Is ALDI still the ‘go-to supermarket’ when it comes to savings? Here's what some shoppers have to say…
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If you've been to the grocery store lately, then you know the struggle of rising prices.
For years now, budget-conscious shoppers have been swearing by the catchphrase, 'Just shop at ALDI'. Recently, though, there's been some backlash…
One fed-up shopper, who wishes to remain anonymous, has taken to social media to express their frustrations with the phrase. And boy, did it go viral!
The shopper's rant struck a chord with hundreds of Australians who agreed that shopping at ALDI isn't necessarily the 'magic bullet' that solves all of life's problems.
The shopper's message? 'I'm well aware that ALDI is a large international supermarket chain. It's the phrase I'm tired of. It's like our national catchphrase.'
According to the anonymous shopper, simply 'shopping at ALDI' wouldn't necessarily solve all their problems or save them as much money as they would like.
'Stuff is cheaper at ALDI, yes. Some stuff. A lot of stuff but not all of it. And OK cool you save a few bucks on a shop. Awesome. I have ten more dollars this week! I'll definitely get a house with that ten dollars!' they wrote.
The Aussie's online rant then started a heated conversation on social media, and hundreds of fellow shoppers went on to voice their own opinions on the subject.
Several shoppers agreed and chimed in, saying that they didn't like the food at ALDI and weren't willing to give up quality just to save a few dollars.
Others also pointed out that not everyone had an ALDI in their state, while some joked that ALDI was great for certain items, but they still had to go to Woolies or Coles for almost everything else.
On the other hand, some also came to the supermarket's defence. 'ALDI does their stuff better than Woolies or Coles, and saving $10-20 per shop isn't something to overlook,' wrote one supporter in the comments.
How did ALDI get the reputation of being the most 'budget-friendly' supermarket?
It's no secret that ALDI has become a go-to for many Aussies looking to save on their weekly shop. But how did this German supermarket become known as the most budget-friendly option?
Since arriving in Australia in 2001, ALDI has amassed a cult following of shoppers who swear by the supermarket chain. The secret to their success lies in their business model, which aims to provide customers with the 'highest quality groceries at permanently low prices'.
The brand has contributed an estimated $30 billion to Australia's gross domestic product and has over 570 stores across six states and territories. More than 13,500 Australians are employed by the business, making it a significant employer in the retail sector.
ALDI's loyal fan base has created dozens of Facebook pages for shoppers to share their ALDI experience and purchases, with some groups like ALDI Fans Australia, ALDI Mums, and ALDI Nerd Community Recipe Group gathering thousands of followers. One member even said, 'I love ALDI; I'm very defensive of ALDI. I always try to convert people!'
And the savings actually speak for themselves. As one shopper explained, 'I did a trolley full of groceries that added up to $130. Including nappies and a box of wipes. The savings we've been able to make has completely changed my life.'
With prices rising faster than ever before, it's no wonder Aussies are turning to ALDI for budget-friendly options.
What do the experts say?
ALDI's success has been recognised by supermarket experts, with Canstar Blue revealing the supermarket as the best-rated for the fifth consecutive year.
Despite other supermarkets moving away from solely focusing on low prices, ALDI continues to differentiate itself by maintaining permanently low prices while promoting its products as being 'Good Different'.
The survey conducted by Canstar Blue revealed that ALDI has been rated as the favourite supermarket of Australians, with customers giving the discount supermarket five-star reviews in six out of eight categories, namely:
ALDI was also rated the cheapest supermarket in 2021 by the consumer advocacy group CHOICE.
According to them, a basket of national brand products cost an average of $145.23 at Coles and $141.83 at Woolworths (including specials), while a comparable basket of ALDI brand products was just $80.75 (including specials). That's a massive difference!
What do the people here at the SDC say?
We know that when it comes to grocery shopping, everyone has their go-to spot. Our community here at the SDC has been buzzing about the ALDI vs. other supermarkets debate, and in a previous article, we reported that an economist found that while ALDI may have lower prices overall, Woolies has more of those must-have brands that we all know and love.
But don't just take his word for it - we asked YOU, our members, to weigh in on the debate as well. Here's what some of you had to say.
@Sunshine45, an ALDI shopper, raved about the store's fresh produce and how it saves her a whopping $120 a year. But @mansersmith, on the other hand, had some criticisms of the store's pre-packaged produce. Instead, they opt to stock up on meat, poultry, and fish at ALDI, then hit up the local fruit and veg market for the rest of their needs.
@Nana Zorak had some great insights too, sharing that she does her main shopping at ALDI but hits up Woolies for those hard-to-find items.
Meanwhile, @Staffordshire Whippet loves ALDI but has a major gripe with the fact that the nearest one is a whopping 2200 km away.
@Lynjw, on the other hand, has some specific dietary needs that ALDI doesn't quite cater to. While she'll still hit up the store for special buys and fresh produce, she mostly shops at Coles or Woolies.
Even our own team here at the SDC has some thoughts on the matter. @Maddison Dwyer said she recently switched over to shopping at Woolies, finding that their prices are just as good as ALDI's. Meanwhile, our editor @April Bradford has stopped shopping at ALDI altogether.
We've heard from a lot of you about your thoughts on this subject matter, but there's always more to discuss when it comes to budget-friendly grocery shopping.
So what do you think, members? Is ALDI still the most budget-friendly option out there or are you sick of hearing to just ‘shop at ALDI’? Do you have any tips for saving money on groceries, no matter where you shop?
We want to hear from you! Keep the debate going strong in the comments below, and let's see if we can all come together to find the best deals on our favourite groceries. After all, we can all appreciate a good bargain - no matter where we shop.
