Food Shopping

[Nick12]

Where in NJ? Edison, Iselin, Jersey City?

But very few Americans and other ethnicities will shop outside their preferred or mainstream stores.

Patel Brothers , Subzimandi are scattered in NJ. Visiting NJ has become a cultural mecca. Don't agree with not many shop outside mainstream. The Latino mom and pop grocers in FL where I live is where I can get the freshest veggies, produce and fish at better prices than big block chain markets. It's a good way to practice my Spanish since English is rarely spoken in these locations.

 

[Sprink-Fitter]

Is it pronounced "AL DEE" or "AWL DEE"?

We spend at Aldi as well as Whole Foods. Aldi was our go to store in the lean years earlier this century.

Aldi is a German company and is pronounced "all" "dee".

And there is no 's in Aldi

 

[Marita40]

We have Aldis springing up in new locations, often taking over defunct grocery store sites. I visited a new one last week and wow, it is head and tails better than the much older Aldis I'd been frequenting. They've really improved over the decade. If I can't find it at Aldi, my next stop is usually SuperTarget.

 

[target2019]

ALDI's Millville Crispy Oats are inferior to Cheerios. https://www.aldireviewer.com/2016/12/12/aldi-cereal-roundup/

 

[Lewis Clark]

ALDI's Millville Crispy Oats are inferior to Cheerios. https://www.aldireviewer.com/2016/12/12/aldi-cereal-roundup/

+1
My wife has tried Aldi's Crispy Oats. To her, there is a significant difference in flavor between Crispy Oats and Cheerios.

As to which is "better", that is probably a personal preference.

 

[Ronstar]

I not a fan of Aldi’s because they don’t have some of the things that we buy. But it is across the street from Walmart, so that makes it convenient to stop at Aldi’s on the same trip to Walmart. Also buy a few things at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.

 

[jazz4cash]

Aldi sells Honeynut Cheerios along with their own version. I haven't tried any of them but I'm pretty sure the genuine Cheerios brand at Aldi is no different than Cheerios at other stores.

 

[dasranger]

It would be interesting to see a map of the US where “Aldi” becomes “Aldis” and “Walmart” becomes “The Walmart.”

 

[EarlyBirdly]

+1
My wife has tried Aldi's Crispy Oats. To her, there is a significant difference in flavor between Crispy Oats and Cheerios.

As to which is "better", that is probably a personal preference.

Yes...To her. And, to each his own !

Same with the author of the article in the post above.

Key Words: Subjective Opinions

I would bet heavily that if the bowls of cereal were set in front of each individual, and they were not told anything about the test, that they would have no idea which was which.

They might actually have a preference for one or the other and that would be purely subjective, even if they were the exact same thing.

Much like when a talk show host showed numerous people the "New" I- Phone (which was NOT the new I-Phone but actually last year's model) and most subjects reported that it was " faster", "easier", "lighter" etc.

Many people reject Aldi and it's products out of hand, without ever even trying them. They perceive that it costs less so it must be inferior.

My friend, who I forced to go to Aldi with me, remarked as we pulled into the parking lot " Wow! There's a lot of nice cars here! "

Amused, because I knew the basis of the comment was formulated from an opinion that " only poor people shop at ALDI "... I looked at her, smiled, and said : " That's because these people shop at ALDI. They can afford nice things and these cars are most likely paid for. That's because they don't pay more for things than they have to, and they don't care what others think of where they SHOP for Chrissake! . If you want to see poor people, go to Whole Foods. "

I say again (see previous post)....And THAT is how Trader Joe's was born. Charge more for the same product and put it in a fancier package. Devised by one of the Albrecht Brothers of Aldi fame who realized the foolishness of American behavior as regards pricing and money.



BirdMan


P.S. - NOT bagging on TJ's. My Son used to work there and I used to buy select items there that were excellent products and at good value.

 

[Rianne]

We have a newer Aldi. I like the convenience, in and out in 10 minutes. Small parking lot, small store and great fresh fruit and fruit like Kiwi, Persimmons, blood oranges and nice peppers. The bran flakes are as good as GM and the cookies...they are a German co. and they own Trader Joe's. I wish we had a Trader Joe's.

Also, the way they handle shopping carts. There are never shopping carts all over the parking lot. Who wants to waste a quarter? Plus customers trade their carts with incoming customers.

 

[EarlyBirdly]

ALDI's Millville Crispy Oats are inferior to Cheerios. https://www.aldireviewer.com/2016/12/12/aldi-cereal-roundup/

Not according to the author...Where did you get that from the text of the article?


"...I’ve learned over the years, ..that generic oat cereal doesn’t usually match the taste of Cheerios. I’m not sure Aldi’s Regular Buy version does either, but I will say that, as far as generics go, Aldi’s is my favorite short of the General Mills classic. It’s got both good crunch and good flavor."


It's all subjective anyway. Not definitively, "inferior" by any measure.

 

[Jerry1]

Also, the way they handle shopping carts. There are never shopping carts all over the parking lot. Who wants to waste a quarter? Plus customers trade their carts with incoming customers.

