topic Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains in Kitchen

"Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

novamc1 — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 12:45:47 GMT

This story originally in the Chicago Tribune appeared in today's Atlanta metro newspaper.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-aldi-evolution-20191206-khurw6yjmrcgxl2oavlnafldpq-story.html

<<As a spruced-up Adi climbs toward its goal of having 2,500 stores by 2022--which would make it the third-largest U.S. grocer by store count--converts are putting aside old perceptions of the brand......>>

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

PINKdogWOOD — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 12:49:39 GMT

Who doesn't love Aldi's? This is our typical go-to, then we ususally have to subsidize at a way more expensive kroger or giant eagle or lucky's for the very few items Aldi's doesn't carry yet. They just get bigger and better every time a new one goes up and/or they remodel the ones around us in OH.

What I love the most is the fact they get more and more organic. They also love to bring in brands we don't know that offer more great choices. All the while they keep out tons of aisles of stupid non-grocery items, yes they have only one aisle of a few home goods type things but thats okay. Doesn't allow for consumers to spend tons on money on this kind of stuff that we don't really need.

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

novamc1 — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 12:56:27 GMT

Here's anothe link to see the story, from a New Hampshire newspaper. Hope it works for anyone wanting to read it.

https://www.unionleader.com/news/business/how-discount-chain-aldi-is-giving-those-fancy-grocery-stores/article_6aed2cf7-1864-545c-809e-ab3bebc954aa.html

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

godi — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 16:09:48 GMT

I love Aldis.

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

SahmIam — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 17:22:32 GMT

With the exception of a few items, all my shopping is done at Aldi's. The savings is amazing. That said, I 100% disagree with the article that prices won't raise. I keep a spreadsheet on groceries (where, what and price) and I can tell you that over the past 2 years, their prices have gone up and on many items....they've more than doubled. One of the problems is that the cost of an item not only varies from state to state, but from store to store in the SAME county. I don't get this but there it is.

Eggs at my local Aldi's were 48 cents a carton. The other Aldi's, which is 20 minutes or so from my house but in my county, were $1.20 a carton. That's a HUGE difference. IMHO, Aldi will charge whatever they can get away with plus, they SLOWLY increase the price so you don't really notice it (a few cents every week to every other week) so unless you're keeping track (which I do) you don't really notice it.

We'll see.

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

Mominohio — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 22:47:56 GMT

We have an upgraded Aldi's in our area (at least it was considered the higher end store a few years ago when it opened, not sure if they are upgrading again) and I have to say, I'm not impressed.

First, they have added too many aisles of 'stuff' that I'm not interested in. The draw for Aldi's was cheap grocery prices, and a small store easy to navigate. All this junk, lawn chairs, coolers, air fryers and flip flops is just taking up space where they could expand their food selections. If I want Walmart, I'll go there, just give me back my easy to shop, cheap groceries. I'm also not really a fan of them filling their shelves with name brands, because the price on those is not any better than what it is at other stores, often higher, so just stick with your brand, and let the national go if you can't get a rock bottom price on them.

Their prices have gone up over the years (yes, everyone's have), to the point where their everyday prices on their house brands really is not a good deal, when I compare it to a sale at someplace like Kroger or Meijer, where I can buy a national brand and stock up at a much smaller price. Aldi used to have prices on staples that couldn't be touched even at loss leader sales at other markets, but not anymore.

I do like that they are expanding the variety of foods in their newer and bigger stores. I like the dairy selection and prices at ours, but the produce is really hit or miss, and misses the mark in quality and selection more often than not. I also don't care for most of their breads. Low end or high end, I'm finding them dry and just not very good.

I don't get to Aldi's as often as I used to, mostly because ours was going through a time of not having the basics in stock a lot of the time. On just one visit a year ago, I couldn't get frozen peas, frozen broccoli, no milk, and no sour cream, all in one day. I've had similar lacking visits other times, and so I kind of pass them by lately, but will make a run every couple of months to stock up on a few things that I really love from there (love their salsa, canned peaches, and jarred cheese sauce).

