I count on my girlfriends for advice, endorsements, tips, and ideas. Yesterday, at brunch (linner?) my girlfriend informed me of something important: I was asleep at the wheel when it came to shopping at ALDI.
Are you familiar with ALDI?
ALDI is a German-based discount supermarket chain with more than 1,700 stores in 35 states.
The chain is known for its discounted prices and no-frills, low-overhead shopping experience.
For the uninitiated, like my husband, you’ll want to arrive at the store equipped: use of a shopping cart costs 25 cents (which is returned to you when you’ve returned your cart to the corral after shopping) and you’ll need to bring your own shopping bags or purchase them from the store.
I hadn’t shopped at ALDI in years, and unfortunately, my memory of my first visit wasn’t a pleasant one: the store was filled with uninspired private label products, and smelled terribly.
It certainly didn’t smell like a place you’d purchase food at.
The new ALDI is a clean, odorless store with a decent and affordable wine selection, produce with a practical price-point and a small and manageable square footage that made me feel that I was buying what I needed and nothing more.
ALDI is committed to marketing itself as providing high-quality products at the lowest possible prices. They have an inspired Instagram account with beautiful photography that’s full of inspiration and suggestions to help shoppers put their savings to work.
There’s a lot to like at ALDI. Below, I’m sharing 3 things to love about ALDI.
1. There’s a “Double Guarantee” in place to ensure you love what you buy.
Aldi believes that they have the best quality products on their shelves.
If for any reason, you are not 100 percent satisfied with any product, ALDI will gladly replace the product AND refund your money. Claiming your Double Guarantee is easy: just return the unused product and its packaging to your local ALDI Store Manager and you will receive a refund.
Editor’s note: The Double Guarantee does not apply to non-food ALDI Find items, alcohol, national brands and non-quality related issues.
2. The store is focused on food.
While a typical supermarket carries about 30,000 items, ALDI is focused on essentials. According to its website, “the store is focused on the weekly must-haves – most of which are our high-quality brands. Smaller inventory means smaller stores, which leads to lower rent and electricity costs. This allows ALDI to pass the savings on to you.”
3. Shopping at ALDI supports sustainable retail.
There’s a lot to feel good about when shopping at ALDI. The store is committed to sustainability. As mentioned earlier, at ALDI, shoppers are expected to bring their own shopping. If you don’t, the store has an assortment of boxes (think Sam’s Club) that you can recycle or, if you absolutely must have a bag, you can purchase reusable totes at checkout.
ALDI stores are also smaller than your typical Kroger or Meijer stores. Smaller, focused square footage translates into saving for you: with a smaller footprint, ALDI uses less energy and passes its savings on to you!
I’ve enjoyed my last few visits to ALDI. With a new year, I’m newly inspired to try new recipes, shop for different ingredients and try a little harder to save a little money. If this sounds like you, I encourage you to visit ALDI to see what’s in store!
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