Foreign supermarkets

Near where I live, well actually not all that near which is why I'm asking,
there are a number of Aldi/Netto/Lidl supermarkets being built.
Are they worth a visit or are they Kwik Save by another name?

John the R-T...

They have some bargains but local Lidl always looks and feels dirty.

No, that sounds snobby; what I mean to say is: do the aforementioned provide
something to drag me away from the Tesco/Sainsbury/Morrison/Waitrose/Asda
chains, without spending more on petrol than I save on my bill.

MCC...

We like Lidl's vegetables - always fresh. They are the only place around,
including greengrocers, where I can buy bunches of radishes instead of
having them packed in polystyrene and cling film.
They periodically have half-price vegetables - we take full advantage of
those offers :-)
And their 'Snacky Cracky' cheese straws are delish :-)

I had an argument with Aldi on Friday when I had to return a very recently
bought set of outdoor Christmas lights. I won :-)

Rabbit...

I thought ALDI had a no quibble return policy. Maybe you got the staff (
there only ever seems to be one in my local store) on a bad day :-)

MCC...

He had a name tag on his shirt giving, as well as his name, "Store Deputy".
Because the lights were working he didn't think I had a complaint until I
showed him the variations in distance between bulbs (lamps!) at the
beginning of the set and those at the end. He didn't quibble then, just
asked me for a penny and gave me Ł10 - fair exchange!

Tickettyboo...

There you go then! That's why he was a bit grumpy, he needed to go spend a
penny

On taking them out of their box the first 20 or so were about 9" apart but
the next 20 were only 2" apart!

Tickettyboo...

They aint foriegn , there's an Aldi in Heanor! ( well ok, so that probably
counts as foreign LOL)
I don't do supermarkets really, but like to mooch round Aldi now and then,
their food doesn't seem to be brand names as we recognise them, but the
stuff I have bought now and thenwas good quality and resonably priced. (
food that is, I have also bought pcs and bits n pieces very reasonably)
I have a friend who is a food snob ( well actually she is a snob about
most stuff but I love her) She regularly shops at Lidl, says the Parma ham
there is second to none and about half the price of anywhere else. I think
the problem is that these days we expect to get everything under one roof
( I don't even go to the supermarket I have the stuff delivered I am
really lazy). I just get the basics delivered ( wine and loo rolls type
stuff) and still go to the butchers and the bakers and the fruit n veg
shops

DavidC...

Since when did wine count as a "basic" item in one's regular grocery
purchase?

Tickettyboo...

Since I started doing the shopping

David C....

Makes sense to me!

(Shirley one relies upon one's butler to personally supervise all
alcohol purchases for the Lady of the House?)

Tickettyboo...

The man was drinking it, so I dismissed him!

David C....

Aah, it's "sooo" hard to get decent staff these days.

Once upon a time, people used to go to one shop for veg, one for meat, one
for baked goods, and one for the basics and think nothing of it. Its the

Ali...

I remember doing that, with notes from me mam for each shop. (Yes, she got
the stuff delivered as well, and I was the delivery boy ;^( ), but even
though they were all separate shops, there was probably less walking than
a vist to the supermarket. Or there was the Co-op, all those departments
under one roof, but like separate shops, and a Divi too.

They've all gone now.

only way you can be sure to get the quality/price you want but it is a bit
more inconvenient if you don't go on your way home from the hamster wheel

Ali...

Shopping on the way home isn't really practical for me.

BoyPete...

Oh, give me individual shops anytime. When I lived in Greenwich. erm..??
years ago, we had a butcher, greengrocer, grocer, cheese shop, off-licence
etc. They couldn't afford to sell shoddy goods, cos word got around. If I
wanted fruit/veg not normally stocked, it was got for me. Trim and bone a
piece of meat? no prob. They've all gone now............and who'se fault is
it?? The lazy general public. Now we have to buy what THEY want to sell.
Gggrrrrrr

like wot I do

DavidC...

It's been many a year since I had to attend hamster wheel sessions,
but I can (just) remember discovering the joys of "one-stop shopping"
in the 60's...........

As for Aldi & Lidl, they are indeed good value, & have recently
re-positioned themselves above the real UK cost-cutters.

As for locations, might I recommend De Panne (Belgium) for both Aldi &
Lidl. Less than an hour from Calais, & the booze is much cheaper than
in the UK!
(Even the French shop there........:-)

MCC...

I think I'm right in saying that Aldi and Lidl are German and Netto are
Danish in origin.

They all have their websites

They all have e-mail newsletters for which I suggest you sign up. That will
give you a feel for what they have on offer.
Some of it is good - some of it is less so :-)

JoeH...

Try them Jim, no major brands but some good value no-name stuff.

mariann...

Don't bother, stay with Tesco's.