For years now, budget-conscious shoppers have been swearing by the catchphrase, 'Just shop at ALDI'. Recently, though, there's been some backlash…
One fed-up shopper, who wishes to remain anonymous, has taken to social media to express their frustrations with the phrase. And boy, did it go viral!
The shopper's rant struck a chord with hundreds of Australians who agreed that shopping at ALDI isn't necessarily the 'magic bullet' that solves all of life's problems.
The shopper's message? 'I'm well aware that ALDI is a large international supermarket chain. It's the phrase I'm tired of. It's like our national catchphrase.'
According to the anonymous shopper, simply 'shopping at ALDI' wouldn't necessarily solve all their problems or save them as much money as they would like.
'Stuff is cheaper at ALDI, yes. Some stuff. A lot of stuff but not all of it. And OK cool you save a few bucks on a shop. Awesome. I have ten more dollars this week! I'll definitely get a house with that ten dollars!' they wrote.
The Aussie's online rant then started a heated conversation on social media, and hundreds of fellow shoppers went on to voice their own opinions on the subject.
Several shoppers agreed and chimed in, saying that they didn't like the food at ALDI and weren't willing to give up quality just to save a few dollars.
Others also pointed out that not everyone had an ALDI in their state, while some joked that ALDI was great for certain items, but they still had to go to Woolies or Coles for almost everything else.
On the other hand, some also came to the supermarket's defence. 'ALDI does their stuff better than Woolies or Coles, and saving $10-20 per shop isn't something to overlook,' wrote one supporter in the comments.
How did ALDI get the reputation of being the most 'budget-friendly' supermarket?
It's no secret that ALDI has become a go-to for many Aussies looking to save on their weekly shop. But how did this German supermarket become known as the most budget-friendly option?
Since arriving in Australia in 2001, ALDI has amassed a cult following of shoppers who swear by the supermarket chain. The secret to their success lies in their business model, which aims to provide customers with the 'highest quality groceries at permanently low prices'.
The brand has contributed an estimated $30 billion to Australia's gross domestic product and has over 570 stores across six states and territories. More than 13,500 Australians are employed by the business, making it a significant employer in the retail sector.
ALDI's loyal fan base has created dozens of Facebook pages for shoppers to share their ALDI experience and purchases, with some groups like ALDI Fans Australia, ALDI Mums, and ALDI Nerd Community Recipe Group gathering thousands of followers. One member even said, 'I love ALDI; I'm very defensive of ALDI. I always try to convert people!'
And the savings actually speak for themselves. As one shopper explained, 'I did a trolley full of groceries that added up to $130. Including nappies and a box of wipes. The savings we've been able to make has completely changed my life.'
With prices rising faster than ever before, it's no wonder Aussies are turning to ALDI for budget-friendly options.
What do the experts say?
ALDI's success has been recognised by supermarket experts, with Canstar Blue revealing the supermarket as the best-rated for the fifth consecutive year.
Despite other supermarkets moving away from solely focusing on low prices, ALDI continues to differentiate itself by maintaining permanently low prices while promoting its products as being 'Good Different'.
The survey conducted by Canstar Blue revealed that ALDI has been rated as the favourite supermarket of Australians, with customers giving the discount supermarket five-star reviews in six out of eight categories, namely:
- value for money,
- presentation of the store,
- the freshness of fruit, vegetables, and meat,
- quality of supermarket-owned branded products,
- deals and specials available,
- and overall satisfaction.
ALDI was also rated the cheapest supermarket in 2021 by the consumer advocacy group CHOICE.
According to them, a basket of national brand products cost an average of $145.23 at Coles and $141.83 at Woolworths (including specials), while a comparable basket of ALDI brand products was just $80.75 (including specials). That's a massive difference!
What do the people here at the SDC say?
We know that when it comes to grocery shopping, everyone has their go-to spot. Our community here at the SDC has been buzzing about the ALDI vs. other supermarkets debate, and in a previous article, we reported that an economist found that while ALDI may have lower prices overall, Woolies has more of those must-have brands that we all know and love.
But don't just take his word for it - we asked YOU, our members, to weigh in on the debate as well. Here's what some of you had to say.
@Sunshine45, an ALDI shopper, raved about the store's fresh produce and how it saves her a whopping $120 a year. But @mansersmith, on the other hand, had some criticisms of the store's pre-packaged produce. Instead, they opt to stock up on meat, poultry, and fish at ALDI, then hit up the local fruit and veg market for the rest of their needs.
@Nana Zorak had some great insights too, sharing that she does her main shopping at ALDI but hits up Woolies for those hard-to-find items.
Meanwhile, @Staffordshire Whippet loves ALDI but has a major gripe with the fact that the nearest one is a whopping 2200 km away.
@Lynjw, on the other hand, has some specific dietary needs that ALDI doesn't quite cater to. While she'll still hit up the store for special buys and fresh produce, she mostly shops at Coles or Woolies.
Even our own team here at the SDC has some thoughts on the matter. @Maddison Dwyer said she recently switched over to shopping at Woolies, finding that their prices are just as good as ALDI's. Meanwhile, our editor @April Bradford has stopped shopping at ALDI altogether.
We've heard from a lot of you about your thoughts on this subject matter, but there's always more to discuss when it comes to budget-friendly grocery shopping.
So what do you think, members? Is ALDI still the most budget-friendly option out there or are you sick of hearing to just ‘shop at ALDI’? Do you have any tips for saving money on groceries, no matter where you shop?
We want to hear from you! Keep the debate going strong in the comments below, and let's see if we can all come together to find the best deals on our favourite groceries. After all, we can all appreciate a good bargain - no matter where we shop.