General Discussion

xmas74

(30,058 posts)

112. Aldi can be a crapshoot.

Mon Jan 5, 2015, 01:20 PM

Jan 2015

Our old store was dingy, had a weird smell and didn't have lots to offer, though I usually purchased my staples there. Our new one is fantastic-lots of organic, gluten free, international stuff, etc. The wine selection isn't awful and the price is good. Is it the best wine? No, but it's not bad. I have purchased meat that was actually better than the local grocery chains. And the cheese selection is always nice.

I don't buy much by way of canned goods, except for the canned tomatoes. (Yep, organic and cheaper than most of the generics around my town.) I do buy the spaghetti sauce sometimes, along with olive oil and some nice olives recently.

Like I said-it's a crapshoot. You have to go to the store to look. Some areas seem to have better items and produce than others. And for the record: I'm in West Central Missouri in a university town of about 25,000 an hour east of KC. Aldi is loved by the college kids, especially the athletes who buy the Fit and Active brand. (For that matter, my daughter loves that brand too and will eat anything with that label on it.)

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This Is The Best Grocery Store In America, And It's Cheaper Than Trader Joe's [View all] xchrom Jan 2015 OP

I like Aldi's. Bit of a drive for me, but they have a good organic section, djean111 Jan 2015 #1

There's two close to us. Didn't see any organic products. rickford66 Jan 2015 #76

Mine here in Florida has some organic stuff, I think it is mixed in. djean111 Jan 2015 #77

Most stuff at TJ's is organic. TJ's owner, Aldi Nord, appeared to profit from E. German Slave Labor TheBlackAdder Jan 2015 #83

Trader Joe's does look interesting, but it is almost 20 miles from my house. djean111 Jan 2015 #90

Trader Joe's is great. But you don't get ten different brands of say JDPriestly Jan 2015 #101

Just driving down I275 Aerows Jan 2015 #116

Make sure that organic food is "US organic certified" Jim Beard Jan 2015 #95

Aldi has changed alot over the past couple of years. xmas74 Jan 2015 #113

By the way, Aldi OWNS Trader Joe's DFW Jan 2015 #2

Yeah, I was pretty sure I hadn't imagined that (nt) Recursion Jan 2015 #19

Not the same Aldi. Codeine Jan 2015 #22

I didn't even know that DFW Jan 2015 #45

Cool, thanks. Recursion Jan 2015 #56

Does Trader Joe's market themselves as a discount store? pipoman Jan 2015 #3

Not really. They just have unique food (& treats!) at good prices. RiverLover Jan 2015 #6

I LOVE Aldi tavernier Jan 2015 #4

i love aldi's too questionseverything Jan 2015 #79

If there was one closer than 75 miles, I'd try them out. hobbit709 Jan 2015 #5

I wandered into one in (I think) Missouri years ago, and I found it interesting! MADem Jan 2015 #7

I would like to see all stores go with the quarter deposit on carts. Makes me B Calm Jan 2015 #8

What a coincidence clydefrand Jan 2015 #9

I'm in the Roanoke area as well Oilwellian Jan 2015 #26

I hate Aldi's and apparently so do most of the residents in this area. Vinca Jan 2015 #10

Hmmmm......how are they still in business? Maybe you are wrong on the number of customers. nt Logical Jan 2015 #24

They've been open less than a year so I'm sure they want to give it a chance. Vinca Jan 2015 #49

I agree with you, not sure how they are still open with so few customers. nt Logical Jan 2015 #52

Totally agree. It is nothing at all like a real grocery store - nothing - and Laura PourMeADrink Jan 2015 #31

The last time I tried to shop there AwakeAtLast Jan 2015 #35

Not happy with Aldi's right now Freddie Jan 2015 #11

two stores nearby, in both produce quality often is less than average... HereSince1628 Jan 2015 #12

Agreed! Their produce leaves a LOT to be desired ... 66 dmhlt Jan 2015 #43

for me it's the place to go if I want to load up on processed junk food notadmblnd Jan 2015 #60

If you're near one, have you given Woodman's a shot? PeaceNikki Jan 2015 #75

No close Woodman's, I think there is one in Waukesha and one HereSince1628 Jan 2015 #81

We just got a Sendicks in my community. I'm not impressed. PeaceNikki Jan 2015 #82

My understanding is Sendik's is a single family but stores are sort of independent... HereSince1628 Jan 2015 #84

They are opening a few in Richmond soon underpants Jan 2015 #13

They have changed a lot in 25 years in my area. logosoco Jan 2015 #14

I tried Aldis a few times Go Vols Jan 2015 #120

The 3 closest Trader Joe's are over safeinOhio Jan 2015 #15

I like my Aldi's, but it is non-union (was protested when it was first built here, and for YEARS I WinkyDink Jan 2015 #16

I did not know that about non-union; greiner3 Jan 2015 #42

Indeed, considering customers bag their own! WinkyDink Jan 2015 #92

You don't "bag it" you box it... snooper2 Jan 2015 #110

Then what would I do with all my tote bags from charities? :-) WinkyDink Jan 2015 #121

I like Aldi for the staples such as milk, sugar, flour, eggs, pasta, butter, yogurt, sandwich meats, underahedgerow Jan 2015 #17

Aren't they the same company? Recursion Jan 2015 #18

This store is much better. greymattermom Jan 2015 #20

OMG love YDKFM! Been shopping w/them since they opened at Medlock in 1977. CurtEastPoint Jan 2015 #27

