Aldi

Save Big at These 4 Discount Supermarkets

Kim Owens — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 12:00:26 +0000

You're a savvy grocery shopper. You create a budget, review store circulars, clip coupons, make a shopping list, and use mobile shopping apps. You're ready to save big. But are discount grocery stores a part of your routine? If not, you could be overpaying by more than 50%!

Below is an overview of four discount grocery stores that can help slash your food budget and keep more money in your pocket.

1. Aldi

Aldi is probably the holy grail of supermarket discount chains. Owned by the same company that runs Trader Joe's, Aldi continues to expand, with plans to open hundreds of new stores by 2018.

Since they only carry about 1400 items (compared to 30,000 found in typical stores), you will save time as well as money. Aldi keeps prices low by concentrating on products and not fancy décor. The store is laid out warehouse-style with merchandise displayed in the boxes they arrived in. The vast majority of their food is "Aldi brand," though occasionally you might find a limited-supply brand name item. They also offer something called a "Double Guarantee," which means they'll replace an item that you don't like and refund your money.

Locations: In 17 countries and more than half of the U.S. states. There are 1300 U.S. stores and 4,000 worldwide.

Products: Aldi brand with an occasional brand name popping in for a limited time.

Payment Method: Cash, debit, or EBT.

Coupons: No.

Is It Worth It?

It depends. If you're loyal to or prefer a particular name brand, Aldi is probably not for you. Some Aldi products are good quality, while others I'd never buy again. Unlike stores that remarket brand name goods, you don't have to worry about expiration dates. However, check the ingredient list. In some Aldi brand items that were supposed to be similar to a name brand counterpart, I found ingredient substitutions or additions that I didn't like.

There are some items, like their Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and spices, that I love because they're super cheap compared to regular supermarkets. As far as their meat, I've purchased chicken and found the quality to be good. Know your produce prices, however, because sometimes the regular supermarket may be cheaper.

2. Grocery Outlet Bargain Markets

Formerly Amelia's, this discount chain is the nation's largest "retail grocery remarketer." That is, their markets are full of name brand items at significantly lower prices than regular supermarkets. As a remarketer, they buy excess inventory (products that have packaging changes, or overruns), which is how consumers save money.

Grocery Outlet is smaller than an average supermarket, but it delivers more of a grocery store experience. They even have bags for your groceries (though it's greener to bring your own). One great thing about the Grocery Outlet is their selection of NOSH (natural, organic, specialty, healthy) foods. I've found many items that I've only seen in high end stores like Whole Foods.

If you're squeamish about buying food close to its sell by date, be sure to check the packages. My experience has shown that most items have weeks left, and there has never been an issue with meat or dairy. A few items, like some of their condiments, were a little past their "best by" date. But, research shows that there are no industry standards with labeling ("Best By" vs. "Sell By" vs. "Use By"), and the dates often have nothing to do with food safety.

Locations: 210 locations currently in California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

Products: Brand names as well as NOSH (natural, organic, specialty, healthy).

Payment Method: Cash, debit, credit, or gift card.

Coupons: Yes. (Their website says no, but my local store does. Check in your area!)

Is It Worth It?

Grocery Outlet is my personal favorite because they carry the brands I know and love, and my store accepts coupons (from the Sunday paper, not the Internet). I also love that I can use my credit card, which earns me points for grocery purchases which I can redeem for cash or gift cards. I've found amazing deals, but you have to jump on them because when they are gone, they are gone.

If you shop at the Grocery Outlet often enough, you will start to recognize some patterns. Some products come around just once — so if you like it, you better grab it. Other products are cyclical and show up in my area store every couple of weeks for 50% off the large grocery chain price.

3. Price Rite

Price Rite is owned by the same company that runs the ShopRite supermarket chain. It is the smallest of the four discount grocery chains with around 60 locations. They also pass on savings by placing function over design, and making customers bring their own bags. Here you'll find many products, which are a mixture of name and store brand.

I've found the stores to be larger than Aldi and Grocery Outlet, though not as large as regular grocery stores. Their produce section is definitely larger than the other discount marketers, and almost as well stocked as a regular supermarket — but at farmers market prices.

While definitely less expensive than a regular supermarket, I haven't found deep discounts here like I do at the Grocery Outlet. While they have more variety than Aldi, I've found it to be a little more expensive. However, if you enjoy fresh produce, the savings starts to equal out because their selection is much larger and greater than a regular grocery store.

Locations: About 300 locations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia.

Products: Brand names as well as store brand.

Payment Method: Cash, debit, credit, EBT, or gift card.

Coupons: No.

Is It Worth It?

I love Price Rite for their produce selection and prices, and always leave with enough to last until my next shopping trip. While the non-produce items were definitely cheaper than regular chains, they weren't less expensive than the Grocery Outlet or Aldi. I would recommend anyone try it if one is near.

4. Save-a-Lot

With more than 1300 locations nationwide, Save-a-Lot has about as many U.S. stores as Aldi. They call themselves the nation's "extreme value grocery store," where customers can save up to 40% retail prices every day. They feature a combination of store brand and brand name products, as well as USDA inspected meat.

