12 Things You Think Are Cheaper at Aldi but Aren’t (2023)

FAQs

Are Aldi products high quality? ›

Indeed, 90% of Aldi's products are exclusive store brands, and many mimic the packaging and product of national brands. We found several great items at Aldi that deserve a spot on your grocery list based on quality or value — or both. That's good news as all of us are looking to cut corners on rampaging grocery bills.

Why is Aldi so cheap? At most supermarkets, you'll find tons of name-brand items, but at Aldi, a whopping 90% of the products are private label. By avoiding brand names, Aldi can skip going through another company and offer you cheaper prices.

Despite how big of a deal this purchase may seem considering each store's success, former owner Joe Coulombe told Fortune that he couldn't even remember the price he sold his store for. Today, the elusive Albrecht family still owns both of the successful chains.

Aldi does have the lowest price on many items when you are comparing to the non-sale price in the grocery store. So if you're doing a big grocery shopping trip and don't have time to wait for sales, you're better off shopping at Aldi.

Weaknesses of Aldi

Aldi faces positioning problems. For instance, many customers see it as a store for cheap and low-quality products. Aldi's emphasis on low-cost private label items could turn off some customers who prefer branded items.

Finally, ALDI is not a Whole Foods or the health food section of your grocery store. The majority of the items there are not organic or natural, or even all healthy, as is the case in a typical grocery store.

The secret to cost-cutting at Aldi is making everything as time efficient as possible. All the products arrive in shelf-ready packaging, which means it can be taken directly from the lorry to the shelf.

What happens to unsold Aldi specials? If, in the rare instance, some items are left over, they will remain on sale until they are sold out. There is also a chance that some Specialbuys could be discounted every four to six weeks, depending on how much stock is remaining.

The main reason is that Aldi doesn't want to pay to play music all day long. If the company had to shell out money to have music playing throughout the store, then that would mean they'd have to raise their prices to offset the cost.

Owned by a German company called Albrecht Discounts, ALDI is a discount grocery chain that started in Germany in 1948. Decidedly no frills, the company stocks virtually all house-brand products, all offered at very low prices thanks to exclusive deals with their suppliers, many of which are big-name producers.

What does Aldi mean in German? ›

In 1962, they introduced the name Aldi—short for Albrecht-Diskont, which translates into English as "Albrecht Discount". Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd have been financially and legally separate since 1966.

In 1979, Theo's Aldi Nord bought a small California grocery chain called Trader Joe's reportedly because liked the chain's commitment to low prices and the stores' loyal customer base, according to Fortune.

Getting straight to the punch: Yes, ALDI does continue to beat Walmart on price in 2022. But, the pricing gap between the two stores has narrowed significantly in most categories, and Walmart has even moved into the lead in a couple. ALDI is still cheaper than Walmart in 2022 — but, the gap has narrowed!

If you typically buy all name brands, at ALDI you could be saving up to 40% of your bill. If you spend $100 a week – that's $40 back in your wallet! Even if most of what you buy is store brands, 20% off is still significant to consider.

Do you have to bring your own bags to ALDI? Customers do not need to bring their own bags to shop at ALDI. However, we ask people to bring their own reusable grocery bags or buy a few of ours at checkout. This saves money by avoiding the cost of the bag and it cuts down on waste to help the environment.

The company focuses on a no-frills shopping experience and limits its inventory to a lean selection of private-label items. 90% of the products sold are from its own brand line. Moreover, the company sources most of its products from the local vendors.

Fast-paced stressful environment

Worked for them for 5 years. Difficulty and stress highly depend upon location and managers, but their efficiency model is setup for failure. One person calls out and the entire day is extremely difficult for everyone else working.

Aldi does not sell horse meat. The controversy surrounding Aldi and horsemeat came about when some of its beef products contained up to 100% horsemeat. This scandal only affected stores in Europe, but it has since been cleared.

Aldi sources its products from all over the world.

We do know that many foods are manufactured at the same factories as big-name brands, just labeled for Aldi. This means cereals and other items like crackers and chips are most likely made at the same plant as their brand name equivalent.

