It is no secret that my favorite place to grocery shop is ALDI. I spend a good amount of time in there while creating my Aldi meal plans.
Along the way, I’ve picked up some secret tips that you probably don’t know about. In this blog post I am sharing my top secrets you don’t know about ALDI.
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13 Secrets That You Don’t know about Aldi:
This simple store makes shopping such an easy experience. Although I have my choice of superstores, warehouse clubs, and farmer’s markets (seasonally) in my area, Aldi has become my go-to for my weekly shopping trips.
What Is Unique about Aldi?
1.) They locally source certain products.
My local store uses a local milk provider (Byrne Dairy), and much of the produce is sourced from local farms. Why is this important? I know my perishables are fresher and buying them means I am also supporting farms and employees near my community. Plus, I don’t have to spend my Saturdays wandering around farmers’ markets; I can just go to Aldi!
2.) The average Aldi store has 6-8 employees.
They pay their employees significantly higher than the national average and by working only 20 hours a week, they give their employees full health insurance. Even still, Aldi’s prices are competitive with larger stores and sometimes lower!
3.) There are multiple bar codes on every product.
How is this a benefit? When the cashier scans the item, it scans the first time. Have you ever wondered how they can cash you out so fast? This is why. Next time you are in an Aldi, count how many barcodes are on your products, the average item has up to five bar codes on it.
I pulled out a package of Aldi butter today to check, and it had FIVE bar codes!
What Should I Know Before Shopping at Aldi?
4.) You have to bring your own bags to Aldi and bag your own groceries.
This is just one of the ways that they keep costs down, and make it an efficient place to shop (and work). You can purchase their Aldi bags for $0.10 a piece for plastic or $0.06 for paper. I typically just keep my bags in the back of my van, that way I always have them on hand.
5.) The boxes that store the items at Aldi are specifically designed for their store.
They can easily rip off the top of the box and place it on the shelf, making it quick and easy to stock the shelves. The boxes also match the packaging on the actual product, making it easy for you to identify when you are doing your shopping.
If you’ve forgotten your Aldi bags, you can always find an empty box and use that to bring your groceries home in.
6.) That strange yellow hook in the front of their shopping carts
New Aldi shoppers sometimes wonder what this is for. The answer: to hold your reusable bags – genius! You can also hook multiple carts together using the hook, perfect for large families.
7.) They have specially designed produce signs.
Instead of switching the sign every week, they only switch out the prices. You can see that the black tags are the only ones that are changed, this helps the employees run the store efficiently.
8.) Many of their store brand items are actually name-brand items.
I’ve heard that their Kirkwood Chicken is actually Tyson chicken, just under a different package. The Kirkwood Gluten-Free Chicken nuggets are the same exact ones that I buy under the Wegmans brand. The Wegmans brand is $2.00 more per bag.
What Should I NOT buy from Aldi?
9.) Aldi will discount their bread items 5 days before the item expires.
Simply look on the package for the expiration date, if it is expiring in six days and it is nearing the end of the day, wait until tomorrow to get it at a deep discount.
10.) You don’t need to reach into the back of the rack for the dairy.
The refrigerated items are stocked from behind the racks. We buy from the front of the shelf, and the shelf replenishes itself. This makes it easy for us to buy the newest items, and for the stock to never go bad.
Is Shopping at Aldi Worth It?
Oh my – this is a resounding “YES!” from me!
11.) Aldi has a HUGE selection of Gluten-free and Organic foods.
Their natural/organic line is called Simply Natural and their gluten-free foods are under the live gFree line.
12.) Aldi’s offers a double-back guarantee.
They also call this a “twice as nice” guarantee. Whatever you want to name it, this is a fantastic deal and it shows how confident they are in their products. If you don’t like an item, you can bring it back, get it replaced, AND get your money back!
13.) You can feed your family on under $100 per week at Aldi.
I am proof! I have a family of 6 and we eat for under $100 per week at Aldi. Don’t believe me – check out my Aldi meal plans where I teach you how to buy a month’s worth of dinners for under $150.00. There are 12 meal plans available – you can check them all out here.
