new aldis in my neighborhood...

[speechteach]

I have never shopped at Aldi's before. This is new to my area. I generally shop at Stop and Shop for some things, Price Right for my produce, and a local store or BJ's for my meats...

What can I expect from Aldi's?????

Thanks for any insight!

[XUfan]

I don't do a lot of my shopping there, but I buy mostly produce at Aldis. Their produce prices in my area, are usually almost exactly half of what the prices are in the big chain stores (Kroger, Meijer). I've been able to buy 10 lb bags of potatoes for $1.99 for the past 6 months ($2.99 and higher...even on sale at the chains), baby carrots, mushrooms, and 3 lb bags of onions have been .99. I think they have cauliflower for .99 this week.

Also, my store has 3 lb bags of rice for .99 (another thing I can never find coupons for). And, my family loves their potato chips...which are really cheap too!

I've never purchased meat there, but I've picked up a few seafood items when they were on sale.

[mocha poka]

They have some great private lines, my favorite is their Fit n Active line and I agree with Xufan the produce is great :)

[jeweltea]

When they opened a new Aldi's in my area last winter, they had some great coupons - be sure to go up there and see. They mailed some to our house but had more at the store several days before their grand opening. I have found some great bargains there like a few weeks ago they had lunch meat for 10 cents a package. I don't go there all the time but I do stop in once in awhile.

[summermay]

I also go for the produce. Just today got nice big cucumbers for .49 each and pack of grape tomatoes for .99. The pack of 3 peppers, 1 green and then either a red/yellow/or orange is $1.99. GREAT price! It can be hit and miss sometimes but always a much better price then the other stores. The english muffins are very good. I prefere them over the name brands.

Oh and they don't take manufacturer's coupons. No checks. You have to pay for their bags so bring your own or grab a box. :)

[XUfan]

Originally Posted by summermay I also go for the produce. Just today got nice big cucumbers for .49 each and pack of grape tomatoes for .99. The pack of 3 peppers, 1 green and then either a red/yellow/or orange is $1.99. GREAT price! It can be hit and miss sometimes but always a much better price then the other stores. The english muffins are very good. I prefere them over the name brands. Oh and they don't take manufacturer's coupons. No checks. You have to pay for their bags so bring your own or grab a box. :)

Great reminder about the coupons, bags, and their no-check policy. I forgot to mention those!

Yes, the english muffins are really good, so if nobody has a good sale, I get them there. I have a friend who swears that the .88 wheat bread is the best he's ever eaten. I haven't tried it yet. Also, a couple of times, I've found some take-n-bake loaves of french bread there that were super!!! They don't always have them, but when they do...I grab 'em!

[MablesTable]

Yes the wheat bread is awsome!
That is how I got hooked on wheat bread.
DO NOT buy their frozen ground turkey.
Although it is less then a $1 a lb.
It has awful flavor, an would much rather buy something
that taste better for a little bit more when on sale.

If you ever find canned diced tomatoes with lime and cilantro.
Grab them! They are rare to find, but taste just like salsa & very yummy.

[tealover]

I agree about the chips & snacks, when we go by (it's kinda out of our way) we get chips, pretzels, salsa, all very good.

If you don't mind that they are mostly "off name" brands then there are some good deals. Actually they appear to be "off name" but more or less every one of them says "made for Aldi" on the back, so they are all their own brand. They do a good job on most of them following the styling of the name brands and making them look semi-familiar.

I think they are a German company, I first saw them when I lived in England in the 80's, they had a solid reputation there for being the cheapest for everything. The packing now seems a lot nicer from what I remember back then.

Overall I'd give everything a try, see what you like and make a note about what you don't, then don't get that again.

[Jskell911]

speechteach,

LMK how the RI store is valuewise. I live in NE CT but am in RI all the time. It would be about 20 minutes out of my way to getting home, but maybe worth a trip a month???

[speechteach]

Originally Posted by Jskell911 speechteach, LMK how the RI store is valuewise. I live in NE CT but am in RI all the time. It would be about 20 minutes out of my way to getting home, but maybe worth a trip a month???

I'll let you after I make it there. Do you have a Pricerite anywhere near you?

Thanks for all the feedback! It soundl like Aldis is alot like Pricerite as far as the store brand, produce, and bags, etc...

thanks again!