We have several Aldis here in AR and I love it. There are still some things I get from Walmart but so many canned foods and some of their frozen foods are better (I think) than the name brands, try the mac and cheese. I buy the boxes of mac for 33 cents and just use the cheese packet with my own healthy pasta (barilla plus or whole wheat) for a semi-healthy mac and cheese. The store is always clean even the ones in the poorer neighborhoods. I love their brown rice but I have not been able to find it lately I guess they no longer carry it.
MSMONTE 6/28/08 9:11 P
I've shopped at Aldis and Sav A Lot and love the low prices. Sav A Lot is on the way home from work, so I stop there often. I get fruit from Aldis when I want to make a fruit salad. I am, however, hesitant to buy meat from the meat section at both stores. For real, does everybody think it's safe? It has to be, right? I really need to get over these fears of being poisoned by meat and produce. Watching the news doesn't help! We've had spinach scares, beef scares, tomato scares, and goodness knows what else! I think my philosophy has always been that since these two stores are always trying to save money, that they would skimp on food safety as well. But I could go round and round on that with high end food stores too. Aaaargh! If I continue to let these fears run me, I'll starve to death! LOL!
Another thing, are those Fit & Active foods really good for us who are trying to lose weight? How are the carbs? I've never taken the time to read the labels. BJJZJLENNY, will you sell Fit & Active to me?
BJJZJLENNY 6/28/08 9:28 A
I don't shop at Save-A-Lot, but would need therapy if Aldi's went out of business. I purchase many of the Fit & Active foods from them.
JENNIFER322 6/28/08 8:24 A
I don't particularly like Save-A-Lot for some reason. I do however LOVE Aldi's. The one near us even has Sunday hours now!
SALLYSITWELL 6/27/08 7:53 P
Nah, it's not really like a dollar store (though I'm not sure if a Spanish dollar store is different from a 'typical' dollar store). It's just a grocery store with low prices and "private label brand" -- meaning you probably aren't going to find Campbell, Kraft, etc. The food is typically just the same as the name-brands, but with a different label slapped on it so it's cheaper.
They have lots of canned/boxed goods and frozen convenient foods. They also have fresh produce and meat. I've never bought meat, but I've personally never had issues with the produce. It's about the same as what I'd get at Giant Eagle (our local grocery chain) except cheaper. Some of them also carry organic/whole-grain/healthy products. Some of them carry beer and wine (but I've never checked out the brands/etc of that).
It's different from a regular grocery store in a couple ways. First, there's the fact that you really aren't going to find name brands like you'd typically expect. Second, you can't just "take" a cart from the cart pile. The carts are locked to each other in rows and you have to put a quarter into the cart to unlock it from the others. When you're done shopping, you return the cart to the cart pile and lock it back in. Then you get your quarter back. Kind of annoying if you don't carry quarters, but that way, Aldi's doesn't have to pay someone to clean up the cart mess in the parking lot and doesn't have to overcharge on the groceries to cover their pay.
Third, they usually don't have shelves like typical stores. Instead, most of the dry "pantry" food are left inside of the cardboard shipping flats. Then they arrange them in aisles and stack 'em up. It's kind of like the way warehouse discount stores stack everything up. While shopping, you can pick up the whole flat of products if you need a bunch of an item, and it's already packed for you. And finally, the most weird thing: no complimentary shopping bags. You can bring your own, you can buy one at the check out counter (maybe for a dime or nickel? I've never bought one...), or you can take a bunch of the cardboard shipping boxes and carry it out that way. The ones I have been to always have a counter separate from the check out line so you can have the employee toss it all into your cart and then walk to the counter and pack it yourself in boxes. Also, usually they have the boxes sitting near that counter so you don't even necessarily have to wander around the store hunting down boxes.
As far as the general "quality" and "environment" of the store...generally it's good. Clean, fairly organized, well-lit, aisles are wide enough to get through (unlike a similar competitor in my area, Mark's, where the aisles are packed and hard to navigate). Some of the stores are nicer, but that's the way it is with any chain. The ones in the more "yuppy" neighborhoods do seem to be a little more upscale, but none of them (in any area) that I have been to are trashy or dirty. So that's my vote for Aldi.