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

WORKING GAL — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 00:03:42 GMT

@SahmIam - I agree about Aldi raising their prices. We have two Aldi's in our small city and they charge different prices for the same item in the same week. I was paying 48 cents for eggs also and last week they went to $1.29. We're going to check the other Aldi and see what they are charging. Milk has gone up 30 cents recently. The major problem we encounter at Aldi is that they don't get in whats in their weekly ad. The managers just say they didn't get it in. They don't give rainchecks like other supermarkets do, so you lost out on the sale item. I've complained a number oftime to the corporate office but it is still happening. Not good business practice when there is a lot of competition.

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

SahmIam — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 02:22:14 GMT

@WORKING GAL Yeah, I would say that their attitude is "you don't like it, go elsewhere #%&^%(" when you state you can't find what they have advertised; it really is an " I don't care" smugness with them. The things, customers don't leave because the prices DO beat out everyone else (at least in my area) and they ****** well know it. Therefore, they have zero reason to change.

2 years ago the place was always packed. Now? Not so much. I no longer see military families there (the savings is no longer there for them) but I do see MANY church groups.

Like I said, we'll have to see what happens. @Mominohio , that is NOT what I want to see happen at my local Aldi's. Bleh.

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

sissel — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 02:41:49 GMT

They are thinking of building an Aldi's in my city & the next city over. They have the location but think zoning is an issue. Talking about it for over a year and still haven't reached an agreement. We have grocery stores in almost all shopping centers maybe they are afraid they will lose their customers.

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

tarytoo — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 07:23:49 GMT

i love Aldi's but seldom shop there. when they remodeled they made the store larger. that makes it impossible for me to navigate on foot. i have trouble walking. and they don't provide alternative carts, like scooters for those of us that are disabled or seniors.

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

Blingqueen023 — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 07:56:08 GMT

@tarytoo wrote:
i love Aldi's but seldom shop there. when they remodeled they made the store larger. that makes it impossible for me to navigate on foot. i have trouble walking. and they don't provide alternative carts, like scooters for those of us that are disabled or seniors.

@tarytoo @I don't shop there that much either because they only take cash at the store if shop at.

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

Imaoldhippie — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 12:55:35 GMT

The remodeled our Aldi's store here about 2 years ago. Other than more merchandise I did not see much difference.

Their produce started going down hill really bad, so I dont shop there anymore, wasnt worth the few cents saved, to hope they had decent produce, potatos, onions, fruit, etc.

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

AuntG — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 13:12:48 GMT

It's a great place if you don't need a particular item. Once I wanted a frozen fruit pie and they didn't have any. However, when it comes to the basics, I shop there.

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

Carmie — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 13:17:33 GMT

It's not my favorite store. I do go there in a pinch to just grab an item or two.

Their bread products are horrible. Everytime I bought a bread product, it landed in the trash.

Their yogurt was terrible. I am not picky, but I just could not eat it.

Many of their items are found elsewhere...less expensive.

I do love their chocolate...so I grab a bar or two if I am in there.

There are three stores in my area. Two of them are brand new.

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

ciao_bella — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 13:39:42 GMT

In NJ, I have an Aldi's about 5 minutes away and then another one about 10 minutes away in the opposite direction. Each of these Aldi's have expanded and upgraded, and I found their produce department so much better now. Things like fresh salad greens, asparagus, green beans etc. are now in upright refrigerated cases like you see in regular grocery stores. It's well organized, neatly displayed and still at prices lower than regular grocery stores. Produce like potatoes, onions, bananas etc are displayed and well stocked in non-refrigerated cases. I've noticed an increase in a bigger variety of produce too, like fresh ginger and English cucumbers being offered.

I don't mind the few center aisles that have non-food items. I find myself picking up a few things that are well below the cost of the same item elsewhere.

I recently purchased in the bread aisle Brioche rolls (package of 4) that I use for hamburgers or pulled pork. The cost for those are much less than at a regular grocery store. My daughter bought Apple Strudel breakfast bread that was absolutely delicious.