I wish every place handled their shopping carts like Aldi. Personally, I think it’s just common sense/courtesy to take your cart back to the designated areas, but I guess that’s just too much for some people. Seems like most people at Costco put their carts in the drop area, but Kroger?, not so much. Makes sense to keep cost down too.

Of course the first time I went to Aldi I was a bit irritated because it didn’t know the system. Walked into the store, no carts. Found carts outside. What? It cost a quarter?? Then I realized that I got my quarter back and all was well. Woo, that was close.

 

[Ronstar]

Also, the way they handle shopping carts. There are never shopping carts all over the parking lot. Who wants to waste a quarter? Plus customers trade their carts with incoming customers.

The one and only time that I went solo to Aldi was a disaster. The whole cart thing - couldn’t get the quarter thing to work. Finally found an employee to get me a cart. Went inside and they didn’t have the first item on my list of what I needed. So I left the cart in the aisle and walked out with nothing. I’ve been back with DW since then, but only to get a few items.

 

[Rianne]

The one and only time that I went solo to Aldi was a disaster. The whole cart thing - couldn’t get the quarter thing to work. Finally found an employee to get me a cart. Went inside and they didn’t have the first item on my list of what I needed. So I left the cart in the aisle and walked out with nothing. I’ve been back with DW since then, but only to get a few items.

The Aldi learning curve is substantial. I admit the first few times, I didn't think it was very good. After a few times, I looked at their items in detail, they do change from season to season. I had to go to each shelf grouping and analyze what was there. I now "get it." Aldi is super efficient. Even when you see a long line with filled carts, the line goes fast, the cashier engagement is polite but quick.

Try Aldi a few times and go at off times. Saturdays/Sundays...forget it.

 

[Carpediem]

I not a fan of Aldi’s because they don’t have some of the things that we buy. But it is across the street from Walmart, so that makes it convenient to stop at Aldi’s on the same trip to Walmart. Also buy a few things at Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s.

That's interesting because Aldi just announced they were going to build a new store in our town and it's located across the street from..... Walmart.

 

[davebarnes]

Seems like most people at Costco put their carts in the drop area, but Kroger?, not so much.

I deliberately leave my cart near my car when departing.
It keeps someone employed and I don't care about the increase in food cost.
It is also one reason I refuse to use the self-checkout lane.

 

[Chuckanut]

IIRC, Aldi and Trader Joes are owned by two brothers but are not legally owned by the same company. They are independent from each other. How much the two brothers chat with each other at family gatherings is anybody's guess.

Can I please have Lidl near me? Please!!

 

[YVRRocketSurgery]

About the only way to get to eat fresh king crab is to work on one of those boats. Deadliest Catch, anyone?

?? There are tanks with live king crabs in supermarkets and restaurants in Vancouver.

 

[NW-Bound]

Darn! I missed out again.

Well, I don't know if I like King Crab that much to go to Vancoucer in that specific period just for that. I will just have the frozen crab leg then. King crab legs are meaty, but not as good as Dungeness crab anyway, the same as lobster generally not being as sweet as good shrimp.

An unofficial festival celebrated mainly in Chinese restaurants, it would last for about a month, beginning in mid-March, when the so-called World’s Deadliest Catch was shipped live to Vancouver in large quantities and offered in two-, three-, and four-course feasts, at substantially reduced prices – as low as $13.80 a pound 10 years ago.

Sadly, those bargain-day deals are done. This year, spring-season prices range from $39 to $49 a pound (going as high as $60 to $70 at some restaurants.) That’s double what they were five years ago, when prices ranged from $19.99 to $29.80.

“No, it’s not a festival anymore,” says Serah Chan, marketing coordinator for the Kirin Restaurant Group. “The price from the supplier is so expensive and the quantity we get is less and less. Sometimes, we can’t get any.”

 

[RobbieB]

I've been buying my King Crab from these guys for years now. Only the "super colossal" size and well worth it.

 

[NW-Bound]

The Chinese do not mind spending a lot of money for seafood. The linked article above led me to search Youtube, and in the following video they show live king crab in a tank in Guanzhou, China at 2:30.

I was wrong about live king crab not being available away from fishing operation in Alaska. You just have to be living among those who do not mind paying $1000 or more for a meal.

 

[Sunset]

I deliberately leave my cart near my car when departing.
It keeps someone employed and I don't care about the increase in food cost.
It is also one reason I refuse to use the self-checkout lane.

It's also a great idea to leave the cart in the middle of the parking spot so that nobody will park too close to a cart making it harder on the employee. It encourages people to be healthy and walk to the grocery store as well.

 

[dasranger]

You know you’re an Aldi regular when you get a keychain quarter holder.

 

[Nick12]

In Florida where it rains a lot several times a day in the hot summertime, the homeless people are not only helpful but can make some spare $$ so they can earn some beer and cigarette $$. At the local Aldi store when the customer pushes their full cart of food in the pouring rain to their car and unloads the groceries to their vehicle, the homeless guys are right there standing by. They offer not to help but to return the shopping cart to the front of the store to earn their $.25. And multiply that with additional vehicle shopping carts.

 

[ncbill]

A Lidl opened very close by just a year or so ago...no quarter required, cleaner than the closest Aldi's (which is not very close)...so the Lidl what we now use for as many grocery items as possible.