To say you're all wrong about Aldi?

[Rabbitheadlights]

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.

@Rabbitheadlights

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.

100% agree, overall I find the quality of Aldi and Lidl food to be disgusting. I don't think it's value for money at all

I do 2/3 days shop at a time. I wouldn't do a weekly shop there as PP have said, the shelf life can be short
I do a weekly list and shop between aldi and waitrose

I think Aldi and Lidl are a con. The price and quality is no different to supermarket own brands IMO.

I can understand that compared to places like Waitrose, M&S and Tescos they appear cheaper.

I shop in Asda and Iceland. I can get branded stuff and not spend a fortune. Plus, they both do home delivery and I can scan and pack it as I go at Asda.

I bought peaches in M&S last week and took them back the same day, because one was mouldy and they were out of date. Their replacement pack never ripened and were hard, even when past the sell by date.

The Aldi ones tasted great .

My poverty, but not my will consents (to shop in Aldi).

@warmfluffytowels

I find ALDI is very area-dependent as to whether it's decent or not. Our local one is average but I've been to others that are much nicer.

I prefer LIDL.

Personally I think this is the whole problem with ALDI - some branches seem to be inexplicably better than others. It sounds like a really crap experience OP and I'm not surprised it's put you off, but it doesn't really chime with my impressions of their quality when I've shopped there. I don't understand why they are so hit and miss across individual branches though, and it's a shame because IME when they get it right they really do get it right.

Completely useless shop - I couldn't find half the stuff on my list last time and just left the trolley and walked out!

@Bagelsandbrie

I agree with you. But if you’re on a very low income it’s an amazing shop.

It's now though. Own brands in Asda, tesco etc are far better tasting and around the same price mark. People are listed in by the false advertising that they can save £30 on a basket shop (that basket shop compared Aldi/Lidl products against the big brands like heinz etc, it doesn't do a comparison on like for like products (is super market own brands) as they know they don't come out cheaper

Occasionally they have some good things - although mostly Christmas special chocs and party food, or the middle aisle bargains. Also some live plants, and fireworks for bonfire night. And some stuff is fine, like milk or cheese, and probably lots of other items.

However - the fruit and veg is absolutely awful!! DH wanted me to shop there as it's cheap - but even he said after a couple of attempts, that the fresh produce was dreadful. It never lasts and goes black or mouldy within a day or two. I can't understand how people can do a full shop there.

If you have time to visit several supermarkets for the best deals then fine - but if like many of us, time is more precious than a few quid - then Aldi and Lidl are just not worth the effort.

It's awful it's like what supermarkets used to be like 20 years ago. All crammed messy aisles and food with one day's date on it. The jumble sale style essential buys in the middle aisle can be tempting though.

Asda and Morrisons are just as good value imo.

Absolutely hate Aldi, always found the food bargain basement rubbish. Can't understand the people who go on about the off brand food there tasting amazing.

We usually go to Asda, Tesco is more expensive than you'd think and Waitrose and Sainsburys are too over priced.

The thing with Aldi, and with Lidl as well, is that quality can be VERY uneven. I've had far better luck there with non-perishables and non-food items in general (have NOT shopped for diapers at all). Their perishables are quite iffy. You'll find great things one trip, and then next just want to scream. However, what I saved on non-perishables DID allow me to shop for better quality perishables elsewhere. They are not, either of them, a good one-stop-does-all experience, in my opinion.

Yes it is very much store dependant as well.

I’m not crazy about everything from Aldi by any means. But shopping there does save us money to an extent. However we’re choosy about what we spend on.

I switched to Aldi from Tesco and I save myself a fortune. I’ve been shopping there for about 18 months now. The meat is brilliant, and their cooked meats are lovely and so much cheaper than Tesco. I agree the fruit and veg goes over quickly so I don’t over buy on that in there. The kids don’t like the crisps but I have them for me for work. Tinned and jarred stuff also ok. We try stuff and if we don’t like it we don’t have it again. I can also do my shop in a fraction of the time it takes in Tesco/Morrison’s. I think it takes getting used to though, it’s a different way of shopping to normal Supermarkets.

I love ALDI and do my weekly shop every week in there. However I realise that my local ALDI is a good store compared to the 3 others relatively local to it. I never have issues with their meat or fish and the fruit lasts without going off IME, although I only buy the amount we will eat and need and I never check dates on anything except meat and fish, so wouldn’t bother me if it had a short date as I would use it after the date anyhow

Aldi do the best pizzas….their flatbread ones in the freezer are amazing. I go in just for these and come out with ten at a time!

I used to do a shop in Aldi once a week and another shop in Tesco each week. I’ve gone back to Tesco for two shops a week as I just hate the ‘shopping experience’ and much prefer to get it delivered. That’s the only reason though, I didn’t have a problem with a lot of the stuff. We weren’t a fan of the tinned stuff like baked beans or Aldi cereal, but everything else was fine and tbh, I don’t buy Tesco cereal, we prefer the branded cereal.

I’m a childminder and all my children in nappies wear Aldi nappies (Parents provide) and I’ve never had a problem with them at all. The pull ups are questionable and don’t hold enough, but the nappies are as good as the branded ones.

I prefer fruit & veg to have a short shelf life.
Bigger supermarkets pick produce when under-ripe. giving long time in refridgerated storage, holding warehouses, days of lorry transport.
Often tasting of nothing.
Aldi and lidl have a quicker supply chain. I want to buy cherries or soft fruit that won't last ages. TBH.

There’s a few thinks Aldi & Lidl are great for, love Lidl’s bakery, baked cheeses and things like stollen at Christmas so it’s more of a browse for bits and pieces rather than a full shop. I know plenty who swear by both for a big weekly shop so they must be doing something right.

It also depends how you tend to cook. I think the ready meals can be very ropey for example.

I don't understand the love either. I've been in a few times and they never ever have anything much that I'd want to buy, groceries wise. There's no way I'd be able to do a full shop in either of them.

One of them is great for gardening items, I bought some cold frames and mini greenhouses which are superb for the price.

Agree with pp that the flatbread pizzas are quite nice as supermarket pizzas go. We did used to get those every once in a while.

@switswoo81

Not on a low income and do all my shopping in Aldi. Fruit and veg is perfect, most of the meat is local (I'm in Ireland) . I know a farmer who produces eggs for Aldi and there standards are extremely high. Tesco would cost multiples of the amount I spend in Aldi and it's an absolute rip off for lower quality.

Same. Also in Ireland. Perhaps the quality is better here?

We spend between €70-€90 in there a week for a big shop for a family of 4 (depending on wine). Tesco is always €120ish. It's not worth the extra cost.

My mum was a fruit packer, all the fruit went to the factory she worked in and they had contracts with various supermarkets.

They sorted the fruit according to the supermarkets specifications, obviously M&S and Waitrose have higher standards e.g. no bad ones included, etc.

Fruit that didn't sell and was 'past the date' on the package was sent back and resorted where possible.

That is why even when you go to supermarkets like Tescos etc and buy fruit sometimes it can last for days, others not even a day.

So I suspect for some people buying from Aldi they never have a problem with fruit going moudly quickly others might. It's almost pot luck, you don't know.

Hence why when I buy fruit I don't buy expecting it to last days so Ill buy from Aldi and replenish more often and its cheaper.

I have them both on my high street and they're terrible - no point buying anything there. Wet wipes stuck together and disintegrated, horrible grey meat, nuts were soft and mouldy right out of the bag.

But there was one where I used to live that was really good - good quality cheese, fruit, etc.