Quality at Aldi and Lidl

[Marcelduchamp]

I know Aldi and Lidl are really popular on mumsnet but I really am completely baffled as to how people can claim its good quality. I have relatives who shop there and I have eaten the food lots of times. Yes a few items are OK but on the whole its not good in my experience. I don't eat meat so can't comment on that. I do think veg is veg so is probably not vastly different. I also think the choice is poor with a very basic selection of stuff.

I know it's cheap and we all need that at times. I'm not knocking people who need to cut shopping costs. But are people really being honest when they say the can't tell the difference. What are you tasting? Examples are the strong cheddar cheese is just bland, the crisps don't have much flavour and the filled pasta is cloying inside.

I suppose my AIBU is AIBU to day these shops sell poor quality food.

I’m about to head to Waitrose
And I look forward to it. Nice layout, lovely produce, nice staff, pleasant lighting, temperature, clean.

Whereas Aldi and Lidl... I feel like I have to take a long shower afterwards and throw the clothes I was wearing in to a hot wash.

I just went to a new Lidl in our area. It was clean, well lit, very high ceilings. I found it very pleasant.

Our local Waitrose is also very pleasant.

@MsMiaWallace

For the good words I said about Aldi. Just opened a pack of pitta breads purchased from them on Thursday dated best before 13/11/20. Every one of them in packet mouldy & soggy :(

I've had the same from aldi with pitta bread, part baked bread and some other type of bread I forget. My mum shops at a totally different aldi and has had it with the pitta bread so I think maybe their supplier uses a crap machine to seal the bread or something!

@Whatwouldscullydo

I know we've spoken alot about the food but I did neglect to say that actually i find some of the cleaning stuff,/toiletries pretty bad too.

I have a bottle of fizzy cola hand wash in the kitchen. It doesn't lather up. You cant smell it unless u really get close up and sniff it and it kinda just slides straight off your hand.

Out done by a 2 pound bar if soap so not like its been replaced with something fancy and expensive I cant compare to.

The toilet cleaner is really watery too. Wasn't really impressed with any if it and again I use own brands and what's on offer etc. Not fussy.

I haven't used the toiletries but the cleaning spray I got (forget from which one) was really, really sticky and it stunk.

* I have a bottle of fizzy cola hand wash in the kitchen. It doesn't lather up. You cant smell it unless u really get close up and sniff it and it kinda just slides straight off your hand.*

What the heck did you expect from fizzy cola hand wash??

And who wants their hands smelling of fizzy cola?!

Good job nothing smells of fizzy cola then

Seemed a good idea at the time.

That will teach me to give a reprieve from the rancid butter incident....

I shoukd have known better

aldi specially selected has same supplier as marks and spencer. I batch cook so most of the basics I need I can get from Aldi, except some of the less run of the mill herbs and spices. So shelf life on veg isnt an issue, but I do notice that the fruit and veg doesnt last as long if not used quickly.

I shop half in Aldi and half in m&s as they're both on the same retail park.

I like things like apples, bananas, pears, fresh chicken, microwave rice, ham, kids yoghurts, olive oil, cereal etc from Aldi.

I get fresh veg and fruit like berries and clementines from m&s as well as their deli bits and other meat and fish. I would buy filled pasta from m&s but not Aldi. Same with crisps and cheese.

I can do a full shop in Aldi but def agree that the quality isn't the same no matter what people say. You can save quite a bit by shopping there even for a partial shop though. I notice quite a few people do what I do and shop in both, you just have to figure out which products it's worth paying more for.

I don't mind Aldi for bread and tinned stuff. Frozen veg is fine but not fresh and not meat. Cheese is ok but not milk. I can't be arsed to go to different places to shop, hats off to those of you that make the effort or don't have a choice in order to make ends meet. If l did have time, as l did when l worked part time, l would make the effort.

I prefer Aldi to Lidl just slightly.

I’m in Ireland so the local produce is mostly produced over here in Ireland with a few things from other European countries. I know the tasty strong vintage cheddar from Aldi is made by the nearby cheese company in Cork because my friend works there and told me.

The veg in both shops is fresh and good quality, it has to be to compete with all the local farmers markets we have each week in the nearby towns.

I used to be a Waitrose shopper in the UK, but can’t say I miss it. Our two nearest SuperValu’s are definitely the best supermarkets for sheer variety of food from small Irish producers.

However, I think some U.K. Aldi’s and Lidl’s aren’t that great so it probably depends on where they’re based and the staff managing them.

Cant fault the cheese, wines or fruit in either, but for deep sea diving suits I'd always pick Aldi.

You just dont get the quality rubber in Lidl.

I don't buy the crisps there's absolutely no flavour on them at all and the fruit you of have to eye up a good piece as a lot are shitty other than that I think it's good. Wish they didn't have as much crap in the middle and had more weekly items shop aisles

I somehow prefer Lidl, in particular the one near Warren Street station. It has a good layout, long queues as expected, but moves fast due to the number of check out counters. Never been an Aldl shopper, which my son prefers.

I only go to buy packet nuts or packet prunes , nothing else. I do remember I did get a small jar of manuka honey for £4 but I won't say its same quality to similar size Manuka honey £20 from boots. I was just surprised and happy to get a jar of Manuka honey cheaper. 😊
I feel the prices at Lidl are creeping up to same prices as Sainsbury's, when it comes to packed chicken legs/ thighs / wings / and other meats etc, hence I don't buy those at Lidl, or anything similar to prices at Sainsbury's or M&S because I may as well buy them from Sainsbury's and get my loyal points on my Nectar card. 😊

ZOMBIE

Like everywhere else some of the stuff is good and some isn't. You learn what to go for and what to avoid.

Sainsburys are the worst offenders IMHO - they're incredibly overpriced for absolutely mediocre quality across the board. Even their fruit and veg is crap.

I shop in Lidl and Waitrose, and I think the bakery wins hands down over Waitrose (and I live near one of their biggest stores). Lidl’s selection is just not always the best, so top up at different places is needed - but we are happy with the quality

I can't fault the quality at Aldi.
It's the only place I shop.
Saves me a fortune too!