There are so many secrets you don’t know about Aldi, I probably could have made this post even longer! I hope you get the idea that this is a fantastic place to shop as well as a few insider tips. Here are a few more super-secret ways to save even more at Aldi. And, if you are looking for some ideas on what to cook once you bring all the groceries home, you can check out my free meal plan download and create 10 amazing meals for less than $80 (that’s almost 2 weeks of dinners for the price of ONE meal at a restaurant!)
Plan a Week of Dinners in Minutes — Without Overspending or Overthinking It.
Join over 50,000 other savvy moms who’ve simplified dinner time!
Looking for more Aldi posts – check out these similar posts:
- Check out my four Aldi meal plans – 20 dinners for under $150
- How Cooking with an Aldi Meal Plan will Save You Thousands a Year
- 30 Must-buy items at Aldi
- Why is Aldi so cheap?
- Which store is cheaper? Aldi vs. Walmart – an in-depth look
Have you considered helping your cashier (and yourself) by placing your purchases in the cart while she scans the remainder of your order? Doing this allows her to relax and get you checked out and your items are handled in a manner that is acceptable to you. Relative to the $9 bags of nuts, price does not determine quality. Additionally, Aldi offers a 100% guarantee on everything they sell. Is there a reason you didn’t return the rancid item, they would have gladly replaced the item AND given you your $9 and tax (if applicable) back. I have never had… Read more »
Our Aldi(s) in MD has an empty card behind the register and fills in the grocery. Once my card is empty, and I’ve paid the cashier just takes it for the next customer.
My Aldi in Kinston,NC also gives me the Cart she had by her Register & twice I could not get a Quarter back & to much hassle to return inside the Store. But I do love “ALDI “, I only wish there would have more German Food.
We go all the time and just tell the person to pay it forward.
So do I.
At our ALDI store in upstate NY, you can not help the cashier because there is no room to do so. The cart they put the groceries into after they scan them is set tight up to the cash register.
Everyone should be more thankful for the simple things in life! Looking for faults is wasted energy and turns people to negative thinkers with attutude! Please be kind to yourself and others! It will change the way you think and your life!
I would like to know what happened to the honey oat bread that Aldi’s used to sell. It was the best bread in the world and I miss it. My towns, Aldi’s, is not getting it in Marshall MO. Is it not being made anymore? If it is could be get it back?
Thank you,
Sharon Downs
Slbdowns@gmail.com
But remember, you have to take your receipt to get the cash refund!!!!! They will always give you a replacement no matter!!!
It’s good that you get organic Vanilla Soya milk. In the UK we do not have that choice we just get the ordinary GMO soya milk rubbish. The UK has very limited gluten free and organic produce. I like Aldi, the annoying thing with them is that they will have coal one week, once it runs out, you don’t see it again. Its Winter and they don’t bother. They are inconsistent with stock replacement.
Who in the He..double toothpicks uses coal!! Here in the Midwest it is virtually unobtainable for the past 50 years!! Most everyone is piped for natural gas.
Maybe they mean coal for grilling out? Hence the comment that they don’t bother to stock it in the winter, (because there are much fewer cook outs during the winter and thus less people wanting to make that purchase). Makes sense to me, why stock something that isn’t going to sell for several months?
Attitude! I hope I never shop where you do. I don’t go for gluten free and I think Aldi sharing marketing strategies is commendable. Herb
How does Aldo share marketing strategies- I really don’t know but am curious what that means v
Karen I pretty sure it stand for vegan and or vegetarian!
I recently went to Walmart superstore to grocery shop after a year going to Aldis and Walmart had better prices and more selection. I think Aldis prices became higher recently ( the past year) and I shop gluten free and Walmart has Their own brand of GF and real inexpensive. I have to shop for deals being a single mother with us both gluten sensitive. Also I though I say at Walmart u don’t have to bag your own groceries!! Thanks for your ideas sharon
I’ve NEVER. found anything cheaper @ Walmart than ALDIS. I’m a money saver, frugal shopper
Not only have to bag them,but scan them as well at my local Walmart!! No thanks!!
I’m extremely frugal and I know how to find the best deals. I can feed my family of 4 for under $150 a month. The Walmart Neighborhood Markets have better prices than Aldi’s by me but if you go to a normal Walmart then the prices are higher. I used to shop only Aldi’s until I started actually comparing prices.
