Aldi's is coming to RI

"maxine in ri" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

How's Aldi's for produce?

If your store is anything like the one here (Rochester), it won't even carry
produce.

Quoted message said:

Recommendations for which of their store brands are worth buying, and
which to avoid appreciated.

In typical Rhode Island fashion, they described the site for the new
store as "where the Krispy Creme commissary used to be...." <g>

Here in The netherladns, I like thier ajrs of olvies, their abked beans,
thier sardines and the pre-semi-baked buns, pasta, some dairy products. Plus
the frozen ostrich meat. I do NOT like their fresh produce.

They are also known for treating their staff very badly 🙁

"maxine in ri" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Just a hop, skip, and a jump from where the new Whole Foods is setting
up shop. While scanning old threads on the topic, I started to
wonder: We have PriceRite, the Shoprite warehouse store. You pay for
your cart (the 25cent lock), bring your own bags or pay, and selection
is limited, but usually there's more than one brand, Pricerite or
generally a name brand, for slightly more $$.

How's Aldi's for produce? Do they have a good selection? Do they
carry anything interesting? Are their brands health-conscious, or the
usual added-salt and corn syrup type of stuff? (I know, that's not
really clear, but I can't think of another way to say it).

Recommendations for which of their store brands are worth buying, and
which to avoid appreciated.

In typical Rhode Island fashion, they described the site for the new
store as "where the Krispy Creme commissary used to be...." <g>

maxine in ri, where Almacs, Finast, and A&P used to be

Hey there Maxine,

I'm in Rhode Island too - South Kingstown area. What is Aldi's and where did
you here about this? I'm sure we'll bump into each other soon at someone's
cookout - it is RI after all!

maxine in ri said:

Just a hop, skip, and a jump from where the new Whole Foods is setting
up shop. While scanning old threads on the topic, I started to
wonder: We have PriceRite, the Shoprite warehouse store. You pay for
your cart (the 25cent lock), bring your own bags or pay, and selection
is limited, but usually there's more than one brand, Pricerite or
generally a name brand, for slightly more $$.

How's Aldi's for produce? Do they have a good selection? Do they
carry anything interesting? Are their brands health-conscious, or the
usual added-salt and corn syrup type of stuff? (I know, that's not
really clear, but I can't think of another way to say it).

Recommendations for which of their store brands are worth buying, and
which to avoid appreciated.

In typical Rhode Island fashion, they described the site for the new
store as "where the Krispy Creme commissary used to be...." <g>

maxine in ri, where Almacs, Finast, and A&P used to be

The Aldi's here has a very small and not very good produce section, but
there are some bargains that vary from week to week. I've bought some
great mangos there for 69¢, Del Monte Gold pineapples for $2
occasionally, romaine lettuce hearts 3 for$1.69, and big bags of red
potatoes are always really cheap.

The European chocolate bars and boxed pastries and fancy breads are
interesting. The store also has a faint ethnic smell of weird spices
and unwashed feet -- I think from the clientèle rather than the store
itself.

Their store brands are just like the big national brands; sometimes you
can even figure out who they buy from by the packaging.

The frozen chubs of 85% lean hamburger meat are really good.

Bring cash (or food stamps); Aldi does not take checks or credit cards.
They take some debit cards, but probably not the ones anybody carries.

Hope this helps,
Bob

maxine in ri said:

Just a hop, skip, and a jump from where the new Whole Foods is setting
up shop. While scanning old threads on the topic, I started to
wonder: We have PriceRite, the Shoprite warehouse store. You pay for
your cart (the 25cent lock), bring your own bags or pay, and selection
is limited, but usually there's more than one brand, Pricerite or
generally a name brand, for slightly more $$.

How's Aldi's for produce? Do they have a good selection? Do they
carry anything interesting? Are their brands health-conscious, or the
usual added-salt and corn syrup type of stuff? (I know, that's not
really clear, but I can't think of another way to say it).

Recommendations for which of their store brands are worth buying, and
which to avoid appreciated.

