I’ve been meaning to write this post for a while but then forgot until I got reminded overhearing a conversation between 2 middle-aged, middle-class men on the train this morning. Come to think of it, it was actually more of a monologue. MAMCM 2 was just very agreeable:
MAMCM 1: I used to pop over to France all the time to fill up the car with booze and food from the supermarket over there, but now it’s not worth it anymore. It’s the same price at Tesco ...
MAMCM 2: Nod and pause in thought
MAMCM 1: ... or Lidl actually.
MAMCM 2: Nod
MAMCM 1: I used to go past there and never went in. Thought it looks dirty, nah, not for me.
MAMCM 2: Nod
MAMCM 1: But then I did. Bottle of Chardonnay, £4. And it’s very good, couldn’t tell the difference. Obviously they’ve got different brands there. And the Prosecco, £5 ...
I couldn’t help but to quietly smile to myself whilst listening to them.
Aldi is the number 1 discounter in Austria and has been ever since I was born. We all grew up on Aldi food, EVERYONE shops there, regardless of income or social standing. I’d say you’d be hard pressed to find a household that does not have at least a few Aldi products in their pantry. From quality food and award winning wines to laptops and washing machines. You can even buy vacations from Aldi now and my friends who tried it had an excellent time.
So I have to admit that it pains me a little that there still seems to be a bit of a stigma attached to Aldi and Lidl in the UK. I’ve been shopping there long before the glossy TV ads and newspaper spreads and I’ve heard it all. From the polite “I’ll check it out” (yeah right, the smirk on your face says otherwise) to the downright ignorant and rude “I’m not eating that foreign muck”.
Have you noticed the difference in the ad campaigns of the major supermarket players and the discounters? The former is showing off how much money they can save you, “live well for less”, “every little helps” and “always low prices... always” whilst the latter constantly seem to have to proof that the quality of their products can rival the likes of Waitrose and M&S. Why? Maybe because the general public is still not convinced and unless there is a label they recognise on their sausages they dismiss them as rubbish?
Marzipan Stollen, German Gingerbread and Spekulatius Spiced Biscuits
Well, I like quality products and I like low prices and I like shopping at Lidl and Aldi. Both have their pros and cons, I prefer the fresh vegetables, cold cuts, bread and wine at Lidl whilst I’d rather have the seafood, fish and frozen products from Aldi. But one thing remains, I’m proud to admit I save money by shopping at discounters and I certainly won’t lose a jewel in my crown by doing so. How about you?
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