Aldi opening in Florida
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whirlcool
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I remember Aldi from Chicago and Germany. They certainly are bare bones stores!
~sudsshane
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I am looking forward to it.
Orlando needs more competition here since Publix dominates the market. Albertson's recently sold 49 stores in Florida to Publix and Winn-Dixie is on the verge of extinction.
You know what that means for the consumer?-?-.
Less competition means higher food prices!
I wish Kroger or Sweetbay would come to this market. They could give Publix a run for their money.
Orlando needs more competition here since Publix dominates the market. Albertson's recently sold 49 stores in Florida to Publix and Winn-Dixie is on the verge of extinction.
You know what that means for the consumer?-?-.
Less competition means higher food prices!
I wish Kroger or Sweetbay would come to this market. They could give Publix a run for their money.
Aldi
Allen Aldi has really changed in past few years. Yes years ago carried just bare bones but now most have been enlarged and carry about 1300 items rather than the 300 to 400 they used to.
Shane you will probabally like the stores. Canned goods are much cheaper and as good a quality as a brand name.
The company I work for does all the pultry products other than the whole bagged frozen chicken. The rest either IF, ready to cook and fully cooked all made by us.
They are debit card or cash no credit cards or checks. Bring your own bags.
Allen Aldi has really changed in past few years. Yes years ago carried just bare bones but now most have been enlarged and carry about 1300 items rather than the 300 to 400 they used to.
Shane you will probabally like the stores. Canned goods are much cheaper and as good a quality as a brand name.
The company I work for does all the pultry products other than the whole bagged frozen chicken. The rest either IF, ready to cook and fully cooked all made by us.
They are debit card or cash no credit cards or checks. Bring your own bags.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
You Will Like ALDI
We've become very glad that ALDI opened here in the Atlanta area. It's very bare-bones, very thrift-oriented, but the chain certainly delivers on its price promises.
The trade-off is that ALDI carries mostly its own private-label brands; there are few of the national brands you know and trust. That can be a little off-putting at first. But - the quality is there for the most part, and if you don't like something, they'll gladly replace it plus refund the purchase price for whatever you brought back.
Also, selection is somewhat limited. For instance, only a few types of frozen veggies are available. What we do is to buy whatever we can from ALDI first, then go to Kroger or Publix for those things ALDI doesn't supply. The savings are definitely worth it.
We have been disappointed only a very few times; I found their coffee not to my liking, for instance. But with so many bargains in other areas, that's okay - I just get my coffee elsewhere.
Two tips for those visiting for the first time:
1) Take a quarter with you. ALDI uses a coin-operated lock on its grocery carts, and you'll need the quarter to get one. When you're through with the cart, the lock system refunds the quarter. It's just there to cut down on cart loss - the power of that 25-cent piece is amazing.
2) Take bags with you, or be prepared to pay for bags when you check out (they're available under the checkout counter, on the customer's side). 5 cents each for paper, 10 cents for very large, very sturdy plastic. ALDI doesn't care if you reuse bags forever.
All in all, a very nice place to save a few bucks! P.S.: While I can only speak about our local stores, our ALDI is cleaner than our Kroger (already pretty clean), very impressive in a discount chain.
We've become very glad that ALDI opened here in the Atlanta area. It's very bare-bones, very thrift-oriented, but the chain certainly delivers on its price promises.
The trade-off is that ALDI carries mostly its own private-label brands; there are few of the national brands you know and trust. That can be a little off-putting at first. But - the quality is there for the most part, and if you don't like something, they'll gladly replace it plus refund the purchase price for whatever you brought back.
Also, selection is somewhat limited. For instance, only a few types of frozen veggies are available. What we do is to buy whatever we can from ALDI first, then go to Kroger or Publix for those things ALDI doesn't supply. The savings are definitely worth it.
We have been disappointed only a very few times; I found their coffee not to my liking, for instance. But with so many bargains in other areas, that's okay - I just get my coffee elsewhere.
Two tips for those visiting for the first time:
1) Take a quarter with you. ALDI uses a coin-operated lock on its grocery carts, and you'll need the quarter to get one. When you're through with the cart, the lock system refunds the quarter. It's just there to cut down on cart loss - the power of that 25-cent piece is amazing.
