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.

I don’t like Lidl or Aldi, they both look a bit grubby, at least the floor is clean in Waitrose where I get most my fresh stuff and it’s big so has a lot of variety, also get online shop from Tesco sometimes of mainly branded cupboard stuff which is the same everywhere and it’s bought into my kitchen for me to put away. Never had a bad Tesco home delivery.

I adore Lidl and Aldi.

I'm in Ireland though and the competitors are different. Lidl/Aldi quality is so superior and so much cheaper. 95% of my food shop is from there (along with M&S for some bits).

It actively annoys me if I end up somewhere else. I feel so ripped off. Plus, I miss rummaging in the random tat aisle.

I hate aldi crisps and cereals..

Yes I agree!! Always see it raved about but the shops quite frankly are dirty and grotty! and the food looks unappealing, as for the nappies I wouldnt touch them tbh, thats just lidl. Aldi ive never stepped foot in.

Lidl used to be awful and I avoided it despite it being my closest shop.

But the quality of fresh fruit and veg is way better than it used to be (apart from raspberries and blueberries which mostly seem to be awful). Now I shop in Lidl just for their racks of ribs. I've tried the ones from every supermarket and Lidl's are the best (the sweet ones, not the smoky).

Also the store is so much smaller I complete my shop in half the time

@greenshadow

Remember the tills are fast because they want you to put your shopping back in your trolley and pack over at the side in your own time. This gets the money in the tills quicker like the on the Continent.

Aldi decaf ground (baby blue packet) is lovely and comparable to Caffe Nero £1.39 and I am fussy with coffee.

Also Aldis have cash machine inside the door and some even have a loo.

Lidl can look a bit Eastern Block but it's the product quality that's important. Returned to Waitrose and Tesco just to compare and quickly put back the trolley as the quality and price is overpriced and poor. Got sick of Tesco fruit and veg looking all shiny and then being mushy in a few days.

I wouldnt go in aldi as I dont like the check out system. Atleast tescos always looks clean and fresh.

I can afford to shop elsewhere but choose to do the vast majority at Aldi. It’s fine for staples such as bread, milk, veg, tuna, oil, tinned stuff, pesto, pasta, baking ingredients, salami, cheese etc. It is great value for cleaning products and washing tabs.

I find that if I do a main shop at Aldi, I can then justify nipping in to M&S and getting a few ‘luxury’ items.

We also get branded ketchup & mayo from elsewhere.

I tend to mainly shop at Waitrose or Aldi. I find everywhere else pretty shite, particularly Sainsbury's with fruit and veg that don't taste like fruit and veg.
Aldi meat is generally excellent.
Gin
Cleaning products
Cheese
Quark
Dairy products
Christmas food.
Olives (much better than Waitrose)
My DS is the fussiest eater on the planet because he has a very astute palate. Only Aldi frozen garlic bread cuts it for him.

My exH, neighbour, and ex bf all used to always tell me I needed to shop at Aldi. I tried. I hated it. I only used to go for the knock off Baileys but I get Asda's own now so no need to go at all. They don't do much in the way of ready made veggie or vegan stuff or anything less than basic cooking ingredients. Fruit and veg went off really quickly and when I was with my exH the milk was off on several occasions.

I've never been in a Lidl as isn't one nearby.

I like the experience of shopping in Waitrose, M&S, and Waitrose. I'd rather spend more on better quality than have more of cheaper stuff.

My daughters get fed Aldi stuff at their dad's. They complain bitterly about the tomato ketchup and cereal.

I do think from what I've read that there's a lot of variation between Aldi stores in terms of quality.

I like Tesco for every day things, Waitrose for the more exciting, M&S for treats (veggie sweets and chocolate biscuits at Christmas). However Waitrose have been sending me £20 off if I spend £80 so I've been using them for every day stuff too. I get £95 worth of shopping for £60 delivered once all the offers have been taken into account. I also use my local Asda for tip ups and knock off Baileys. Best bread goes to The Co-Op.

But apparently as a single mum on benefits (gasp) I should only shop at Aldi or Lidl.

YANBU. Both are complete crap.