As with other discount grocery chains, they offer a limited number of items (around 1800). Customers also use their own bags (or purchase them there), and bag their own groceries.

A review of their sales circular over the course of a few weeks showed a mixed bag. For fresh produce, there were typically a few items that were less expensive than a non-discount market. For example, I found grapes that were $.30 a pound cheaper. That's not what I would call a deep discount, but if the everyday price is always less expensive by that much, the savings could add up. I found similar discounts for other items such as frozen and canned foods.

Locations: More than 1300 nationwide.

Products: Brand names as well as store brand.

Payment Method: Cash, debit, credit, EBT/QWEST, or gift card.

Coupons: No.

Is It Worth It?

Though Save-a-lot has many stores, there isn't one near me, so I have no personal experience with this market.

Save Even More With Mobile Shopping Apps

In addition to shopping at discount grocery stores, you can save even more money with mobile shopping apps. Simply download to your phone, look through the available cash rebates, make your purchases, scan the barcode, and upload the receipt to their site. Your cash rebate will be placed into your account once it's approved. (See also: 30+ Cash Back Sites to Earn You Thousands Per Year)

Apps such as Checkout 51, Shopmium, BerryCart, Snap by Groupon, and Shrink allow users to purchase items at any store as long as the store provides an itemized receipt. (Note that Ibotta and SavingStar won't work, since they specify which stores are eligible.)

Ensure your store receipt fully itemizes, however, to earn your rebate. For instance, I purchased a name brand granola at the Grocery Outlet, but the receipt simply said "granola." In this case, I would not be able to use my shopping app. Luckily though, some of the apps also offer small cash amounts for fresh produce, meat, fish, or dairy. When I purchased limes from the Grocery Outlet, I was able to get a cash rebate because the receipt said, well, "limes."

You can also check out Receipt Hog, which awards points for every receipt you scan to their site. Points can then be redeemed for gift cards.

Do you shop at discount grocery markets? Which one is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

This article is from Kim Owens of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

6 Awesome Reasons to Shop at Aldi

Tisha Tolar — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 10:24:15 +0000

Since the price of groceries has been steadily rising and my only local grocery store went bankrupt, I have been trying better food budgeting with a monthly trip to Aldi for the essentials. My grandmother was always a big proponent of Aldi, but that was back in the day before the retail chain really stepped up their game.

As a frequent Aldi shopper, I have discovered that the years have been kind, and the store has really become an asset to our small area where unemployment rates are high and dollar stores are seeing more business than ever. If you have never shopped at an Aldi, I want to provide you some incentive by listing the things I love about the discount store and its offerings, as well as a few minor complaints about the store I frequent. (See also: 5 Frugal Lessons I Learned From Aldi)

Six Great Reasons to Shop at Aldi

The discount grocery chain has really come a long way over the years. As a frequent shopper, I have taste-tested many of the Aldi-brand products and can say that most are just as good or even better than their name-brand counterparts. Here are six of the top reasons you should consider shopping at the Aldi store near you (if you are lucky enough to have one).

Tasty Stuff

I’ll be the first to admit I previously tended to shop brand-name because I was picky about how generic products tasted in comparison. The good news is that the items I now buy at Aldi taste just as good, and even better, than the more-expensive brand-name counterparts. I address the items I do not like in the next section, but overall I find that I prefer the Aldi brand to other brands. The caramel-filled ice cream cones are to die for, and I can’t buy them anywhere else!

Good, Small Selection

While it is true you don’t have a whole lot of choices when you shop Aldi, I find that the variety of items you can get at Aldi is great. I think I actually like not having to choose spaghetti sauces from 42 different companies. Aldi sells one brand of sauce but in a variety of flavors. I especially like the frozen section, which often features different products, so I get to see new items every time I go. I know I can always get my staples, but I also get to look forward to what’s new.

Great Prices

I did a relatively informal price comparison between the local Walmart and Aldi. I can get two times the amount of stuff at Aldi at the same price I could from Walmart, and three times as much stuff when compared to the local grocery store chains. We have left Aldi with an overflowing cart full of stuff for just under $200, which I know I can never do at any other store. I think the best example of the savings potential lies in the Aldi cereal aisle. Even my two tween girls who are obsessed with brand names and image largely prefer the $1.99 box of Aldi brand cereal to the $4.99 name brand box in the grocery store. Most of the popular cereal types are available under the Aldi brand, and I can buy five boxes at Aldi compared to one or two boxes from the grocery store. No one in our household can taste the difference.

Online Shopping List

The Aldi website offers weekly flyer information concerning its in-store sales. The cool part is you can add merchandise to your shopping list straight from the flyer. You can save a lot of time creating this list and learning about the deals. Simply print the list and take it with you when you shop.

More Earth-Friendly

If you have not shopped at Aldi, you may be surprised to find you have to bring your own bags and pack up your own goods. We have increased our reusable bag cache and now use those bags for many other things rather than create new waste.