I have not found anything GF at Walmart except the national brands like Udi’s, and those are far and few between in Ohio.
Aldi’s all the way for GF for me! Their bread makes the BEST grilled cheese.
Walmart may seam cheaper on a few things but look at the ounces per items. I always shop Aldi and I feel the quality is much better than either Walmart or on some things even their closest competitor Lidl.
In MI and OH, Aldi’s is less expensive than Walmart and several other stores. However, if you are truly watch your pocketbook, you know that every grocery store has their higher priced items as well as lower priced items. Also, with Aldi’s, it depends on their store location as to the “deals” that you can get. The one here where we live in OH, had been running eggs for 0.48/doz and milk for 0.89/gal. In addition, they always charged 0.05 less on all their fruit/vege selections than what was advertised. When I’ve compared to some other local Aldi’s near us,… Read more »
Thanks. All good things to know.
Aldi has a policy against approaching another customer and offering to take their cart for a quarter. My little boy offered an elderly lady a quarter to take her cart back for her and when she let him keep the quarter, we got in trouble. Guy said can’t get a cart from a customer…who knew..dumb rule.
I’ve never seen that happen. This exchange happens all the time at our Aldi.
we have never had that happen we give our cart to others and don’t even ask for the quarter from them sometimes the other customer is kinda shocked we gave to them but never had a issue with cart swapping or returning for someone
Happens every time I’m at Aldi’s, young and old-er alike exchanging carts and quarters, no problems. But someone does needs to bolo the quarter thieves, ie those who check the carts for loose chains and pop the quarters and pocket them, straight out thieves in my opinion.
We do that all the time at our Aldis. If I see someone near me packing the car up I say “hold the cart i’ll take it and give you the quarter” That way they don’t have to run the cart back and waste time for both of us w/ the cart rack etc. I always keep 2 quarters in the car or in the pocket of my winter coats for the Aldis cart.
Same where we live in Ohio….many people offer their quarter for another shopper’s cart…and, without incidents…..
I’ve been doing this off and on for several years at multiple Aldi stores in the mid Michigan area and have never had anyone tell me not to. The last time was just a couple weeks ago. Bummer that you had that kind of experience.
There was a couple of kids that was using this as a way to get money. They would offer to help you to the car and then take the buggy back and keep the quarter. They were there all day. Finally someone had called a cop and got them into trouble. So much for actually teaching our children to be helpful.
It’s my quarter. I donate my cart all the time.
I donate also. Hoping they then donate and same cart can be used all day
Same here..I Always give my basket to someone.nobody was told me I couldnt.is my quarters
Gotta love the Internet, there is never a shortage of BS stories. SMH
I don’t think that is true I have done that right in front of a store employee. What would be the difference of just leaving you cart in the parking lot. The reason for the quarter is to have people return them saves cost in retrieving carts taken from the lot. Besides it’s my quarter and I can give it to anyone I want. I would challenge them one that, I think it was someone that spoke out of line.
Our Aldis doesn’t care. Do it all the time..
Not my Aldi. Sometimes when entering the store I will see someone on route to return their buy and I will offer the quarter to take the buggy. Many people appreciate not having to take the cart back. If a young kid asked if he could return my cart for me? Well depending on the day, weather or perhaps my shoes; it’s my quarter and most likely I will say sure as long as the approach is appropriate. Many times I am intersected by another shopper for my cart and try to give me the quarter and I just say,… Read more »
I’m a former Aldis employee. There is no such rule in any store I worked in and I worked in 7.
Not so, I work for ALDI and no such policy exists. FT benefits for 25 hours also, not 20.
fyi – Leaving your cart loose (even with a quarter in it) causes problems. The reason being is that carts that are loose can “get away” and hit cars, roll into parking lot. I pocket all quarters from carts just left loose. I then put the cart into the locking mechanism. I will also give my cart to anyone, I have quarters and am not that frugal.
