To think I might be missing something to have totally had my head turned to Aldi?!

[Ipll]

I used to shop mainly in Waitrose, sometimes Tesco or Morrisons.

A couple of weeks ago I nipped into Waitrose to get three pretty mundane items and it came to 17 pounds. I decided enough was enough and it was time to see what else was out there, having previously been adamant I wouldn’t be interested in somewhere like Aldi (yes a bit of a snob when it comes to shopping!).

Anyway, after a few trips to Aldi I am shocked. Incredible and tasty fruit and veg. Great meat options. Biscuits ok. Great middle aisle of books for my daughter. The cost reflects something more manageable and I don’t feel I’m spending huge chunks of money like in Waitrose and Tesco.

I am obsessed 😅

Am I missing something?! Why doesn’t everyone shop there?!

Ime the fruit and veg isn't great. Turns very quickly. Meat is ok. Biscuits etc fine. Couldn't do main shop there.

I think it depends on what you buy from there and the size of your Aldi Store.

Personally I can never get a full shop there and what I do buy seems to be the same price as the other supermarkets.

Lidl is better.

I agree with @craigth162. In our local stores (there are 3), none of their fruit and veg last very long. And for a lot of other stuff that I buy, Sainsbury’s is on par for prices.

I bought fruit from a very posh greengrocer last week, it lasted much less time than Aldi’s. You’re not wrong @Ipll.

I like Aldi but their range is limited, so I need to go to Sainsburys & Tesco too every couple of weeks.

I too think their fruit & veg has a short shelf life and I think you need to ensure that price wise it’s like for like - their packs may be smaller, less weight than you buy elsewhere.

I use it for top ups and it does save money over, for example, the local Co-op for that type of shopping.

Aldi is ok for odd bits. Lidl is better (their bakery is awesome). But I stick to Tesco because I can get it delivered I can get everything I want in one shop and what I pay in higher prices I get back in Clubcard points that covers my Christmas shop!

I shop at whichever supermarket is most convenient for where I am.
Today I went to Tesco.
It's all just food to me.
(I do my big shop from Iceland simply because of their home delivery is very convenient)

There are often things you just can buy but I shop a lot there. Have to be very careful with fruit and veg and rummage to the back. Meat is decent, wine is ok, I like the moser Roth chocolate.

We have a large Aldi and IMO the quality is good. It's near work so i shop on the way home almost daily so don't have an issue with veg turning quickly.

Their wine is excellent IMO.

I used to do the main shop there year's ago. Stopped shopping there as the fruit and veg didn't last long before going mouldy. Twice I brought chicken fillets and they were off when I went to cook them the next day 🤢🤢 and they had four days to go on the use by date ...... very off putting

I tried it but couldn’t get everything I wanted and the fruit and veg I did buy went off really quickly. I shop at Sainsbury’s where many things are price matched to Aldi anyway. So I’m within budget and can get everything in one place.

I have a really decent Aldi and Lidl close by. I use them regularly. Never had an issue with fruit or veg going off or chicken being problematic.

I agree. Most of the stuff at Lidl is nicer than our main Sainsburys store, including the fruit and vegetables. We do our main shop there every week and only go to Sainsburys if we absolutely have to. There's no music blaring either and the store staff are lovely.

I dont find it that much cheaper and the fruit and veg dont last long.

I like doing scan as you go at Tesco as it speeds up my shopping trip. Plus my daughter works for them so I get discount. I do my top up shop in Morrisons as my husband works there so I get discount there too. Aldi and Lidl are too much effort for me and I get distracted by the middle aisle in each.

So surprised by these comments!

I am massively critical of anywhere where food goes off etc and haven’t found that at all with Aldi… fruit seems to last ages. However, I’ve only been shopping there a couple of weeks or so

I agree you need a Tesco or similar to do a full shop as they don’t stock everything. But it’s saved me so much money… I was spending hundreds in Tesco and Waitrose and quality was no better at all

Oh OP. This has been common knowledge since circa 2012 ❤️😆

The only reason it wasn't my constant go to when I was living in an EU country is that had very random produce, I think its better in the UK.

But where i was, you might go in thinking you were going to do a stir fry, but there would be no ginger or spring onions. However there would be special offer [insert tinned speciality from a random country].

So basically, you couldn't shop in Aldi AND meal plan. You has to go to Aldi and let Aldis selection dictate your ideas.

Like i say, I believe the selection is more reliable in the UK

Try the new sparkling orange wine. Apologies for giving everyone their new obsession…

Avid Aldi shopper here. I get everything I need there as I'm not bothered with brands and labels. It's also close by and I enjoy rummaging in the middle aisle and checking out the often fabulous bargains in the outdoor plant section. Not all stores have that, but mine does!

They are good and do some stuff really cheap.

But lack a full product range. For example they lack frozen mince which to me is a basic staple. I don't like freezing the fresh stuff because it clumps and is hard to separate.

Their meat is generally very good IMO, especially the steak which can be great quality and cheap. Their salmon is great too.

Obviously the lack of in store bakery is disappointing.

I was disappointed recently because we got a new one nearby and I expected a better store with a bigger product range and maybe a bakery but no. Same old stuff new building.

Edit : Oh and finding new bargains/trying new recommendations there is a lot of fun.

Allergies in our family mean we find Aldi / Lidl very difficult to shop at

Yes I agree, my fruit and veg doesn’t last long. Meat is average although I do quite like the chicken. Is the mince still in those horrible squashed packs ?! Everything else is just meh and I can’t get everything I need in there . Plus I find them quite depressing shops ! I tried, I really did, but when Tesco’s started price matching I went back to my home deliveries. So much easier.

I live alone & buy a lot of veg. I find it doesn't last & I buy as much British grown as possible & theirs often isn't.

I have a weekly Tesco delivery, so don't often shop anywhere else, but I am within walking distance of Waitrose, so get the odd thing there (love their olive bread!! Only first thing in the morning though as it's on an open, uncovered, rack! But the price has shot up recently! I went to buy strawberries the other day & they didn't have a single one!!)

I enjoy a mooch in Aldi or Lidl's occasionally & usually find a couple if random items I fancy trying. But they don't stock many of my staples. (Admittedly quite niche as limited for health reasons)

Waitrose is just a ruse. I know because I worked there in the past. The fruit and veg is crap. It often has a 1 day shelf life. It’s just food in fancy packaging.

I can afford to shop in WR but I don’t. I go to the butcher, fishmonger and Lidl/ Aldi. I prefer Lidl as I think the fruit and veg is much better. I buy chicken in Lidl.

If you want posh food, M&S is much better than WR.

I find that I can make a recipe and you go round WR and shop, then your main ingredient is missing so you have to go somewhere else. Also, often the fruit & veg has gone off. I made something the other day and it required a red pepper. Got to the pepper sliced it open and it was mouldy inside. So again, can’t be guaranteed to get you to the end if a recipe.