2) Take bags with you, or be prepared to pay for bags when you check out (they're available under the checkout counter, on the customer's side). 5 cents each for paper, 10 cents for very large, very sturdy plastic. ALDI doesn't care if you reuse bags forever.
All in all, a very nice place to save a few bucks! P.S.: While I can only speak about our local stores, our ALDI is cleaner than our Kroger (already pretty clean), very impressive in a discount chain.
polkanut
Well-known member
My wife & I have found that although the fresh fruits and vegetable selection is somewhat limited, the quality is very good. Their canned foods, especially veggies & soups are on par with the name brands. The stores are, as rule, very clean. I think you'll become a steady customer.
The Aldi's around Atlanta are great. Fresh produce and high quality canned goods at very good prices.
They also have interesting German/European imports from time to time...delicious stollens at Christmas, frozen applestrudel, interesting sauces and side-dishes. You can see where they and Trader Joe's came from the same mind-set (kind of like WP and Kenmore...
I never shop at Aldi
Perhaps it's all different on your side of the pond but overhere Aldi treats it's personnel horribly. I don't shop at Lidl for the same reason. And another reason is that overhere in the Netherlands their vegetables contained more insecticides than the vegetables from other chains.
Perhaps it's all different on your side of the pond but overhere Aldi treats it's personnel horribly. I don't shop at Lidl for the same reason. And another reason is that overhere in the Netherlands their vegetables contained more insecticides than the vegetables from other chains.
danemodsandy
Well-known member
foraloysius
The treatment of store personnel is of concern to me, too, so I've made friends with several local ALDI employees and asked them what the deal was.
Everyone I've talked with here in the Atlanta area is happy. Several of them worked for other stores in the past (both grocery and non-grocery), and say that they feel much better-treated than they were by their previous employers. They do tell me that ALDI expects hard work, but that pay and benefits are good for what they do.
So, from that limited perspective, things on this side of the pond seem to be different. Before I began my present career, I spent some time in upscale retail, and I can sense dispirited, unhappy employees the minute I set foot in a store. The ALDI I visit has happy campers.
The treatment of store personnel is of concern to me, too, so I've made friends with several local ALDI employees and asked them what the deal was.
Everyone I've talked with here in the Atlanta area is happy. Several of them worked for other stores in the past (both grocery and non-grocery), and say that they feel much better-treated than they were by their previous employers. They do tell me that ALDI expects hard work, but that pay and benefits are good for what they do.
So, from that limited perspective, things on this side of the pond seem to be different. Before I began my present career, I spent some time in upscale retail, and I can sense dispirited, unhappy employees the minute I set foot in a store. The ALDI I visit has happy campers.
whirlcool
Well-known member
The Aldi store in Countryside, IL is exactly the same as the Aldi I went to in Hannover, Germany. It even had the same floor tile!
I have also seen those super Aldi stores in Germany, but did not know they had them here in the US too.
It does seem that Publix does have a grip on the Orlando and Tampa, FL markets. Who was Publix last main competitor?
I have also seen those super Aldi stores in Germany, but did not know they had them here in the US too.
It does seem that Publix does have a grip on the Orlando and Tampa, FL markets. Who was Publix last main competitor?
Competor's Orlando
As far as i can remeber was Pantry Pride in the 70's and early 8-'s along with Albertsons and Winn Dixie. That was a local chain called Goldring's that was really an upscale sotre but I don't know if they are still there. My sister had lived tere since the late 60's.
Our parents had a winter home in Hallendale and all mother would shop at was Publix.
As far as i can remeber was Pantry Pride in the 70's and early 8-'s along with Albertsons and Winn Dixie. That was a local chain called Goldring's that was really an upscale sotre but I don't know if they are still there. My sister had lived tere since the late 60's.
Our parents had a winter home in Hallendale and all mother would shop at was Publix.
danemodsandy
I'm glad that Aldi does well on pay and benefits in the USA. Sounds good to shop there.
Interesting that in the country of the free enterprise some companies have hardly competitors. Overhere in the Netherlands we have still quite a few chains that make bargain hunting interesting.
I'm glad that Aldi does well on pay and benefits in the USA. Sounds good to shop there.
Interesting that in the country of the free enterprise some companies have hardly competitors. Overhere in the Netherlands we have still quite a few chains that make bargain hunting interesting.