I have never seen this once at any of the several Aldi locations that I shop at. The employees are spread way to thin and don’t have time to care about something so miniscule. At many of the Aldi locations where we shop, there are usually “pay it forward” carts also floating around. You get a cart from someone for free, but you have to pay it forward and give it to someone else no charge. Obviously not an Aldi rule or anything….just something the customers do. It’s quite cool.
That does not happen at my Aldi in Middletown, NY. Just the other day, I gave my cart to a woman who gave me her quarter. There are other things to worry about than exchanging a cart with someone.
[…] situation, your grocery store options, and make the best decision for your family. We have an ALDI in town and their prices and quality many times make couponing at a competitor not worth it. I still use and love coupons, but not […]
It’s the same in the UK which is unfair. Those over 50 have a hard time finding work. Aldi are ageist as are the majority of corporations. They find reasons to get rid of staff. In the City of London, some law firms push those who are not partners out at around 50, they force some into constructive dismissal. Emma Watson’s father, was instrumental in doing that to support staff where he worked at Citypoint. Not a nice man. All Aldi’s store managers are very young. It was the same in Brisbane, Australia. Their food in on the whole very… Read more »
[…] 13 secrets you don’t know about ALDI […]
That has changed in the past few months. You can now use a credit card.
The mid Michigan Aldi stores I have used don’t have carts with the hooks. It would be awesome if they did. 🙂
Ours in Indiana and Kentucky do not have hooks either. Would LOVE to have those on the carts!
Don’t believe they do in Rolla mo or Jefferson City mo
we do not have hooks that i have noticed here in Illinois either
No hooks in Alabama where I lived previously, now I am in Arkansas and again no hooks, but I do have my own grocery bag hook.. for when you have multiple bags to bring in and I do clip my bags together with it, great option with the cart-look forward to seeing them widely available.
No hooks in TN 🙁
Bern shopping at Aldi for 25+ years. Can not understand why people want to shop at Wal mart or hy vee. I go to Wal mart for only the things that Aldi doesn’t carry. You save a heck of a lot more money.
My daughter is an employee at aldi. Her pay and benefits are great too.
I do the same thing . Shop at Walmart for what I can’t get at Aldi. I don’t like having to go to another for something I can’t find either place and pay three time as much for it. I was unaware of the hook for bags. I will check here in Florida and Ohio when I get back there at the first of May. I love Aldi
I agree, I might wait in line over 30 minutes at Wal Mart. My entire time in Aldi is about that much. They are not constantly rearranging the store so you don’t have to play hide and seek to find your food
I very seldom shop at Walmart anymore for exactly the same reasons! Lines to long, moving things around and you can’t find what you are looking for and lack of restocking shelves! Too frustrating to shop there! I love shopping at Aldi’s! It’s relaxing, enjoyable and I save a lot of money! Another plus, I’ve found many things I’ve never seen before!
I agree! Well said!
#7 has been in use at Walmart and Target (and probably many other stores) for years. It’s not a unique service at Aldi.
I recently moved to an area of Texas that doesn’t have an Aldi, my food costs are triple what they were! The cheapest milk that I have found is $2.99/gal, this is sticker shock to me since I was paying .94/gal in Illinois! I hope an Aldi moves into the panhandle soon!
Aldi is a very successful German company who imported the described process from Germany. You can read more here: https://howtoguide.org/how-aldi-revolutionized-the-american-discount-business/
We use aldis and we love it. Didn’t know anything about them now it is the only place i shop. Cut our grocery bill by more then half. We was spending over 200 a week in groceries now we spend that for a month of groceries. I have kids that are picky eaters to and i have no problem with it. We are in longview Texas. And they just opened a store in Tyler Texas.
I’m from Germany and have shopped at Aldi all my life. I wish we had a Aldi in Woodward Oklahoma. The closest store is 90 miles from us.
I like aldi for a lot of those reasons. However my main purchase is usually fresh produce and aldi has the worst I’ve ever seen, not worth it to pay the same price for rotten zucchini that you’d pay at fresh thyme (aka sprouts) for zucchini so fresh it stays good outside your fridge for weeks!!
However I’ll buy boxed and frozen at aldi any day, they also have wonderful party food options.
I too have found the veg not very good sometimes I just can’t buy it at all.
