstream.

My mum is gluten free. I go food shopping with her once a week to Sainsburys then Lidl. Her Sainsburys spend has come down a bit since Lidl started doing gluten free stuff. They sell some of the same brands as Sainsburys but they're cheaper at Lidl. I also find Lidl quality very good.

I love the packaged nuts and almonds, meat is ok, the more „expensive“ olive oil and rape seed oils are fantastic. Fruit and veg generally ok - stay away from berries though.
Washing up tablets good, and laundry detergents good (note: nothing for delicate/wool/silk) - but unless special offer not environmental friendly

I do my whole weekly shop in lidl for £75 for 4 people. Meat is good - very good quality and cheap, fruit and veg good although as someone else said don't buy the strawberries. We like their big family pasta bakes in the fridge section and their garlic bread

Lidl is great for low carbing. Things I've bought recently that are lovely and far cheaper than Sainsbury's/Ocado:
Packaged almonds
Fresh prawns
Rib eye steak
Spatchcoch piri piri chicken
Marinated anchovies
Sashimi tuna with wasabi cream dip
Various continental cheeses
Saucisson sec

The shampoos / shower gels are also good and their miss suddenly perfume is a good dupe of chanel coco mademoiselle and is £3.99

The fake tresemme shampoo is good too!

I buy the 5% frozen sausages and beefburgers for mid-week with their baked potatoes always good when you are pushed for time.
I buy the aberdeen angus steaks as they are so much cheaper and always good quality.
Veg is always fresh I always tend to rummage underneath to find the longest date available.
Power Force 3 in 1 cleaner is my favourite for all surfaces and bathroom at 99p for a large spray bottle.
I have been on SW eating plan and buying their ready meals for some days when I am late at work at £3.99 then tried Lidl's slimming meals at £1.99 and prefer them they are bigger in content too,Chicken Chow Mein just delicious.

Cleanology are a really good alternative to the method cleaning products.

It's way cheaper than Sainsburys and much fresher. I buy lots of salad, cheeses and cooked meats. I love the low GI bread rolls. I wish I lived nearer. I've given up on Sainsburys. I would alternate between SB and Lidl, but when I went to SB they didn't have the essentials. Currently doing an Ocado/Lidl rotation.

This white chocolate. Absolutely divine. 💕💕

I find with Lidl and Aldi the quality of their fruit and veg varies store to store like with the other supermarkets. So if the store manager is useless then you get fruit and veg that hasn't been kept properly.

Generally in my area the Lidls are better stocked there as the Aldis always are running out of stuff especially cleaning products and tins.

We LOVE Lidl! Especially the following:

Fantail Prawns - SO sweet and plump.
Frozen petit pois and sweetcorn
Lemon and Marscapone Cheesecake
Extra strong bin bags - WAY better than anywhere else
Tin Foil - strong and lasts for ages
Orkney Crab Pate - DELISH
and best of all.... NZ Sauvignon Blanc at just £5.99 a bottle!

Anne I've had to ban myself from buying that stuff, ever since a whole bar disappeared in the course of an evening!!

My faves from lidl are huge salamis for about £4, Emmenthal cheese, goats cheese and massive jars of gherkins. At Xmas, I also love their stollen, their soft German gingerbread and their cheap booze.