The Employment practises of Aldi in Australia are pretty horrendous also. They forced staff onto individual agreements, which is illegal by cutting their hours until they signed.
Our Sunday paper recently had an article on how our federal government is heralding Aldi as a good thing for consumers, but that whilst our two dominant chains can be more expensive at least they treat their staff right.
We've tried a few times to shop at Aldi and it just doesnt work for us. We buy things on special and just found that judicious shopping at Woolworths cost about as much as shopping at Aldi when you looked at the time and effort involved to do two store trips. Plus when you guy shopping twice, we just ended up buying other things that we didnt really need.
Our Sunday paper recently had an article on how our federal government is heralding Aldi as a good thing for consumers, but that whilst our two dominant chains can be more expensive at least they treat their staff right.
We've tried a few times to shop at Aldi and it just doesnt work for us. We buy things on special and just found that judicious shopping at Woolworths cost about as much as shopping at Aldi when you looked at the time and effort involved to do two store trips. Plus when you guy shopping twice, we just ended up buying other things that we didnt really need.
spiceman1957
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- Nov 9, 2006
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- 724
Aldi
We are fortunate to have 2 stores in the Winston-Salem triad area of North Carolina. The first time I visited their store, I had to borrow a quarter to get a shopping cart (which you get back when you parked your cart). You have to bag your own items and make sure you bring bags. All in all, its a good store with good prices. I was very surprised to find how good their meats are. I often will stop there on my way back from my Big Local Store and buy my other items such as breads, can foods, meats, milk, etc. Our stores even have a wine selection and they now take debt cards.
We are fortunate to have 2 stores in the Winston-Salem triad area of North Carolina. The first time I visited their store, I had to borrow a quarter to get a shopping cart (which you get back when you parked your cart). You have to bag your own items and make sure you bring bags. All in all, its a good store with good prices. I was very surprised to find how good their meats are. I often will stop there on my way back from my Big Local Store and buy my other items such as breads, can foods, meats, milk, etc. Our stores even have a wine selection and they now take debt cards.
I visited and Aldi once or twice was never impressed. Nothing there I wanted or needed. I use very little canned goods and boxed stuff, and that is all they sell basically. Prices were in line with store brands from what I remember, it may be different in your area, we have lots of competition.
irishwashguy
Well-known member
I shopped ALDI when I lived in Kalamazoo, Mighigan
It is a neat concept. They do not take change, cash only, bring your own bags, different, and cheap,I shopped there alot. They were a little out of the way from what i can remember, although, when I was living in Kalamazoo, most of what we had to choose from was Meijers, Hardings, DW's They were a change for the better. I would love to see them here. Although, we have had a few of the Save Alot food stores, open.........mostly in the outer, schechier part of the city. Albersons almost does not exsist in the city anymore, they just keep closing them. I would welcome ALDI
It is a neat concept. They do not take change, cash only, bring your own bags, different, and cheap,I shopped there alot. They were a little out of the way from what i can remember, although, when I was living in Kalamazoo, most of what we had to choose from was Meijers, Hardings, DW's They were a change for the better. I would love to see them here. Although, we have had a few of the Save Alot food stores, open.........mostly in the outer, schechier part of the city. Albersons almost does not exsist in the city anymore, they just keep closing them. I would welcome ALDI
whirlcool
Well-known member
Albertsons was here in Houston as well for awhile. They built quite a few large stores. But their prices were so damned high. It was like convenience store pricing. After people noticed how high they were, they stopped shopping there. Towards the end, their stores were like ghost towns.
And Randall's is pretty much the same way these days. They have closed quite a few parameter stores and are concentrating more or less within the central city. They used to be a great store until they sold out to Safeway. If you go to the Randall's Flagship on San Felipe & Voss at 3pm on a Saturday, you may be the only person in there!
It seems like Wal-Mart, Kroger & HEB have a stranglehold on groceries in Houston.
And Randall's is pretty much the same way these days. They have closed quite a few parameter stores and are concentrating more or less within the central city. They used to be a great store until they sold out to Safeway. If you go to the Randall's Flagship on San Felipe & Voss at 3pm on a Saturday, you may be the only person in there!
It seems like Wal-Mart, Kroger & HEB have a stranglehold on groceries in Houston.