In typical Rhode Island fashion, they described the site for the new
store as "where the Krispy Creme commissary used to be...." <g>

maxine in ri, where Almacs, Finast, and A&P used to be

Maxine, here is an extensive thread on Aldi's on a local Chicago food board,
it may be enlightening for you (it also discusses Aldi's relationship to
Trader Joe's):

http://lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=6661

There is an Aldi's a coupla miles north of me, despite passing by on the bus
many times, I've never stopped by. On my way up I'm usually on my way up to
Argyle Street here in Chicago with a friend for a Chinese/Viet dining
excursion, on my way back I'm generally loaded down with too many bags of
Asian foodstuffs to stop by :-)

Friends swear by them for certain things. One of them even bought a
computer at Aldi, I guess they sell that sort of thing too if the store is
large enough (this was at a store in suburban Chicago). Apparently they
have good and cheap German chocolate, frozen items (including jumbo frozen
cooked and deveined shrimp in one - pound bags for around four bux); they
have their own "Deutsche Kuche" ("German Kitchen"😉 brand of imported German
stuff, including Black Forest ham, bratwurst, breads, etc. These were
featured in one of their ads recently, looked very good and were a bargain.
They also have their own - branded Asian and Hispanic things, these are
priced okay but I can get cheaper usually at the Asian or Mexican stores...

Apparently most of their own - brand stuff is made to spec by General Mills
or Hunt's or Campbell's or whoever big company they contract out to.
Sometimes they'll feature national brands...

Folks swear by their hams...

I've heard produce can be good or so - so. Price - wise my local Treasure
Island supermarket or Mexican or Asian produce places can often meet or beat
Aldi's on stuff like broccoli, taters, onions, etc. It's really not worth
it to me to spend four bux on bus fare and an hour or two of time to save a
buck on a bag of potatoes or 40 cents on a bunch of celery (YMMV). They'll
have things like trays of four bell peppers (four colors) for $1.99, a guest
brought some over one time and they were just fine, that's a somewhat
higher - value item I'd pick up there.

One thing is that they stock fewer items than a normal stupormarket, so if
you see something you like, pick it up, some items may only be featured
intermintently...it's generally not the kind of place you make a specific
shopping list for.

You can also go to www.yelp.com and read reviews of Aldi stores in various
US locations FWIW...

HTH...and you've piqued my interest, next week I'll be going to visit my
local Aldi's, something I've been putting off for too long...mebbe we can
compare notes :-)

They have a web site with their weekly ad, IIRC it's something like
www.aldi.com or such. The circular also might appear in your Sunday paper
or wherever...

--
Best
Greg

In article <[email hidden]>,

maxine in ri said:

Just a hop, skip, and a jump from where the new Whole Foods is setting
up shop. While scanning old threads on the topic, I started to
wonder: We have PriceRite, the Shoprite warehouse store. You pay for
your cart (the 25cent lock), bring your own bags or pay, and selection
is limited, but usually there's more than one brand, Pricerite or
generally a name brand, for slightly more $$.

How's Aldi's for produce? Do they have a good selection? Do they
carry anything interesting? Are their brands health-conscious, or the
usual added-salt and corn syrup type of stuff? (I know, that's not
really clear, but I can't think of another way to say it).

Recommendations for which of their store brands are worth buying, and
which to avoid appreciated.

In typical Rhode Island fashion, they described the site for the new
store as "where the Krispy Creme commissary used to be...." <g>

maxine in ri, where Almacs, Finast, and A&P used to be

Aldi's and Whole Foods go after totally opposite ends of the economic
spectrum. Aldi sells purely cut rate generic brands of packaged goods,
whereas Whole Foods features organic and high end brands (or at least
they are priced that way). Whole Foods tends to appeal to younger
shoppers with fairly deep pockets, while Aldi tends to appear to seniors
and others who are on a low fixed income. Aldi stores tend to be located
in cities near low income housing, whereas Whole Foods stores tend to be
located in urban and suburban upper income communities.

I have never bought produce at an Aldi's, but I suspect you'll get
passable quality items, but with a limited selection and nothing out of
the ordinary. I doubt you will find a wide range of fresh produce there.

With Aldi's, you have to bring your own shopping bags and payment is
accepted only in cash. When I shop there, which is only once or twice a
year, I simply rearrange some of the stock, so I can use one of the
boxes as a shopping bag. The shopping carts also operate in a way where
you have to deposit a quarter to use them.

Aldi's is not a store where a foodie would probably enjoy shopping. Do
not look for any health conscious or organic products. Aldi's is sort of
like a dollar store with more expensive items. They will have more food
items then a dollar store, but fewer items then a full supermarket.
Aldi's stores are usually about 25% of the size of a typical supermarket
and with the products laid out on unfinished plywood shelves about knee
high with refrigerated cases lining one or two walls.

