Comparing the supermarkets

I love shopping in Lidl and only use Asda for name brand products to which I’m partial. e.g. Oatibix. and Dr. Oetkar pizzas, and occasionally even they appear in Lidl.

Besides agreeing with posters here regarding the value and quality of the food, I enjoy the middle aisle, especially clothes and toys for the grandchildren. For me, I’ve bought several velour tracksuits which are ideal for home or informal outings.

Their nespresso compatible coffee pods work in any machine requiring nespresso and are much cheaper than elsewhere. I have no problem with the shelf life of their fresh produce.

In conversation with cashiers, I’ve learnt that Lidl is a good employer with a reasonable hourly rate of pay and decent conditions. Here in Torquay, the first Lidl was so successful that a second smaller store has opened closer to me, replacing the Waitrose that was there originally.

Lidl and Aldi are both price wise very competitive and have good products. A big Lidl opened where I used to live just before we moved. I have like Aepgirl found their fruit and veg not to last that long. Having said that I'd most certainly give them a go some of their products are very good indeed.

I don't have either that near me now, I tend to flit between Sainsburys, Waitrose and Marks. I do love Waitrose, and they still offer a free paper with a shop over £10, I don't do such small shops that my bill wouldn't reach that amount, so take full advantage of that and free half hour parking for a quick shop, or if you are longer buy a £2 ticket and that is set off against shopping bill £10 and over. Our Sainsburys also offer that parking perk as well.

I do most of my basic shopping in Aldi and Lidl. I like Lidl’s sliced wholemeal with seeds but prefer Aldi for fruit and veg. Aldi bread and cakes not so good so I occasionally go to Morrison’s for scones. As others have said, feta cheese, plain Greek yoghurts plus pickles are great.I still go elsewhere for dried beans and pulses in larger quantities.

Both stores are in walking distance unlike all the others which require a bus or car journey. Before they came there was no fruit or veg locally. Give them a try, you might be pleasantly surprised.

If I had a Lidl near me I would use it I was surprised when I went shopping in one with my youngest.

I’ve so enjoyed this thread, especially the “middle at Lidl” stories, just brilliant.
Here in France our Lidl is a little Lidl so not much chance of finding that much-needed pneumatic drill I’ve been after... but it is very good as long as you don’t mind a long wait for what is often only a single checkout.
Not a supermarket story but I did once go to the shops for a loaf of bread and come home with a lop-eared rabbit. Just to say that impulse buying can strike anywhere.

I love shopping at lidl- apart from lower prices on a lot of everyday stuff which I think are good quality but just not brands that are known here but one of their slogans has been
it's a chance to try foods that you can't pronounce lol. I have used their own brand washing liquid for years

Jaxjacky

Love a Lidl. I’d be prepared for fewer brand names, but most items are fine, I don’t buy coffee, baked beans or tea bags in there for instance, but that’s our own brand allegiance. Sometimes their green veg has a short shelf life, be picky. But, they regular win awards for their wines and spirits, the bakery is great, the meat is Red Tractor assured and mostly British. They often have themed food from other countries and generally they are a lot cheaper than other shops. Go with an open mind and explore.

I do buy their coffee; the fresh ground stuff, not instant, because I like it better than any of the others available in any of the other supermarkets. The facts that it’s also cheaper is a bonus. I also like their cold meats and sausages, and the frozen goose they sometimes have around Xmas. Mind you, I haven’t set foot in one for about 18 months

I love Lidl. The smell from the bakery when you walk in ours is lovely. The plants arrive on a Thursday morning and it's a free for all at the minute. I find the produce is always fresh and prices are great, you will love it. Warning! Stay away from the middle aisle, I went in for my fruit and veg last time and came out with a new food mixer. Works like a dream though

Lidl and Aldi are best for quality and price, although they don’t have many patented products I have shopped in both of them for over 18 years. Lidl have the best cleaning products and so cheap.

I prefer Aldi, we always do our weekly shop there now. Anyone wary of it shouldn't be, a lot of their food comes from the same factories as M&S's which always amuses me when the food snobs say they wouldn't shop in Aldi Those boxed biscuits that M&S do at xmas? Exactly the same ones in Aldi for a lot less! I use Lidl occasionally, it's not as close, and always buy their champagne at 9.99, it's lovely.

Juicylucy

No need to be snooty about shopping in Aldi or Lidl a recent survey showed the income of many customers is averaged at £110.000 per year per household.. No matter what your financial situation we all love a bargain.

That’s very true! My son used to live in LA. He said the best place to celebrity-spot wasn’t Hollywood or Sunset Boulevard, it was Costco in Malibu at the weekends. Celebs like a bargain as much as anyone!

I love Lidl. A lot of their own brand stuff is the same as branded or M&S, just packaged differently. The meat and fish is fabulous. We love loads of Lidl products. The wine choices are great too.

