I first went into Aldi about a year ago, and I am now a convert. It's great for the basics...milk, eggs, cheese, baking supplies etc. I also usually load up on their Tombstone-like frozen pizzas for my kids. The produce is decent and I love that crazy aisle that has "seasonal" stuff. You never know what they'll be featuring that week- foam mattress pads? crock pots? kids' flip flops? Coffee tables?

My shopping routine takes me to Aldi first, then Trader Joe's (for the stuff you can only get there), and finally to Jewel for the few things not available anywhere else. I probably go into the Jewel once a month at most, and spend only about $20. Oh, and I forgot a monthly trip to Costco.

Almost the same routine here.

And I know its part of the "aura" of Trader Joes to have checkers move at snail speed while chatting up the customer but I really wish they'd take a lesson form Aldi so I can get in and out of there with my couple of must have organic products.

I just went to Aldi this morning - love it, love it, love it. I get a lot of snacks and packaged things there in addition to milk, juice and eggs. I buy the coffee, too - but I am the world's least discerning coffee drinker. I used to buy Hills Brothers or Maxwell House and I know many people who wouldn't even think about buying coffee in a can.

Some things there are literally better tasting than the brand name stuff. For example, we like their 100 calorie "Chips Ahoy" snacks and the "Chex Mix" better than the real thing.

BTW, I own a Toyota and am quite happy with it, thank you very much.

I like their frozen pizzas, like Agnes said....oh, and their turkey bacon....I don't think I've ever had any that's quite as good on a BLT!

There's actually a website somewhere on the web where customers rate their products. But once you get the hang of Aldi you know what you want. Seasonal products like blueberries and apple pies can't be beat price wise though the latter is expanding my "spare tire". But cereal- tolerable at best.

And we found a really decent quality mission style end table for a pittance in the "special" section- solid wood, sturdy, good finish.

Aldi is the Old Navy to Trader Joe's Gap.

The price of Aldi cereal is one of the things that makes me realize what a racket "store brands" are at places like Target and Dominicks. The Market Pantry (Target brand) cereal will be like 50 cents less than the name brand, yet the Aldi equivalent is around 1.50 - 2.00 less a box. If you buy the whole "marketing and research" argument for the brand names, then you realize how much money Target is making off of its store brands.

As a follow up to scribbler's point, I would say the opposite of Peapod for impulse buys is Valli's. Baked deserts, random fruit, crab & mango salad, Haribo gummy bears, etc. Next thing I'm at home and forgot the milk & bread.

I have to force myself not to buy more then THREE Valli bulk items. I could spend a half-hour looking at all those yummy trays. Their dried fruit selection is out of this world!

Try the dried strawberries. A bit pricey but as good or better than any candy.

I love the variety of choices at Valli - every ethnic group has their very own aisle and there is plenty of good old 'murrican stuff as well. Valli is large, clean and always, always loaded with good stuff.

And mamattorney? I hear ya about the brand-name rip-job. I almost never buy Kraft, General Mills or Pepperidge Farm merch any more. Why? The knock-offs are half the price or less and every bit as good.

My food shopping takes me to La Rosita [Tex-Mex addict and can cook my own very well, thank you], Caputos and then Valli. Valli gets the bulk of my grocery money.

Watch the Wednesday flyers that come in the paper for Valli's super special coupons - yesterday, I got a dozen eggs for 49 cents using a coupon.

Which Aldis do people go to?

Agnes, LOL I thought I was the only one who did that grocery route. Now that we have the GE Aldi it makes it so much easier.

Agree on the cereal, but the 'cinnamon toast crunch' doesn't seem to stop my kids. I recommend the french toast sticks if you have kids, at least two bucks cheaper!

GE Fan, we tip $5 unless it's really icy or snowy, then we'll go up to $10. Or if the order is extraordinarily large - like at Christmas time. But usually our order can fit nicely in 3 of those boxes, all neatly stacked on the cart.

(And now I'm worried you'll all think I'm cheap.)

quote:

Originally posted by glellyn:
Aldi is the Old Navy to Trader Joe's Gap.

Hahahaha, I LOVE this! If there were no concerns about trademark infringement and such, this would make a fantastic ad campaign!

NEBFL: lol, at the forgetting the milk and bread thing....I've totally done that even at Aldi!

Wow, a dozen eggs for 49 cents?!!!!
The Aldi is off of Roosevelt, at the corner of Nicoll (by the old Danby's Station restaurant). It's just behind the....bank(?).

Buggy, mine LOVE those french toast sticks....even without the syrup, the cinnamon ones are AWESOME!

Where is the Valli store?

And just around the corner from Trader Joes!

Valli is at the corner of Route 64 [North Avenue] and Bloomingdale Road. In the old "Omni" location.

I love Valli as well, but if I'm in the area, I'll hit the Ultra Foods on Butterfield (by Target and Kohl's). Their prices are very good, and they carry everything.

I was in that Jewel several weeks ago and noticed a group of "suits" walking around. I've seen my fair share of real estate guys, and instantly knew they were touring the store to either consider it for an upgrade, or discuss the plan in place, or giving the new lender a tour, but I haven't heard anything on the radar about Jewel in a while "since downtown's store at our Kinzie station project". I wouldn't be one bit surprised to see that Jewel start a 'pip' program this summer "Product Improvement Plan". It needs it, badly. Given the income levels of the area customer base, it's almost a given it gets "upgraded". Now would be the right to do so too, given the low costs associated with construction/renovations these days due to the mass unemployment rate for workers.