I don't get the hype either. If you've got a food allergy or intolerance it's hopeless which half my family has. The fruit in and veg in my nearest one are crap and I don't think some of the food taste great. Everyone thinks the Nappies are great but they leak on my kids.

That said its special for you or whatever the range is called does the best quiche.

My friends and family think it's mint and can't understand why I shop at Ocado. I just use the excuse I don't live near one and don't have time to go to two shops to get the gluten free stuff. Truth is I don't rate it, wish I did as cant deny it's cheaper

I only have the choice or lidl or tesco nesr me (and no others deliver either) and I find it cheaper and veg tends to be more in stock then tesco and never really had a problem with the veg not lasting.

I love shopping at Lidl or Aldi. Never found the food to be poor quality and I am quite picky. They have got everything you need, just not twenty varieties of the same thing. TBH I prefer it as it cuts down shopping time. Their checkouts are fast as customers do their packing themselves. Obviously the prices are unbeatable.

I haven’t set foot in a big supermarket for at least 3 years doing food shop (I only go if I need kid’s clothing or uniforms) and I have not missed it.

We tend to buy the German cold meats and cheese from them, they're made to very high standards, when we've tried the stuff from UK manufacturers we've not been impressed. I usually buy the caramelised onion relish from Morrisons but once bought it from Aldi, it was gross.
*Remember the tills are fast because they want you to put your shopping back in your trolley and pack over at the side in your own time. This gets the money in the tills quicker like the on the Continent.
*
Because that's how they're designed to work, we were behind someone slowly unloading a huge trolley, the cashier couldn't start as there is nowhere to put large amounts. Has there been another trolley there the stuff could be swiped and placed into the new trolley and the shopper could pack at leisure.

It’s easier though to just get branded stuff and get a supermarket to deliver it, it’s the same everywhere then. We just buy stuff like Scott’s oats, Heinz beans, Persil online etc. Why heave it round to the checkout then into the car and out of the car when it can be brought into your kitchen. Then you only need to get a few bits from the actual supermarket

I live Aldi. This year I’ll be getting my main Christmas shop from Aldi with a small delivery from Waitrose to cover the hard-to-get bits.

From Aldi I always buy from their Specially Selected range, eg:

Freshly squeezed orange juice
Melton Mowbray pork pies
Blue eggs
Dauphinois potatoes
Ready meals such as cottage pie and lasagne
Pots of cheesecakes
Sticky toffee pudding
Stollen and other Christmassy bits
Salted caramel truffles
Luxury cookies
I find their fruit, veg, meat, dairy and cupboard stuff to be just as good as Tesco and often Waitrose.

Their alcohol section is great too: Organic Prosecco, blush fizz and Pinot Grigio
Reserve Chianti
Excellent Riesling
Gin from their huge selectio

PeroniZucchini try their frangipane mince pies.

Love Aldi and Lidl and I can't justify the cost of other supermarkets. I find them mostly really good quality especially things like steaks, cheeses, cured meats, dips, yoghurts, bakery, Christmas stuff and baby stuff.

I do also secretly enjoy the drama of having my stuff lobbed at me by the cashier and having to just bung it all in the trolley super quickly. It weeds out the till stragglers that you get in other shops at least

bugaboo218 "I dislike Aldi after buying a pack of inedible mince (brown and slimy in its raw state)"

Surely mince is covered with a clear film and you can see its condition before you buy it.

I can't afford Tesco and whatever. I do all my shopping in aldi and Lidl. If you can afford to choose do what you want but I'm not fooled for a second. You fecking thick if you think Tesco food is somehow superior

It is worth going to Aldi for their chocolate with pretzel bits in it.

I like Aldi but I also go to Asda, Tesco and CO-OP as well.

I don't rate Tesco food at all

How can an egg be poor quality??

Do they sell organic free-range eggs from British farms? Because that's the only kind I buy.

Avoid the Aldi beef gravy granules. I thought I would give them a go. After one use, tipped whole lot in the bin. Really salty and pretty gross. Buy cheap, buy twice. Straying from bisto was clearly a mistake

Nappies and wipes are good though.