So . . . maiden voyage to Aldi. Didn't buy much but I thought it was really interesting. Wasn't prepared for the required $0.25 deposit to get the use of a cart (thought covid had done away with this) but luckily, Mrs. Suburban is one of the 6 people on the planet who still keeps some change on her. But in all seriousness, I appreciate how this practice helps keep labor costs down (and the parking lot less annoying).
Entering the store, it felt a bit like being in an alternate universe. It was wild seeing so many products with packaging that so closely resembled (aka intentionally mimicked) the leading brands of the same products which, for the most part, are not available at Aldi (though, we did find a 30-ounce jar of actual Hellman's mayonnaise for ~$3.75, so we threw one in the cart).
From what I've read, my guess is that these private label items are hit or miss. We bought the store brand versions of a few items we regularly buy and it'll be interesting to see how they compare. I didn't hesitate to buy cans of diced tomatoes and tomato paste but items like chocolate chips and ketchup seemed like a more dubious proposition. And I'm curious how the 2 different 8-packs of Belle Vie -- the house brand of flavored bubble waters -- will compare to the main brand analogs we normally buy elsewhere. Price-wise, they were no cheaper. And I didn't check the price but some flavors of LaCroix were also available.
Dry roasted peanuts were also interesting. The $1.99 price was a full buck lower than the ones I usually buy at WF but the ingredient list was a mile long and included two types of sweetener. The WF version contains nothing but peanuts and salt.
Meats were a mixed bag. We plunked down for a couple of types of sausage and deli meat, which I'm curious to try. At a glance, the selection of deli meats and cheeses seemed strong -- almost daunting -- but it's probably a matter of trial and error to suss out the ones the are worth buying.
Fresh meat looked interesting -- a decent selection, nicely packaged and reasonably priced -- but I'd already shopped for those items elsewhere. I wouldn't hesitate to try the beef or the chicken, both of which I'm guessing are comparable in quality to what I buy at Fresh Farms. Unfortunately, much of the pork we looked at was injected with a 10% bitch's brew of salt and other fillers.
I wasn't enticed by the produce, much of which is pre-portioned and packaged up under plastic, making it difficult examine or be selective with. After hearing and reading so much about Aldi's chocolate offerings, I found them disappointing. The offerings mainly were limited and end of aisle display and a 49% dark chocolate bar I tried -- not in the store, I actually bought it
-- had a funky, unpleasant aroma, and was peculiarly soft.
On the whole, Aldi seems like it might be at its best for shoppers who hit the inner aisles. Cereal, crackers, soups, condiments, canned goods, etc. seem like the strong points. We don't buy frozen foods but that's another area where, I'm guessing, favorites can be found. Those cases were substantially stocked with a wide variety of items and a LOT of frozen pizzas.
If I lived near an Aldi, it would certainly be in my regular rotation. And if I were out and about and an Aldi happened to be on my route, I'd stop in if I needed something. But given how far the nearest Aldi is from my house, nothing about it struck me as destination-worthy. Still, really glad to know it's there and what it's all about. I know I'll be back.
=R=
Same planet, different world