Some of Aldi's stuff is quiet good; most not. For example, I would never
buy ketchup there because they only stock off brands; no Heinz and their
ketchup resembles Hunts way too much. On the other hand, I picked up a
package of little frozen sirloin steaks there once for $10 and it was
fantastic. The package contained several small tenderloins (IIRC), and
one piece was fine as an entrée with a couple of vegetables on the side.
My parents shop at Aldi on a regular basis and they buy lean ground meat
and chicken parts there that are fine.

maxine in ri said:

How's Aldi's for produce? Do they have a good selection? Do they
carry anything interesting? Are their brands health-conscious, or the
usual added-salt and corn syrup type of stuff? (I know, that's not
really clear, but I can't think of another way to say it).

I live in a St. Louis suburb and weekly shop at the nearest Aldi and
occasionally shop at two others. The produce items carried are nearly
identical between stores, but quality varies from good at my local store
(Crestwood) to poor at another (Maplewood) store where it does not seem to
sell well (cause or effect???).

Their bagged salad is the best I have ever had and, it is 1/2 the price of
what other stores carry (usually 99 cents/lb bag, lately 59 cents). Many
fresh produce items are labelled as packed locally or a moderate distance
(St. Louis and Chicago respectively. your milage may vary).

Items, pretty much always in stock and of good quality; there are no scales
in the store so everything is either individually priced or pre-packed.
- grape tomatoes
- roma tomatoes
- green peppers, sold individually
- multi-color peppers 3-pack
- cucumbers, sold individually
- garlic
- onions, sweet or not, your choice
- potatoes
- sweet potatoes (bagged, not loose)
- bananas (cello pack, containing more than I can eat so I don't buy)
- seedless grapes (green or red)
- apples, peaches, stawberries pretty much whenever they are available
elswhere
- kiwi and mango on occasion
- broccoli bunches
- avocado
- celery
- snow peas

--
Change Cujo to Juno in email address.

maxine in ri said:

Just a hop, skip, and a jump from where the new Whole Foods is setting
up shop. While scanning old threads on the topic, I started to
wonder: We have PriceRite, the Shoprite warehouse store. You pay for
your cart (the 25cent lock), bring your own bags or pay, and selection
is limited, but usually there's more than one brand, Pricerite or
generally a name brand, for slightly more $$.

How's Aldi's for produce? Do they have a good selection?

The produce is reasonably good, but the selection is limited.

At my local Aldi's (Minneapolis), cabbage for some reason is
higher-priced than at other supermarkets.

Quoted message said:

Do they
carry anything interesting?

The items on special are sometimes interesting.

Quoted message said:

Are their brands health-conscious, or the
usual added-salt and corn syrup type of stuff? (I know, that's not
really clear, but I can't think of another way to say it).

They have both, in some categories.

Quoted message said:

Recommendations for which of their store brands are worth buying, and
which to avoid appreciated.

Anything canned or packaged is equivalent in quality to national brands.

Meats are likely to have higher amounts of added water than in
higher-priced stores. Their chicken is "improved" with chicken broth
-- which raises the salt content.

--
Dan Goodman
All political parties die at last of swallowing their own lies.
John Arbuthnot (1667-1735), Scottish writer, physician.
Journal http://dsgood.livejournal.com
future http://dangoodman.livejournal.com
Links http://del.icio.us/dsgood

Jke said:

Quoted message said:

Recommendations for which of their store brands are worth buying,
and which to avoid appreciated.

In typical Rhode Island fashion, they described the site for the new
store as "where the Krispy Creme commissary used to be...." <g>

Here in The netherladns, I like thier ajrs of olvies, their abked
beans, thier sardines and the pre-semi-baked buns, pasta, some dairy
products. Plus the frozen ostrich meat. I do NOT like their fresh
produce.

Drat -- the Minneapolis one doesn't have ostrich meat.

Quoted message said:

They are also known for treating their staff very badly 🙁

Doesn't seem to be the case here.

--
Dan Goodman
All political parties die at last of swallowing their own lies.
John Arbuthnot (1667-1735), Scottish writer, physician.
Journal http://dsgood.livejournal.com
future http://dangoodman.livejournal.com
Links http://del.icio.us/dsgood

Davlo said:

"maxine in ri" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Just a hop, skip, and a jump from where the new Whole Foods is
setting up shop. While scanning old threads on the topic, I
started to wonder: We have PriceRite, the Shoprite warehouse
store. You pay for your cart (the 25cent lock), bring your own
bags or pay, and selection is limited, but usually there's more
than one brand, Pricerite or generally a name brand, for slightly
more $$.