Does Aldi have real meat? ›

With our fresh meat and seafood you can count on ALDI for everything you need to make your next meal spectacular. Enjoy a chicken dinner at home with your family or if you're in the mood for firing up the grill, pick up our Black Angus Chuck Roast and Baby Back Ribs.

Aldi says: 'The temperature of our stores is managed on a local basis by the store managers. 'This helps to provide the right environment to ensure the quality of our ambient and fresh produce, as well as creating a comfortable shopping experience for all our customers. ' 'It's freezing in here!

Most of the beef sold in the US, by Aldi or otherwise, is produced and packaged in the US. 90% of the imported beef comes from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, or Mexico. The same goes for pork. Aldi gets a number of its items from China, so it's not a stretch to wonder if they get their meat from China, too.

Aldi is for customers looking for major savings and the absolute lowest grocery prices, and Trader Joe's is for customers willing to pay a premium for specialized products. Both chains use their private-label brands in pursuit of these distinct groups of shoppers.

When it comes to everyday shopping, several unnamed Aldi employees told Cooking Light in 2019 that Wednesday is the best day of the week to do your grocery shopping. According to employees, this is the day Aldi restocks its shelves with limited-edition Aldi Finds.

Aldi Finds sell out fast because they're great deals, so be sure to grab them as soon as you can! Aldi releases a new weekly ad every Wednesday, so Wednesday morning is the best time to shop at Aldi for the biggest selection of Aldi Finds. You can see the Aldi Weekly Ad on Aldi.com or in the Aldi app (iOS / Android).

What forms of payment are accepted at ALDI stores? We accept several forms of payment including cash, most debit cards, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT), SNAP, Link cards and contactless pay such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.

As a discount retailer, Aldi relies on high volume and low margins. While a Deliveroo partnership may have made sense when demand was high, the service was never part of its core business model. For low-cost groceries, the click and collect model makes more sense financially and logistically.

Does ALDI have a phone number? Everything we do is to save our shoppers money on the food and products they want most. Rather than hire extra staff to answer phones and retrieve carts, our employees stay focused on serving our shoppers in stores.

Is Aldi from China? ›

ALDI's story began in the German town of Essen in 1913, where the Albrecht family started their grocery business. Throughout the century, ALDI has grown from a small family business into an international retailer, with over 10,000 stores around the world, serving millions of customers in over 10 countries.

Aldi has lots of fresh and local produce

One of the things Aldi says has helped its recent success is an emphasis in fresh produce, which is locally sourced and stocked daily. Those fresh fruits and vegetables make up two-thirds of what customers put in their carts, according to the company.

As Eat This, Not That explains, California-based Trader Joe's and its 557 U.S. stores (per ScrapeHero) are a subsidiary of German chain Aldi Nord, the sibling company of Aldi Süd, which Americans know simply as Aldi, the home of such fan-favorite house brands as Mama Cozzi's pizzas, Clancy's snacks, and Winking Owl ...

Monrovia, California, U.S. The first Trader Joe's store was opened in 1967 by founder Joe Coulombe in Pasadena, California. The chain was owned by German entrepreneur Theo Albrecht from 1979 until his death in 2010, when ownership passed to his heirs. The company has offices in Monrovia and Boston, Massachusetts.

Aldi has its origins in a small store set up by Anna Albrecht in Germany in 1913. After WWII, she gave the store to her two sons who turned it into a chain and then split it into two companies. The companies reported combined net sales of around $95 billion in 2021. Here's how Aldi got there.

Aldi Named in Food Poisoning Lawsuit.

But back in the 1960s, the brothers argued over whether to sell cigarettes in their stores — and eventually ended up splitting into two independent companies operating within separate geographical areas.

They locally source certain products. My local store uses a local milk provider (Byrne Dairy), and much of the produce is sourced from local farms.

You'll get a better deal on fruits like apples and oranges if you buy in bulk, but occasionally you'll find a good price at ALDI.

Is Aldi's or Target cheaper? ›

Often Aldi is cheaper than Target at least by a little bit and their selection of fresh produce is often better than at Target as well. As of February 2023, 16 of the items are $0.10 or more cheaper at Aldi than at Target. There are some items that are the same price, and 8 items that are cheaper at Target than Aldi.

If Aldi is not the lowest price, they really aren't in the running at all for being the cheapest. Also, since Aldi does not carry everything, there were several items on the list that could not be compared at Aldi. Kroger is definitely the most expensive if you shop without sales!

They don't have to spend any money on bags when you purchase them to bag your haul. It is through these types of operational savings that Aldi claims to be able to provide the finest quality products. Their premium products can then be provided at the lowest possible rates to their shoppers.

Aldi can trace its history even further back, to 1913. Though the company didn't officially incorporate until 1946, the first Aldi was a corner store that was initially opened by Anna Albrecht, Karl and Theo's mother. The Aldi brand split in 1960 when the Albrecht brothers decided to go their separate ways.

There's a whole harvest of fresh food

Cheese, milk, cream and bread are just some of the fresh produce you can find at a competitive price. Just as you'd expect at any supermarket, fresh fruit and veg are constantly restocked and on display pretty much as you walk into the store.

ALDI is getting rid of plastic shopping bags in all 2,200 locations by 2023 in an effort to meet its sustainability goals. In 2021, we named ALDI one of the most sustainable chain stores. And now, it's taking another major step toward making its operations more planet-friendly.

She said: "Fun fact: Aldi product packaging is designed to have multiple barcodes so that cashiers can scan things faster, all about that speed baby."

If you're in a hurry and the cashier is occupied with a long checkout line, use your house key in place of a quarter. The back end of almost any key you have hanging on your key chain should fit neatly into the deposit lock, stay held in place and release the cart.

From healthier choices, gluten-free items, along with other dietary needs and preferences, more than 90% of the products in our stores are under our exclusive brand. Our Quality Assurance team has also developed strict guidelines in order to meet our high standards, so you can feel good about the food you buy at ALDI.

Aldi sources its products from all over the world.

You will regularly find food and Aldi Finds sourced or made in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Thailand, China and a handful of other countries across the globe. If you want to know where something is made from Aldi simply look on the packaging.

What is special about Aldi stores? ›

The carefully selected, award-winning product mix at ALDI includes organic meats, fresh produce, gourmet cheeses, sustainable seafood, gluten-free products, specialty wine, on-trend items and so much more, all at unbeatable prices. ALDI customers also love our weekly rotating selection of ALDI Finds.

Aldi's business model sells its products at the lowest cost possible to the consumer market. What is this? The company keeps its pricing model low by restricting its inventory selection and managing its employee costs. The company doesn't focus on competing with other supermarket chains.

That's why ALDI has everything you need to stay on track, from heart healthy breakfast options to fresh, organic dinner items. We offer a wide variety of fresh produce, gluten free products, high-protein snacks and low carb options to fit every lifestyle at a great price.

Sam, who posts under @glutenfreesam, took to the video sharing app to explain the real reason is all down to packaging, reports The Mirror. She said: "Fun fact: Aldi product packaging is designed to have multiple barcodes so that cashiers can scan things faster, all about that speed baby."

Every Never Any! product is certified by the USDA as meeting three criteria: No antibiotics, No added hormones or steroids, No animal by-products (vegetarian fed). Our high-quality meat is not only healthier for our customers but provides more humane conditions for our animals.

In 1961 the brothers changed the name to Aldi, which is short for Albrecht Discount, and the business continued to grow.

Shopping at Aldi is a no-frills experience, but that cuts down on costs, which is ultimately to the customers' benefit. You might not even see shelves in some aisles. Instead, items are displayed in the boxes they were shipped in. When an item runs out, a store worker simply brings out a new box.

For over 40 years, we have stuck to the same guiding principle: great quality should come with everyday low prices. In 1961, the Albrecht Family founded the world's first discount grocery store in Germany.

Trader Joe's competitors include Whole Foods Market, Fairway Market, Walmart, Meijer and NatureBox. Trader Joe's ranks 1st in Overall Culture Score on Comparably vs its competitors.