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Original poster

To say you're all wrong about Aldi?

558 replies

Rabbitheadlights · 04/07/2021 17:33

Just that really, I've nipped into Aldi in the past for the odd loaf and picked up a few bits. DP and I discussed and decided to do the 'big' shop there last week.

It's been a disaster, to start with I couldn't find fruit or veg with more than a couple of days shelf life on them and everything I've substituted so far has been either underwhelming or disgusting (1/4 pounders filled with gristle) 🤮 with a couple of exceptions (salmon Wellington, sliced ham) the bread was mouldy the next day and still had 2 days on the use by. The nappies are just awful.

I spent £219 on Friday last week and I've since been out and spent another 150 and will likely need more before the next "big shop" on Friday.

OP posts:
Unhomme · 05/07/2021 08:14

How the bloody hell do you spend £219 on a shop at Aldi!!!???

Also, I find Aldi is fine for the big shop but you need to change your habit and go 2-3 times a week instead of once.

SchrodingersImmigrant · 05/07/2021 08:15

@Lifeispassingby

The fact that when products are recalled they are recalled from several supermarkets (there was a large humous one I remember) suggests these factories are supplying the same product to different supermarkets anyway 😂
Well yeah. 1 factory 150 products

However, that doesn't mean it's exactly the sam6w quality.

Indoctro · 05/07/2021 08:17

I've used Aldi for nappies for years and my 5 year old still wears there pull ups at night and they hardly ever leak

I don't mind tinned and dry produce but I'm not a fan of fruit and veg I also find it goes off quickly

Morrison's is my favourite supermarket

SchrodingersImmigrant · 05/07/2021 08:19

Odd how other popular supermarkets, that I think are shit for different reasons, don’t get so many, if any threads attacking them

They ddo, but they are usually started as "something somethind fucking tesco delivery".

PuppyMonkey · 05/07/2021 08:19

Got lots of points on my MN Aldi Thread Bingo Card here, well done everyone.Grin

SchrodingersImmigrant · 05/07/2021 08:20

@Indoctro

I've used Aldi for nappies for years and my 5 year old still wears there pull ups at night and they hardly ever leak

I don't mind tinned and dry produce but I'm not a fan of fruit and veg I also find it goes off quickly

Morrison's is my favourite supermarket

I like morissons. Such a shame they are all quite far from me. When i am around i do like to pop in
cricketmum84 · 05/07/2021 08:20

We do our big shop at Lidl but I've found the same with the fruit and veg. It's sub standard and doesn't last so I get a weekly fruit and veg delivery.

I don't like aldi though.

ancientgran · 05/07/2021 08:26

My nearest supermarket is a LIdl that is about 2 years old, it is alot smarter than the local Sainsburys or Asda, the Asda is a bit like a metal shed and I couldn't do a full shop there.

I love Lidl bakery, their bacon is fantastic, lots of stuff is cheaper than other supermarkets e.g. tinned stuff, poppadoms (we eat alot of curry) squash and fizzy drinks, I suppose it depends what you like, I am fond of an individual cheesecake as DH won't eat them and they are probably half the price of a very similar product in Sainsburys. My husband has allergies and I can't use some washing powder but Lidl's is fine. I haven't had any problems with their meat but some fruit is dodgy but apples and bananas have always been fine.

If people want to shop elsewhere that's fine, don't know what there is to argue about. I find Asda and Morrisons rubbish but I think that is down to the local branches.

Original poster
Rabbitheadlights · 05/07/2021 08:42

@comebacksunshines
And yes I decided to try Aldi for the main shop off the back of nipping in a few times for basics, how and when do you decide to try a new supermarket??

As for my writing style being weird? How so?

OP posts:
sunglassesonthetable · 05/07/2021 08:44

Well not sure how one caster sugar or plain flour or salt or veg oil or tin of kidney beans is better than another but hey ho.

As for fruit n veg I think it's great and good quality. And the poster who said 'over packaged" . ReallyHmm It's the opposite.

I'm not here to fight any battles for Lidl/Aldi ( they can do it themselves) but I shop there every few weeks to top up my other shops and I think the quality and value are fantastic. And all this "mouldy and gone off" has just never happened to me. The opposite.

Great sourdough, great greek yogurt, the best tinned coconut, tinned piccolo tomatoes, brisket, mozerella, the wine is always in " the best " lists in the paper.

The electricals from the middle aisle have a 3 yr guarantee. ( And are a snip) what's not to like? Hello electric toothbrushes, velvetiser milk thingy, hand clothes steamerGrin

Plants, flowers - hands down fab.