I do, however, have to voice my disdain for their horrible, awful, terribly acted, written, produced, and directed commercials that I have recently started seeing. Seriously, they are the Worst. But I guess I'd rather see a $2.00 commercial for a store than have a slick commercial and higher prices. And they're always good for laugh. "So this is where you've been these specialty brands! Who knew?" If you're interested in seeing Tiffany find out where they got those specialty brands:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fd4Wtgn3qI
GIGIANDDAISY 6/23/08 1:55 P
I am confused...isnt Aldi's like a spanish dollar store type place? i was told they had not the best quality either
PENNYPOUNDSOFF 6/23/08 1:41 P
We too shop at Aldi's and Sav-A-Lot as much as we can. I would love to be in this group. Thanks.
DEB_RN 2/18/08 9:20 P
What is the team called? I thought you were going to send me an invite.
CHRIS_KEWL 2/18/08 4:40 P
It's nice to have all of you coming on board to my SparkTeam. Please, feel free to use the spark team as a place to vent, share ideas and be yourselves. We're all here trying to reach a common goal. :)
Thanks!
TBEAR19841 2/14/08 12:34 P
My friend intoduced me to save-a-lot, Im trying to get her to join the sparkpeople. I love that store, its cheap but a good way to add more filling and easier to lose the weight.
DEB_RN 2/9/08 7:55 P
Add me to the list. I love Aldi's. Their fresh veggies save me!! I cook from scratch and use lots of their rice, canned soups, tomato products, frozen veggies, ground turkey, chicken, etc, etc.
WANT2BFIT08 2/9/08 6:50 P
I too have a limited budget with 4 children ,Aldi's helps us stretch our paycheck.
BOXERGURL 2/8/08 4:45 P
We don't have a Save-A-Lot here, but we do have Aldi's. With the rising cost of groceries, I'm definitely going to start making Aldi's a part of my shopping routine. I bought a dozen large eggs for 86 cents, when I usually spend closer to $1.50 at Gerbes. Definitely worth it to stock up on necessities!
JUST_KAREN 2/6/08 6:23 P
I shop at Save-A-Lot. There is also an Aldi's in town but not close. I struggle sometimes find diet firendly ideas there. I would love to join.
Rosie
CHRIS_KEWL 2/6/08 12:40 A
Agreed, that is the downside, they do take Debit cards at mine, but not credit cards. Save-A-Lot over here takes credit as well as debit, so that makes life a whole lot easier. That's why I have been shopping there more.
SGROVE1 2/5/08 9:05 P
We have an Aldi's and I have had wonderful buys on things like green peppers and other produce. The downside for me is that ours only accepts cash, and I rarely have cash with me. When I make the effort, I am pleased.
CHRIS_KEWL 2/5/08 4:50 P
I added you to the team. :) Feel free to start posting on the SparkTeam. :)
Thanks!
CLRAMBITIONS 2/5/08 1:38 P
I have both stores here and last week was the first time I went to Aldi! I have no idea why I passed it for so long but I am forever hooked!!
I think this would be a great group to start. Count me in.
CHRIS_KEWL 2/4/08 11:16 P
I added you both, but I am sure there are PLENTY more people out there that would love to join this SparkTeam!
Go to: http://sparkpeople.com/myspark/groups_individual.asp?gid=18583
Thanks!
JUNE36264 2/3/08 2:49 P
I LOVE Save A Lot, it's my favorite store! I shop there every payday, because we too are on a limited budget. I would also like some advice on eating healthier and still saving money.
CMORRISON64 2/3/08 10:33 A
We have Save-A-Lot here in Colorado but no Aldi, but growing up in the midwest I loved Aldi's.
CHRIS_KEWL 2/2/08 11:58 P
Hello everyone, this is my first post and like many people here, I am overweight. Recently I learned of this place through my wife and now I am doing a better job watching my intake.
We shop at Save-A-Lot and Aldis because they are inexpensive and we are on a limited budget. I am sure many others around here are in the exact same boat like me and my wife.
With that in mind, I know you can still shop at these stores and still lose weight, I'm a living testament to that, though you have to be picky about what you eat.
So if anyone is interested in sharing recipes and food items from these food stores, please post at this thread. Hopefully we can fill the database with inexpensive food options. :)