When I go grocery shopping, I always go to Aldi's first for many staples as well as other items. If the regular grocery store has an item or two that are on sale I will head there but not before doing a good deal of shopping at Aldi's first. The savings of $0.25 or $0.50 here and there on each item adds up quickly. For me, I save quite a bit each week by shopping Aldi's first and then subsidize anything else needed at the regular grocery store.

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

kitty60 — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 17:33:36 GMT

When I first moved to my area 15 years ago I had never seen an Aldi's. When I checked it out I was lucky to spend $5. Now I shop there for dairy and produce and occasionally other items that seem interesting. I am lucky that mine is good.

Aldi's does things their way for sure. I am active with a local food pantry and we were purchasing groceries there. They would not order specifically for us but we had to pull from the shelf after cases were cut open. What a mess transferring cases of unwrapped items in their cases and getting four people to pick up groceries to put all items in the cart. We now support a local grocery chain that gives us a discount and orders what we need. Only if they are unable to supply we pick up at Aldi's.

That being said Aldis's has set up a new program for food pantries. When we pick up goods we arrive and are given items they have just pulled from the shelf. It began as produce and believe me we had to sort through it when we got it back. They then offered us meats and bread that had just been pulled. They were just at their dates and still good. I have a deep respect for businesses that supporft non profits.

As others have said, I shop there first so I can go elsewhere if they do not have what I am looking for.

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

Lipstickdiva — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 20:29:46 GMT

I have an upgraded Aldi near me and you can add me to the not impressed list.

Yes I have noticed that the prices of many items has greatly increased. Sometimes with a sale I can do better at Giant Eagle and I save money on my gas to boot.

The produce is very hit or miss at my Aldi. Besides the quality you really have to watch the dates on their bagged lettuce. Oftentimes it expires within a day or 2. I was in Aldi yesterday and their organic spring mix was marked down by $1.00 but every box of it expired today! Why would I want a gigantic box of spring lettuce that expires the next day? That was all they had.

You just have to know your prices. I also think they do much better on specialty items than everyday items for me. I could never do all my grocery shopping at this store. The one and only time I bought chicken from there it was like rubber and that has been a common complaint with other Aldi shoppers I know as well.

Unless I need a lot that I know I can get from Aldi, I don't bother. I don't have time to run from store to store to save a few bucks. Yesterday I needed a lot that I knew would be cheaper from there so I made the trip. But all in all they just don't have brands I use or like on most items and any name brand food they do get is the same price as anywhere else. There is no discount.

@Carmie, I found the yogurt bad too, their chocolate chips aren't to my liking and any of their coffee pods I have tried have been horrendous. I quit trying.

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

threecees — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 21:27:15 GMT

I used to buy my hot sauce at Aldi. Used be 79 cents, now it

is $1.99, I now get elsewhere. We have no problem with their

breads. Enjoy the rye and plain, tastes fine. Cheap hamburger

and hot dog rolls, we have never had a problem with.

Get my Mom their version of Corn Flakes for 99 cents a box,

she likes them. Also she likes the yogurts which have gone

up in price.

Their hummus is really good, around $1.79 a container. Their

baked goods are usually reasonable. I go every week or two.

Its hit or miss with some other stuff, usually get a small order

there.

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

sunshine45 — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 21:55:58 GMT

i will be a dissenter and say that ALDI is not my favorite place to shop. we have one that is about two years old. not a fan of the produce, no fresh deli, no fresh bakery, and limited selections of products. i have too many other good choices in grocery stores that are all close by.

we are getting a new LIDL....not sure how that compares?

Re: "Upgraded Aldi stores" reshaping prices, choices, bargains

gidgetgh — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 22:04:21 GMT

I'm the exception. I've been to Aldi's twice and that was enough. I just don't care for the store.

I'm also not a fan of Trader Joe's.

I just want to grocery shop in one place and have it done. Publix is fine with me.