For the sake of balance Queues are rubbish and they seem to open the bare minimum tills a a time.

claralara42 · 05/07/2021 08:45

@LagunaBubbles

I'm surprised noone has mentioned a chicken lasting all week yet, the competitive "I feed my large family on £50 a week how on earth can anyone spend £219" comments are ridiculous.
No, spending 380 quid in a week is ridiculous, more so when you come on here to whine about it.
quiteathome · 05/07/2021 08:48

I think fruit and veg quality everywhere seems to have dropped recently. I was wondering if it is taking longer to get through due to Brexit etc.

Our Aldi here is generally ok. Lidl can be hit and miss.

Bryonyshcmyony · 05/07/2021 08:48

I've never had an issue with Lidl fruit and veg - all the veg seems very fresh to me and lasts plenty long enough, I don't really expect fruit and veg to last longer than three or four days. The only thing I never buy is the potatoes as full of black

NotMyCat · 05/07/2021 08:52

I prefer Lidl to Aldi but that just might be because the Aldi near me is crap! I do find the salad bags don't last at all though

strawberrydonuts · 05/07/2021 08:54

There are some bargains to be had there and they are great for people on a low income. But if you can afford it I don't know why you wouldn't shop somewhere nicer.

sunglassesonthetable · 05/07/2021 08:56

It's been a disaster, to start with I couldn't find fruit or veg with more than a couple of days shelf life on them

You don't mean the unpackaged veg then?

comebacksunshines · 05/07/2021 08:56

[quote Rabbitheadlights]@comebacksunshines
And yes I decided to try Aldi for the main shop off the back of nipping in a few times for basics, how and when do you decide to try a new supermarket??

As for my writing style being weird? How so?[/quote]
Trying to hard too sound like a mumsnetter.
If you have 7 other people living with you, presumably some of them are children if you are buying nappies. You also have a cat. They are all happy to eat whatever you put in front of them ? you have no picky eaters that like particular brands and types of food that you would unlikely get from Aldi ? but you have somehow managed to do your 'big shop' in Aldi. Of course you have.

bunburyscucumbersandwich · 05/07/2021 08:57

Lidl is better than aldi, but Aldi is better than our other supermarket and it does click and collect too.

Never had a problem, but you need to shop on Tuesday or Thursday to get the best dated items.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 05/07/2021 08:57

I don't really like Aldi. Not a snobby thing either as I'm not well off, I have Aldi, Tesco and Asda local to me and mostly use Asda which gets slagged of a lot!

Original poster
Rabbitheadlights · 05/07/2021 09:05

@comebacksunshines I have 8 other people living with me, and a cat, yes some are children, and yes they generally eat what I give them ... I don't understand what your post is trying to insinuate ??

@claralara42 for the umpteenth time 219 was for a fortnight shop and 150 was spent replacing substandard or disliked stuff I don't know how many times I need to explain. If shouting that I spend 380 a week on shopping suits your agenda then so be it, but it doesn't make it true. You've still not told me how you feed a family of 7 adults on £60 PW ??????????

OP posts:
fussychica · 05/07/2021 09:06

We go to Aldi every couple of months (not local), plus have their wine delivered sometimes. I buy a few key things that I love, washing tablets, moisturiser, hand-wash, posh tonic ripoff, and a few others.

However, I recently went to open a pack of their Manchego that had ages until the bb date and it was totally mouldy and a pack of cashews that were soft and tasted/smelt of petrol. Put me right of and will probably stop buying their food products now as its too far to go to return items.
Lidl is similar to me, just buy a few key items which I love, cottage cheese, Alesto nuts, luxury muesli, salmon Wellington, but couldn't do a full shop there.

Bryonyshcmyony · 05/07/2021 09:07

Presumably the Ops family eat what they are given, like my family and many other families?

Tinpotspectator · 05/07/2021 09:08

I get half my shop there by going twice a month. Lots of the basics are fine if you shop and cook from scratch.

gamerchick · 05/07/2021 09:08

@claralara42 for the umpteenth time 219 was for a fortnight shop and 150 was spent replacing substandard or disliked stuff I don't know how many times I need to explain. If shouting that I spend 380 a week on shopping suits your agenda then so be it, but it doesn't make it true. You've still not told me how you feed a family of 7 adults on £60 PW ??????????

You mean nobody has mentioned batch cooking to you yet? Grin

Feeding that many people costs, no matter how you do it.

Treehaus · 05/07/2021 09:09

It's weird how defensive some people get about people saying they aren't a fan. Aldi are still a business who make a shedload of profit, they have a USP which is selling stuff they can sell cheaply, if someone isn't a fan of their food or the fact they have a middle aisle designed to make people buy stuff they don't need then I don't get the issue.