How's Aldi's for produce? Do they have a good selection? Do they
carry anything interesting? Are their brands health-conscious, or
the usual added-salt and corn syrup type of stuff? (I know, that's
not really clear, but I can't think of another way to say it).

Recommendations for which of their store brands are worth buying,
and which to avoid appreciated.

In typical Rhode Island fashion, they described the site for the new
store as "where the Krispy Creme commissary used to be...." <g>

maxine in ri, where Almacs, Finast, and A&P used to be

Hey there Maxine,

I'm in Rhode Island too - South Kingstown area. What is Aldi's and
where did you here about this? I'm sure we'll bump into each other
soon at someone's cookout - it is RI after all!

See http://www.aldifoods.com

--
Dan Goodman
All political parties die at last of swallowing their own lies.
John Arbuthnot (1667-1735), Scottish writer, physician.
Journal http://dsgood.livejournal.com
future http://dangoodman.livejournal.com
Links http://del.icio.us/dsgood

The Aldi's here in JC Missouri, has just been remodeled. I do lots of
shopping there. Mine is pretty large and
does carry produce and wine and beer. The only thing I'm not happy with is
their potatoes, everything else is great.
They accept cash, Discover and debit cards. They do carry their own brand of
low calorie and low fat products.
No organics, but I kinda think that even though some organic is good it's
the new "buzzword" and that
quite a bit of it is overrated anyway. I also beg to differ on "foodies" not
enjoying shopping at Aldi's. Being a German
company they get quite a bit of unusual stuff (lots of neat Asian and German
stuff.) They even had Gluwien (Sp?) at
Christmas and it was good ;0) The shelves are NOT plywood although you do
have to bag your own groceries. Aldi does carry really nice heavy plastic
bags for a dime a piece that can be used over and over agian. I've never
tried
an Aldi brand that I havn't liked (they are made by name brand companies to
spec for Aldis) I'm 42 (is that elderly?) but I do have younger (snobby)
friends who eat Aldi's food at my house think it's wonderful and that get
the vapors
when I tell them where it came from. If it doesn't come from Target, or a
REAL grocery store it's just not done........
-Sigh-, I hate snobs. But all this is just my opinion your milage may vary.
:0)

Lisa aka Pagemaster

maxine in ri said:

Just a hop, skip, and a jump from where the new Whole Foods is setting
up shop. While scanning old threads on the topic, I started to
wonder: We have PriceRite, the Shoprite warehouse store. You pay for
your cart (the 25cent lock), bring your own bags or pay, and selection
is limited, but usually there's more than one brand, Pricerite or
generally a name brand, for slightly more $$.

How's Aldi's for produce? Do they have a good selection? Do they
carry anything interesting? Are their brands health-conscious, or the
usual added-salt and corn syrup type of stuff? (I know, that's not
really clear, but I can't think of another way to say it).

Recommendations for which of their store brands are worth buying, and
which to avoid appreciated.

In typical Rhode Island fashion, they described the site for the new
store as "where the Krispy Creme commissary used to be...." <g>

maxine in ri, where Almacs, Finast, and A&P used to be

The produce is limited but good quality. The canned goods are good
quality. About six months ago they installed refrigerated cases in the
local stores and they now carry the "Walmart style" adulterated fresh meat.

Jke said:

Quoted message said:

Recommendations for which of their store brands are worth buying, and
which to avoid appreciated.

In typical Rhode Island fashion, they described the site for the new
store as "where the Krispy Creme commissary used to be...." <g>

Here in The netherladns, I like thier ajrs of olvies, their abked beans,
thier sardines and the pre-semi-baked buns, pasta, some dairy products. Plus
the frozen ostrich meat. I do NOT like their fresh produce.

They are also known for treating their staff very badly 🙁

Actually it is just the opposite here. The staff is paid quite a bit
more than Walmart and unlike Walmart they actually have paid health
care. The only thing I don't care for is recently they decided to open
on Sundays.

I go to Aldi's for a big stock-up purchase every two months or so. I
go more often during my summer break. We have been happy with just
about everything except the bread and dishwasher detergent. I buy
(family of four, two toddler boys):

peanut butter
macaroni and cheese
rice
pasta
canned vegetables and fruit (I don't like canned veggies, but my boys
love French cut green beans, carrots, and baby peas)
salad dressing
cereal
biscuit mix
crackers
oil
raisins
eggs
milk
cheese -- sliced, shredded, string
yogurt
applesauce
frozen veggies
waffles
bagged salad
French toast sticks
sandwich meat
chicken nuggets
fish sticks
crab legs
ground turkey - 79 cents per pound
boneless, skinless chicken thighs
laundry detergent

We bought a lovely Step 2 sand and water table from Aldi's a year ago
for $45.00. My guys love it and I know we'll use it for many more
years.

