Kitchen

[donasmom]

We are moving to Ohio within the next 3 weeks and I noticed that Aldi's seems to be one of the stores in our area. Looked it up online, but was would like some opinions.

Thanks!

[rustysmom]

I also live in Ohio (born and raised), Columbus, the state capital. What part of Ohio are you moving to? Aldi is great. They have great prices and I have not found anything there that I have not liked. The Appleton Farms hams are wonderful and there danish (cheese is my favorite) is great. I also buy my facial wash and facial moisturizer there, forget the name of it, but love it and it is reasonably priced. If you have never been, you will love it. PS - Also, the chicken salad is one of the best I have ever tasted. On occasion they have it with cranberries and almonds in it, it is really good too, but hubby only likes chicken salad without all the nuts and fruits in it. He calls those "girlie" salads. LOL.

[Allegheny]

I frequent Aldi's. They are a bag yourself store. While they have bags you can purchase, it is more economical to bring your own. Another thing they do which may be different for you, is you pay a quarter for your shopping cart, which is returned when you replace the cart.

They have very good prices on fruits & vegetables, cheeses, eggs. It may not be a store where you would be able to get everything on your shopping list, especially if you are brand particular. I have tried many of their different products they are very good and prices are usually much less in most cases. During the holidays many of their candy and cookies are imported from Denmark and are exceptional.

When they first appeared in our area, I wasn't sure I cared for them, but as time went by and a few more trips I came to appreciate having one fairly close. I had once heard they were established by the same people who have Trader Joes' I am not sure if this is true or if there is still an affiliation.

[FunkyHulaGirl]

Love, love, LOVE Aldi! Best prices in town, and top quality on everything, but if there's something you're not entirely pleased with they both refund your money AND replace it. You can always find the "basics" - milk, dairy products, flour, breads, produce, etc. - and apart from that you never know what you'll come across, as they have specials every week - anything from garden supplies to kitchen toys to furniture to ???? Yesterday I went in for some lemons, and saw they had purses and makeup!

The regular items are always in stock, but - since the stores are fairly small - other things "rotate" - sometimes they'll have German, Italian, or Mexican foods, for example. I've learned that when I find something that I like that isn't a regular item to stock up on about 3 months' supply, until they get it in again.

Most things are packaged under their own names, but are produced by major companies - General Mills, etc.

Their German desserts (in the freezer) and their Italian gelato are wonderful I love that their breads and rolls are made without HFCS. Oh, and their imported chocolates...

I think you'll love Aldi - check them out at Aldi.com to see what's currently on special.

[FunkyHulaGirl]

Oh, and you have to put a quarter in to get a cart...but you get it back when you return the cart - the idea being they don't have to hire someone to round them up from the parking lot.

And as someone pointed out, you have to bring your own bags, or else you can use boxes they provide. When I remember I take a bunch of my plastic grocery bags and leave them on the bagging counter for people to use.

[emmysmom]

LOVE Aldis, just discovered it this winter! Big savings, the meat has been good, the dairy! The avocados are great, they were $.33 last week! Fruits good..veggies, fresh and frozen. Last week I got 2 flameless candle lanterns with timers, $7.99, got 2. They were selling out fast! The prices are less then Walmart..!

[CLEM]

I wish I had an Aldi here in Philadelphia.

[FunkyHulaGirl]

True, emmiesmom - I like their slogan of, "If we matched other stores' prices we'd have to charge you more!"

I've gotten sheet sets there, small furniture....even a pool!

Allegheny - Aldi and Trader Joe's are run by two brothers from Germany (one each chain). I guess that's why they offer so many German products, at least at Aldi. (We don't have a Trader Joe's here...yet.)

[Hershey2]

They don`t take credit cards or checks. Since I use credit card for the cash back I don`t shop there often. They do have good meats and produce but not a huge selection.

[Bandwife23]

donasmom - Oh, you are in for a treat! We love going to Aldi! The one in our area has been here for about 4 years, but we were already familiar w/it bc we previously lived in a college town in KY & it was a very popular place. My hubby & I laughed bc when they first opened here, people were quick to say they weren't gonna shop there bc it looked like a "here today, gone tomorrow" place. SO high society and MISINFORMED! Like others have said, they have good deals on several things. The only groceries we get @ Walmart now are things that we know for a fact won't be @ Aldi...and that's not much. Aldi's lunchmeat is good(brand name is Lunchmate) oh and if you are a pizza person, they have take & bake pizzas that are out of this world! We used to get those pizzas @ walmart. At Aldi, they are between $4.99-$5.99 in our area(KY) & come in 12" & 16". We haven't ordered from a pizza chain in YEARS.

We take our own bags but i've seen others buy the Aldi bags when they get in checkout. They bring in special items each week and people(in our area anyway) go nuts for them. You have to get there when that new sale starts bc if you don't, the item(s) won't be there. For ex., back in the winter they had a car seat warmer for $10. My driver's side warmer has been out for years so I made a beeline to Aldi. I got there the next day after the sale started and they were already gone! Lesson learned! A few months ago, I got 4 Sistema mugs that were cheaper than Q's price. The ice cream treats are good and so is there German brand of chocolates(Choceur). The chocolates come in different varieties and taste so good! We have found a German version of Twix that are HEAVENLY. Oh and we even get the dryer sheets, dish liquid and dishwasher tabs.

Sorry if I'm rambling, but Aldi's gets an A+!