No Distractions

On a personal level, it helps that Aldi primarily sells food items, with only part of one aisle devoted to miscellaneous items that can range from toys to clothes to exercise equipment. I am better equipped to deal with temptations and avoid impulse buys on my Aldi shopping excursions.

Three Not-So-Great Things About Aldi

As with most things in life, with the good comes the bad. There are a few things I find frustrating about the Aldi experience, but nothing so insurmountable that would keep me from shopping there regularly.

Bad Produce

It is possible this is only relevant in my local store, but I have found time and time again that if I purchase produce from Aldi I will need to use it right away, or it will go bad within a day. We avoid buying produce there and tend to visit the weekly farmers market in our community, so overall it is still a win-win situation.

The Un-Tasty Stuff

There are a handful of items that I thoroughly dislike from the Aldi brand. Hot dogs are at the top of the list, followed by the refrigerated coffee creamer and the canned soup. There were a few frozen side dishes and entrees that left a bad taste in my mouth too. However, I have done enough taste-testing to know what I like and what I don’t. Plus, Aldi offers a double 100% guarantee. If you don’t like something, they’ll replace the product and give you your money back.

The Drive

This is more of a personal problem, but it completes my list. I have to drive nearly 35 minutes to get to the nearest Aldi, which is why I only go once a month. It does take extra gas to get there, but I feel it is worth it. The downside to the long drive is that when we run out of stuff, we have to wait until a trip is worthwhile, although in the long run this likely saves me more grocery money each month because it forces me to better plan my shopping list for a month’s worth of supplies.

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This article is from Tisha Tolar of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread:

5 Frugal Lessons I Learned From Aldi

Kentin Waits — Mon, 09 May 2011 09:48:10 +0000

When I was kid, the prospect of shopping at Aldi with my mom filled me with a conflicting sense of excitement and dread. I liked the feeling that I could indulge more of my wants since the prices were so low. But I also had the requisite preteen and teenage angst of being seen in a store that so starkly catered to the budget-conscious. Suffice it to say, I am no longer conflicted.

For those of you who don’t live near an Aldi store or who’ve never had the pleasure of shopping from a loading pallet, let me give you a bit of background on the company. Aldi is short for Albrecht Discount, a grocery chain founded in 1950s in Germany by brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht. Aldi stores are all about no-frills grocery shopping, featuring a focused selection of food basics with limited brand offerings and serious cost efficiencies. Today, the Aldi Group owns 8,210 stores worldwide and is growing steadily.

As I’ve matured into an unabashed Aldi fan, let me share with you the five lessons Aldi has taught me about frugality. Other stores take note; there’s something to be learned here. (See also: 5 Things Other Grocery Stores Should Steal From Trader Joe's)

1. Simplicity Wins

Aldi doesn’t try to create a shopping "experience." Rather, it tries — quite successfully — to give shoppers a reasonable selection of food staples at amazingly low prices. You’re quite literally shopping in a small warehouse — off of loading pallets with the products’ shipping boxes cut open for display. No shelves, no top-40 music, no deli, no coffee shop, no florist, no free samples, no kidding. It’s wonderful. Aldi’s bare-bones business approach is an island of sanity in a world filled with commercial noise and every conceivable distraction. The smaller selection of house brands mixed with some brand names allows the stores to have a smaller footprint, reduce labor costs, and minimize elaborate pricing and inventory systems. The goal is clean, clear, and simple — control costs.

2. DIY Saves Money

Shopping without much floor help and bagging your own groceries is just part of the simplicity ethos that defines the Aldi shopping experience. With few exceptions, you’re on your own in an Aldi store (just the way I like it), and this DIY approach to shopping saves you money.

3. Less Is More

To shoppers accustomed to having 75 selections of soup, offering just four might sound heretical. But haven’t we all been faced with “analysis paralysis” in the soup or cereal aisle? It’s perversely liberating to have one brand of corn flakes to “choose” from. The choice is either to buy or not to buy.

4. Make Do

Since Aldi stores don’t have 15 types of cheese or 12 different kinds of tomatoes, shoppers learn to be creative and flexible. I imagine many shoppers’ meal plans and recipes are amended based upon what’s available in the stores. It harkens back to that old mantra of “make do, or do without.” Though this may not your preferred way prepare for a formal dinner party, it’s a cost-effective and smart way to manage the day-to-day family food budget.

5. It’s All About The Benjamins

Many discount stores are ashamed of their discount status and attempt to hide it in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. There’s some implication that shopping in a decidedly down-scale environment is something to apologize for or re-label, dress up, or rebrand. Aldi makes no such apologies. It attempts to be nothing more than it is — unapologetically discount. Saving money is the goal, and the goal is golden.

I wonder how many defunct stores might have survived if they employed a few of Aldi’s tactics. What’s more, I wonder how many might thrive in our new economy if they scaled back a bit and we all became more reasonable in what we expect from our shopping excursions. Aldi may be humble, but in that humility, there’s a lesson or two in how to navigate the future.

What’s your favorite thing about shopping at Aldi? What’s the best deal you’ve scored there?

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This article is from Kentin Waits of Wise Bread, an award-winning personal finance and credit card comparison website. Read more great articles from Wise Bread: