to not get why people like Aldi/Lidl so much?

[lucydogz]

yes, I know it's really cheap, but, appart from some things, the food just is poor quality. When I last went there, my DH was enthused about how cheap it was, but the eggs, porridge oats, jam, mayonnaise, digestive biscuits, and plums I bought were not good at all. I see why people would shop there if they hadn't got any money, but, if you can afford to, why not go somewhere better?
If anybody can tell me about any things they do well I'm prepared to be convinced.

People who say they're the same products in different packaging- is this a fact? They really don't taste the same

As I said, they turn to paste when cooked. I haven't come across that before

@elftastic Tonbridge isn't that naice, that's more Tunbridge Wells. Its Waitrose is good though, especially because it's usually empty! Definitely worth a trip if you're not too far away - mind you it is also the only Waitrose in which I have ever heard someone turn to their preschool child and shout "Shut the fuck up you little bastard" Definitely not what you expect of 'overheard in Waitrose'

I dislike Aldi after buying a pack of inedible mince (brown and slimy in its raw state) and their customer service was not the best either. Aldi fruit and veg also goes off quickly in my experience and I hate how the shopping is chucked through the checkout.

I am happy to shop in Lidl, I do not have to shop their for financial reasons, but I choose to do so because I like the products I buy and find them good quality for basics.

I buy fruit/ veg and meat from.grreen grocer and butcher.

The digestive biscuits are much sweeter than mcvities as well

I think they’re both pretty good value, but I do find the fruit and veg poorer quality than the other supermarkets. I shop in both Lidl and aldi but only when I have time spare to pop to Tesco afterwards to collect the inevitable 5-6 things on my list that I couldn’t get.

Glad you have plenty money elf

Enjoying the recommendations. We don't currently have either Aldi or Lidl near by but as of next week we have an Aldi opening just down the road.
The whole town appears to be looking forward to it!

I like Aldi. The cashiers are really nice here and chat kindly to you! It’s interesting because I’ve been scrutinising stuff for palm oil and the stuff that doesn’t have it in is much better quality than the branded stuff it’s a dupe for such as chocolate buttons and cornettos.

RE Perceived Food Quality

I live in Cumbria, three years ago last December we were devastated by Storm Desmond. McVities Biscuit Factory in Carlisle was badly flooded. No shop had any bourbons from Aldi to Marks. The reason why...McVities produced and still do a lot of biscuits for others. Quality surely is personal perception? You're not Egon Ronay. (Also had a Restaurant in the Lakes)

I live an almost equal distance to an Aldi, Tesco and M & S and use them all. M & S when I don't want a big shop. Use Tesco to do my big shop when I have other things to do there eg. collect contact lenses, go to on sight hairdressers, buy birthday cards ext. At other times it's Aldi which is by far cheapest even using their Specially Selected range. These are what I find best buys in Aldi:
The type of fruit & veg that keeps longest|: Potatoes, carrots, onions, melons, bananas.
Specially selected Jams, back unsmoked bacon, the butter with sea salt and the specially selected cakes. Its true as someone said up thread that some of the product is made and packaged in the same place as M & S and other stores. A good example of this is the Specially selected carrot cake and chocolate cake. I think they keep it cheaper by not offering a wide selection. Aldi only do those 2 in this range while the other stores offer a far wider selection.

Other things which I find fine are: eggs, milk, large block extra mature cheese, chicken, fresh salmon, chocolate, wine especially prosecco, shower gels, hand wash, clothes wash stuff.

Somethings are trial and error. We don't like their copy branston, tomato sauce and we found their peanut butter positively disgusting.
Simple...try once and if we don't like don't buy again but still save a fortune on other stuff. I also wouldn't buy salad stuff, tomatoes ext, soft fruits unless I intended to use quickly but overall I save a lot the weeks I shop there.

We get about 75% of our food from Lidl and 25% from Waitrose.
Get Milk, nappies, fruit and veg from Lidl.
Clarence Court eggs, pain aux chocolates and fancy ice-cream from Waitrose.

I don't get why people go to Tesco. Don't think produce - fruit and veg in particular is any good and produce isn't particularly cheap.

After the snow earlier this year, my local Lidl was well stocked with fresh fruit and veg whereas Tescos and Morrisons were empty for about a week. Got to love the German efficiency!

I don't get why people go to Tesco.
We go to Tescos sometimes mainly because the baby likes eating the free fruit and veg!

Lidl's bakery is amazing quality and such good value. And I'm obsessed with their baby clothes when it's baby event time - really good quality organic cotton, 3 quid for two pairs of trousers or body suits. They are the best fit for my very long, slim DS and nice on his sensitive skin.

I think on the whole Aldi is naff! Horrible chicken drumsticks, microwave rice, some of the bread and other stuff that I can't think of at the moment!

I do LOVE their chocolate and cake though!

The veg in our Aldi is well past its best. I stopped buying it there. its soft and unusable within a day or so.

The trouble for me is that I can't do a full shop in Aldi/Lidl and I don't want to have to spend hours going from supermarket to supermarket.

Some items are good - brioche/pain au chocolate, cheese, yoghurts, biscuits, toilet paper, coffee, teabags, painkillers.

Agree that fruit and veg quality is poor and goes off within a couple of days. I've also done a price comparison and most of their veg is the same price as Sainsburys/Tesco and their broccoli is actually a lot more expensive.

I don't rate the meat. Although the meat in Tesco isn't great either.

A free range chicken is £2 cheaper than in Tesco.

Agree that fruit and veg quality is poor and goes off within a couple of days.

It's wierd, I have never found this. It always seems to last beyond the BB date.

i'm a BIG lidl fan and have been for the last few years, i don't need a huge price tag when i can buy something equally good at a fraction of the price. thanks to shopping at lidl we save the difference compared to others supermarkets and save it. i'm not turning my nose up at saving a couple of thousand by doing this .

For the worst supermarket has to be Iceland that wins hands down. Aldi and Lidl are like a fine dining experience compared to Iceland.

I used to work every summer in an industrial bakery that supplied virtually everyone from M&S to Aldi and whilst the same stuff is made on the same production line, the ingredients used are of vastly differing quality so yes, whilst your Waitrose fruit cake might be made in the same place as your Lidl one, it’s not the same thing.

One of the companies in question is currently relocating their store and has commissioned new build houses next to my terrace. I was shocked when I saw the blueprints with their name on! Now I know where they get all their money from

The fruit and veg at ours doesn't last two days before being rotten or mouldy. I like all the other stuff. Although the meat is pumped full of water.