Tara

"JoeSpareBedroom" <[email hidden]>
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

"maxine in ri" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

How's Aldi's for produce?

If your store is anything like the one here (Rochester), it won't even
carry produce.

We have Aldi here. The one I go to carries a very limited selection of
produce. I don't buy produce there. I usually buy at least 12 cans of
sliced mushrooms when I go, and a few other things. Steven likes their 2%
milk. I don't know if the specials vary from region to region or not,
since I get there maybe once a month. Sometimes they sell frozen UNO'a
pizzas which I'll buy as many as I can get my hands on. Aldi doesn't carry
many of the brands I use, but Shop 'N Save does. I usually look at the
Sunday ads to see what the stores have on sale. If Aldi doesn't have
anything interesting in the ad I usually don't stop in unless Steven needs
milk.

Michael

--
This is how it works in my house. Click the pic to enlarge it:
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-remove "foodie" to email

Stan Horwitz <[email hidden]> news:stan-
[email hidden]:

<snip for space>

Quoted message said:

Aldi's is not a store where a foodie would probably enjoy shopping. Do
not look for any health conscious or organic products. Aldi's is sort of
like a dollar store with more expensive items. They will have more food
items then a dollar store, but fewer items then a full supermarket.
Aldi's stores are usually about 25% of the size of a typical supermarket
and with the products laid out on unfinished plywood shelves about knee
high with refrigerated cases lining one or two walls.

I agree with most of what you say except the "cash only." The Aldi here
will take a debit card. I discovered this the day I left the house without
checkbook or wallet. I did have my debit card in my pocket. It is not a
store I frequent real often. I just refuse to stand in the long lines for
a gallon of milk for Steven. I've never tried any of their canned items or
their condiments. I have used their canola oil which is fine to me. Oh...
their pre-packaged deli slices are pretty good but they have a lot of
sodium.

Michael

--
This is how it works in my house. Click the pic to enlarge it:
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=42ko0mf
-remove "foodie" to email

Stan Horwitz said:

Aldi's is not a store where a foodie would probably enjoy shopping.
Do not look for any health conscious or organic products.

The Minneapolis Aldi has some such products.

--
Dan Goodman
All political parties die at last of swallowing their own lies.
John Arbuthnot (1667-1735), Scottish writer, physician.
Journal http://dsgood.livejournal.com
future http://dangoodman.livejournal.com
Links http://del.icio.us/dsgood

Michael 'Dog3' Lonergan said:

The Aldi here
will take a debit card.

In Minnesota, most debit cards are handled the same as credit cards --
so far as charges to the store. So Aldi doesn't take them here, or at
least not most of them.

--
Dan Goodman
All political parties die at last of swallowing their own lies.
John Arbuthnot (1667-1735), Scottish writer, physician.
Journal http://dsgood.livejournal.com
future http://dangoodman.livejournal.com
Links http://del.icio.us/dsgood

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] (maxine in ri)
asked question:
Just a hop, skip, and a jump from where the
new Whole Foods is setting up shop. While scanning old
threads on the topic, I started to wonder: We have
PriceRite, the Shoprite warehouse store. You pay for your cart
(the 25cent lock), bring your own bags or pay, and
selection is limited, but usually there's more than one brand,
Pricerite or generally a name brand, for slightly more $$.
How's Aldi's for produce? Do they have a good selection?
Do they carry anything interesting? Are their brands health-conscious,

or

Quoted message said:

the usual added-salt and corn syrup type of stuff? (I
know, that's not really clear, but I can't think of
another way to say it).
Recommendations for which of their store brands are worth buying,
and which to avoid appreciated.
In typical Rhode Island fashion, they described the site for
the new store as "where the Krispy Creme commissary used
to be...." <g>
maxine in ri, where Almacs, Finast, and A&P used to
be

------------------------------------------------------
I rather shop Save A Lot myself but do go in Aldi once in a while to buy
center cut pork loins that are a fraction of the price compared to the
major name grocery stores here and the same brand. - suburban detroit-.

Aldi doesn't carry produce here but the produce at times over at Save A
Lot isn't worth throwing to the pigs.

The major difference I've seen between the two stores is Save A Lot
carries brand name items as Aldi carries brands I've never heard of.