I have been shopping at Aldi for years and we like some of the Aldi brands even better than some of the name brands at other grocery stores. In fact, there are some foods we will only buy at Aldi. I am just amazed at how good most of their food is and for such a low price. If a family is struggling financially, this is the place they need to go because they will get more food for their money. Many of the items are at least $1- $2 LESS at Aldi than at any other store and its… Read more »
Can someone confirm that Aldi’s Kirkland chicken is rebranded Tyson chicken? I really hate Tyson and Perdue. Definitely won’t be purchasing Aldi Chicken anymore.
We have to have at least 25 hours or more to recieve full benefits. But If they are casual sale associates/cashiers making over 25 hours, they don’t have benefits because they hours fluctuate each week. And paper bags went up to 7 cents per bag before tax.
Should focus more on Food Products and less on seasonal hard goods. You need to expand the organic food line as well.
I went to one in new castle pa was not impressed it looked like a junk store too many people not enough space no one moves when u get to checkout they throw ur stuff in buggy store smelled not friendly I would rather go to save a lot I also like Walmart but now that don’t match prices its gonna bit a little tough
Is your chicken actually Tyson?
OMGosh you are so right about the internet, and always has to be someone out there that just can’t help themselves to be so ignorant. Our Aldi store same thing, we pay it forward never heard of that ever happening, I’m always lending my quarter, or better yet just my whole buggy, and the people are always so kind, One thing i DO notice is the cleanliness, you don’t get a big ol’ dent in your car, cause you must actually walk and put your cart up!! Instead of just pushing it away and it slamming into something, someone!! I… Read more »
An Aldi just opened here in my hometown one of only 3 in Mississippi I love all the products I have tried so far they have great quality and wonderful prices, Please sign me up for your e-mail newslet and send ,e your Aldi meeal plans thanks
PLEASE, PLEASE open an Aldi in Amarillo, TX.
I have shopped Aldi for more than 40 years. The special buy section has yielded many a useful and inexpensive product for the home. I found hot air machines there when I could not find it anywhere else and a sewing machine that worked wonderfully for less than $75. The house brand of vegies have national brands beat hands down for flavor. We like the Dakota baked beans way more than Bush’s and the green beans taste almost fresh grown. The return policy is wonderful too- get my money back and something else besides. A full cart of groceries there… Read more »
There’s a lot of things that I don’t like about Aldi…but there are WAY MORE things that I love! The reason my son and I are able to eat as healthy as we do for ~$70 per month is because we shop Aldi. We recently tried to introduce more cabbage into our diet. We did so by using all Aldi products: blue cheese crumbles, No Antibiotics Ever bacon, pink sea salt and black pepper, balsamic vinegar with a little of their organic honey. We put it all on broiled cabbage steaks. My 10 year old ate it! Most of what… Read more »
Sorry! Meant ~70 per week! $70 per month is crazy talk!!
ALDI is a great place to shop! However, ALDI is ageist in it’s hiring practices. For those of you that do not know the term, it means ALDI discriminates (illegally) as to who is hired. This is not a secret to people that are more than qualified to work in a grocery store, have tons of experience as well as the skills and the drive to succeed at any age. Yes, saving money is great. However, the company is violating one of the most important rights we have as Americans. Or had as Americans. And that is not to be… Read more »
I am 53 and have worked at ALDI for a year. I love our Palm Coast, FL store #113!!
Whaaaaat?????? I came across this post by accident and became fascinated with people’s comments – some of which I agreed with and others I did not. I love Aldi – for what it is good for – fast check-out and good pricing on many things. Not all. I agree that Aldi ( the company also owns Trader Joe’s) has gotten quite a bit more expensive in the locations where they renovated their stores ( the money has to come from somewhere, right?) and sometimes, when you don’t pay attention, you could go home with an item you wish you had… Read more »
I have shopped at ALDI since the 80’s and have taken a lot of flack from snooty friends who could not shop where there were not all brand names and where they had to pay for or bring their own bags. I swear by everything I have ever purchased over the years. Having moved a number of times, I was always fortunate to have an ALDI’s within an hour drive and it was worth it to me. I have spoken to Management who lied to me at a Grand Opening in Sevierville, TN telling me that an Aldi will be… Read more »
Does Aldis have good junk food? like potato chips, chocolate stuff, candy?
yes, but prices have gone up. I used too buy all my chips, nuts, and sliced cheese there but Wall Mart has the better price now.