I'll second Buford Hwy Farmer's Market. dawg Jan 2015 #38

It's a little easier for me to get to (coming from airport area) and not quite the schlep CurtEastPoint Jan 2015 #50

Local food co-ops too! gollygee Jan 2015 #91

We visit Aldi's now and then..... sendero Jan 2015 #21

aldi is the only way i can make food on my income happen dembotoz Jan 2015 #23

Same here! They have made it so my kids and I could eat well many times over. knitter4democracy Jan 2015 #98

That's the go-to store for the college kids in my town. xmas74 Jan 2015 #115

I have one a half mile away ybbor Jan 2015 #25

We have one 30 miles from Worried senior Jan 2015 #28

We have two Aldis within about ten miles. MANative Jan 2015 #29

I'll stick with my local union grocery store, thanks. Brickbat Jan 2015 #30

The best grocery chain in America is Wegman's....it's my favorite and also Union... Bluenorthwest Jan 2015 #32

UNION matters! OrwellwasRight Jan 2015 #41

I shop at both stores tabbycat31 Jan 2015 #57

Wegman's totally... 3catwoman3 Jan 2015 #65

WEGMANS !!!!! pangaia Jan 2015 #80

Wegman's has grocery shopping down to a science... Earth_First Jan 2015 #69

Rochester Area is my hometown JustAnotherGen Jan 2015 #109

Prepackaged meats and produce? Dr Hobbitstein Jan 2015 #33

I love Aldi IVoteDFL Jan 2015 #34

I have been to Aldi's several times, but walked out with nothing. demmiblue Jan 2015 #36

WinCo is the best, employee owned. n/t dilby Jan 2015 #37

Harp's/Price Cutter are also employee-owned Art_from_Ark Jan 2015 #100

Is it unionized? OrwellwasRight Jan 2015 #39

One Trip Was Enough colsohlibgal Jan 2015 #40

This message was self-deleted by its author Atman Jan 2015 #105

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2015 #44

I've never heard of it, but we do have WinCo here. WinCo = Winning. Arugula Latte Jan 2015 #46

We shop Winco for packaged items IDemo Jan 2015 #48

Haven't liked any Aldi I've been to. RedCappedBandit Jan 2015 #47

My wife and I call them "Oldies" Generic Brad Jan 2015 #53

I've been there. it's on my bus line. deafskeptic Jan 2015 #51

I do not like Aldi's notadmblnd Jan 2015 #54

You gotta know how to shop there tabbycat31 Jan 2015 #58

Oh, I have two sisters that love the place and have accompanied them. It just does nothing for me notadmblnd Jan 2015 #62

I just bought a fresh fryer chicken there Saturday. xmas74 Jan 2015 #119

I don't like Aldi's Sanity Claws Jan 2015 #55

We must not have them in CA... PasadenaTrudy Jan 2015 #59

I shop at Aldi whenever I or my husband or both of us are unemployed. PassingFair Jan 2015 #61

Aldi's packaged chicken salad Freddie Jan 2015 #67

I don't know WHY it's so good. PassingFair Jan 2015 #68

Aldi has some name brand stuff Go Vols Jan 2015 #63

Significantly so. WillowTree Jan 2015 #99

I don't eat it Go Vols Jan 2015 #114

Never heard of them before, strange for metro DC. WF and TJ suffice for now, but I'm curious. appalachiablue Jan 2015 #64

There are Aldis in Maryland. One not too far from me in Germantown. kwassa Jan 2015 #85

Hi Germantown, figured there had to be Aldis around here from the posts. Lived & worked in Bethesda appalachiablue Jan 2015 #86

I shop Aldi all the time. WillowTree Jan 2015 #66

What about Market Basket? daredtowork Jan 2015 #70

happy MB shopper here! nutsnberries Jan 2015 #78

Aldis is good for "salt boxes" (prepackaged foods) BubbaFett Jan 2015 #71

We don't have this, Blue_In_AK Jan 2015 #72

meh, we have *employee owned* Woodman's here in WI and IL which beats both. PeaceNikki Jan 2015 #73

Definitely recommend trying Aldi out. BillZBubb Jan 2015 #74

Great store.................. if you have one close PumpkinAle Jan 2015 #87

I like aldi's workinclasszero Jan 2015 #88

I've never been to an Aldi SickOfTheOnePct Jan 2015 #89

Aldi's is OK, not a great variety Skittles Jan 2015 #93

The ALDI here in SW PA doesn't have carts or bags... MrMickeysMom Jan 2015 #94

The stock is unpredictable - undeterred Jan 2015 #96

Trader Joe's is a mile and a half from home. I can't find Aldi anywhere... Hekate Jan 2015 #97

Central Ohio Aldis suck. Not very clean, not much but off-brand pre-processed stuff. riqster Jan 2015 #102

I do the majority of my grocery shopping at Aldi. ladyVet Jan 2015 #103

ALDI Mr Dixon Jan 2015 #104

Aldi also pays great, but you gotta work for it. Atman Jan 2015 #106

I read store managers at Aldi's are salary. dilby Jan 2015 #108

You're probably correct. Atman Jan 2015 #111

Aldi's "Live G Free" Gluten free line of products is very good and affordable bklyncowgirl Jan 2015 #107

Aldi can be a crapshoot. xmas74 Jan 2015 #112

There's an Aldi in my neighborhood, but I have better options. DemocraticWing Jan 2015 #117

I love Aldi's. It's probably the best market in America today. jdenver_2624 Jan 2015 #118

I knew it was Aldi's before I clicked on this. MuttLikeMe Jan 2015 #122