You may love shopping at Aldi. It always has unique brands and great prices, with more than 90% of products offered being ALDI brands. But just like most people have secrets, so does Aldi. Aldi employees often share insider tips and shopping secrets that can enhance your shopping experience. Here are eight insider secrets you should know about Aldi.
1. Aldi Owns Trader Joe
Aldi is the company name of two German multinational discount supermarket chains. It is a family-owned business. But what you may not know is that Aldi owns Trader Joe. Many think Trader Joe is an American company so this might be a surprise for a lot of people. Aldi's house brands offer excellent quality and value, similar to Trader Joe's products.
2. Bread Gets Marked Down Quickly
Aldi usually has a good price on bread. That’s because it’s marked down five days before its expiration date and needs to go out the door quickly. If you’re going to be eating it quickly or have a large family, check the five day bread sale. Other grocery stores often times do a similar mark down, but they'll wait til the day before bread is set to expire.
3. Shopping Cart Quarters
Aldi doesn't make you give a quarter for a shopping cart to deter theft. Instead, they do it to encourage people to bring their carts back and not leave them in the parking lot. Once you bring it back, your quarter is returned. They have a similar approach to bags - when shopping at Aldi, bring in your own bags (tip: bring in reusable bags) and save when you checkout!
4. "D" Labels Means "Discontinued"
If you see a small “D” on an Aldi product, that means it’s going to be discontinued. Aldi products are known for their quality, and some have even won awards. So, if it’s a favorite product, you might want to stock up on it before it’s gone. Check the price as well; it may be discounted. Your local aldi will be able to mark down items per the pricing schedule; however, once the discontinued items are gone, they're gone.
5. Wednesdays are Deal Days
New products are usually stocked on Wednesdays. Seasonal items are often introduced on these days and are available for a limited time. This means older products, or those nearing expiration, are often marked down. Produce is generally on sale as well. This makes Wednesday mornings an ideal time to plan your next visit to your local store and score on some good deals.
6. Twice as Nice Guarantee
Aldi’s return policy is one of the best in the retail world, especially when comparing to competitor grocery stores. If you are unhappy with a product and bring it back, Aldi will return your money and replace the product under their twice as nice guarantee. It just adds to its customer-friendly reputation.
7. Barcode Efficiencies
To move the lines faster, barcodes are placed on each side of a product. This saves time. The cashier doesn’t have to keep turning the product to find the barcode so you are checked out faster. If you ask any Aldi employee, this saves them a lot of time and frustration in having to move around items to find the barcode to scan.
8. Manager Specials on Seasonal Items
Look for items with yellow markdown stickers. These are “Manager Specials”. Aldi stores are designed to be smaller than typical grocery stores, helping to reduce leasing and maintenance costs. These specials give you significant discounts on products. So, stay vigilant when you are going up and down the aisles.
Conclusion
There you have it: eight secrets that you didn’t know about Alidis.
Bonus Secret: Aldi also offers a variety of gluten-free products under their liveGfree brand, ensuring that gluten-free shoppers can find popular food items that cater to their dietary needs without sacrificing taste.
Even though Aldi doesn't carry many name brand items, they tend to focus on their house brand, many people love Aldi. These secrets can save you money and put more food on your table.