There are a couple of small inaccuracies here. ALDI offers health insurance to “full time” employees, an employee averaging at least 25 hours a week. The insurance is extremely affordable and they offer other benefits (short/long term disability, dental/vision), 401k is available to all employees. I don’t know if any stores that are fully staffed at 6-8 employees. Most run around ten employees, some have as many as twelve to fourteen. It’s still a small staff considering they’re running from the store (in my area) 9am-8pm every day. Employees can be scheduled daily anywhere as early as 4am to as… Read more »
I just love shopping at ALDI stores. I can save a lot of money. Milk was $1.88 at ALDI and $3.29 at another store nearby. The quality of their products is never an issue. The only thing that I have a problem with is that the cashiers throw your purchases into the cart as they scan them. I have remarked about this to many of the cashiers. They are then more careful until the next person comes along. I was told that they have to go as fast as they can to check out each customer or they get in… Read more »
This has all been very interesting but I will have to comment on this one. When I unload my cart I always put canned items and other heavy items out first so the cashier will be putting these items in the cart first and I put things such as bananas and bread as well as other vegetables that I do not want squashed out last. I even try to load things into my cart while I am shopping that will make this easier when I get to the register. This may take some practice for people who fill their shopping… Read more »
#4 is not the case with our local Aldi in the UK. I’ve been caught out before by bread only having 1 day before the Best Before Date. Now I check and nothing has more than 4 days left.
The signs in #6 don’t exist either.
I was upset to read that Aldis “Never Any” products are actually fed GMO FEED!!!! That means we are getting Monsantoes weed killer/cancer causing ROUNDUP IN OUR FOOD!!! I Pray the products labeled “Organic” truly are ORGANIC/NONGMO!!
Aldi must do things differently in usa, here in uk its not that good. I’ve taken mouldy food back to the shop in the past and wasn’t offered double back and they don’t reduce food 5 days before it goes ood
I’ve never had a problem returning things if I had to in the UK.
We have different rules and regulations here than in the US regarding the dates on items.
I love that Aldi is a lot cheaper than the big supermarkets and the quality is always great. Plus a lot of items are made cruelty free!
A lot of the things they sell are made cruelty free in Germany and the UK.
Aldis, seems to have a problem allowing clerks placing items into boxes, I usually find a box while shopping. I place the box in the cart and normally the clerk puts the items into the box, No big deal, but lately one clerk was very nasty and did everything she could to avoid placing items into the box, I complained about her rudness to no avail. Now many clerk whom had no issue with this now avoid placing items into boxes, What going on Aldia, customer relations are inportant to!
To each there own. Bashing 1 store for another is wasted time in my mind. Every, n I mean every store has uos n downs. Really, do u think one store is going to admit to stupid secrets so u will go to another store to shop? HELLO, AH IT IS 2019…..! Personally shop where u want, food is food.,money is money. Sure it is nice to save, but does the family really care if certain foods come from Walmart or aldis. If u think hard, who really is doing the shopping? I myself wish there were more food store… Read more »
We always have your Harvest Morn fruit & nut muesli,but since this covid 19 every time we shop what ever time we come we find the shelf empty. So disappointed . Can you tell me if I can order some please .
They don’t work 20 hours. Full time associates (also the only ones who get benefits) are at 38 and part time are no more than 25. They are over worked and timed on everything they do not to mention intentionally being understaffed so the prices stay low. They need to get paid more for what aldi puts them through.
Aldi sucks period. 90% plus of their products are inferior. Their cashiers smash your groceries. Not worth the tiny bit of savings you might get if you are not a smart shopper.
Completely and wholeheartedly disagree. They have an amazing selection of great foods that are organic, less processed, and of course cheaper. The entire experience is 2X as fast as any other grocery store as well.
#10 is absolutely incorrect. When they stock from the back and you pick from the front, you’re getting the OLDEST product. Therefore, I wouldn’t trust any of this info.