Their loyalty app is worth having too. If you spend £100 in a month you get a £2 coupon and a £10 coupon for a £200 spend.

I'd recommend their tonic water, which has no artificial additives and their fake Bailey's and Pimm's.

I've also got loads of plants and garden stuff which is excellent quality.

Lidl is excellent for many items, fruit and veg I buy from local shop!

We have Lidl and Aldi as well as some of the other main supermarkets; no Waitrose or Tesco. Some things I tried, like spreadable butter, weren’t acceptable. Other things were fin, and certainly cheaper!

I don't love Lidl so clearly I'm in the minority.... I bought a cat carrier from their middle aisle, which fell apart after 2 uses, and I also bought some paint brushes which shed loads of hairs.

My cat needed a special diet, the vet suggested chicken but she wouldn't touch the cheap chicken from Lidl, whereas the Sainsbury's chicken went down a treat.

I shop around the supermarkets , Sainsburys most often but also Tesco, Morrison’s, M&S, Iceland sometimes, Waitrose, Aldi and Lidl, we’re lucky to have them all as well as Asda. We’re getting an additional Lidl in the space where Homebase used to be so another place to explore. I agree with what others have said, mostly their products are excellent and of course there’s also the centre aisle to browse. I love the bucket if Greek yogurt for a £1, the fresh bread and pastries in Lidl and Aldi’s frozen cabinets are fantastic. I recently bought a gorgeous salmon en croute to serve four for £3.99, I say recently but it was actually before first lockdown.
Also bought two wonderfully healthy clematis at £1.99 each from Lidl a couple of years ago, they’re now all over the fence and covered in flowers.
Apparently Aldi’s skin care range is as good as extremely expensive brands and is often featured in the beauty pages of magazines. Unfortunately Ive never managed to get any before it’s all sold out.

Knopflerfan

I’ve so enjoyed this thread, especially the “middle at Lidl” stories, just brilliant.
Here in France our Lidl is a little Lidl so not much chance of finding that much-needed pneumatic drill I’ve been after... but it is very good as long as you don’t mind a long wait for what is often only a single checkout.
Not a supermarket story but I did once go to the shops for a loaf of bread and come home with a lop-eared rabbit. Just to say that impulse buying can strike anywhere.

You’ve just reminded me that I once went to the village shop for a cauliflower and came home having agreed to buy a caravan from a fellow shopper!

Like DW Ashcombe I like Lidl. As has been said, the French version is rather different - you'd look in vain for fresh milk, because French housewives prefer longlife! But the cheese selection is splendid, while their meat and fish are good value, and often long-dated.

Every week we get a shoal of supermarket brochures in the mailbox, typically dated from Weds to Tues, and so you can assess which set of bargains and offers is this week's target shop. Lidl still gets the vote most weeks. So the middle-aisle stuff gets a close scrutiny, and I often pick up a teeshirt or a household appliance. But it was Okehampton Lidl where DW bought me a power-drill for my birthday - much appreciated! Then there was Mamers Lidl, where the shopping included a pair of 'boat shoes' for 10 euros, and although they went along the conveyor with everything else they never appeared on the bill! No, they don't squeak!

I really like Lidl - sadly there is not one close by us

i started shopping in lidl a few years ago when one opened underneath student flats, the best thing you can do is try it, for tins and packets try and see if you like it, meat and fish are great, frozen food is good, cold meats have a good selection and fruit in veg is good, just not great to buy in bulk as sometimes does not last. things like butter, yogurts, biscuits, cleanings stuff and toiletres are good but it depends what you like, but i love most of them. it is like anything else that is not brand name, you try it and if you like you buy it again. enjoy your shopping trip.

NanKate .your shops sound so much like the ones where I live, also by the Thames, so think we may well be in the same area. Iceland left a good few years ago now, so with Waitrose gone the choice is rather limited, especially if one doesn't drive. I am looking forward to exploring Lidl, when it opens, never shopped in one yet, but heard so much about them.

To be perfectly honest, I have only shopped in Lidl a couple of times, but I agree that the bakery is really good
Just as an aside, I was a (very) long term devotee of Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish but after trying the Aldi dupe, in my opinion there is very little difference. The ingredients listed on the back of the tube are almost identical
I was a loyal Tesco shopper for many years, but the quality in Aldi is excellent
It's always worth shopping around and coming out of your comfort zone

I like Lidl but still shop in Asda for my main shop. Lidl has some good products but you can’t always expect the same things every week. I don’t like Lidl check out queues. They always seem huge with people having overflowing trolleys, but I love the diversity. Yes, their bakery is nice enough but not the best - but I cant see past the co-op bakery for crusty bread (especially the olive bread ?) but I diverse. Their “middle of Lidl” is always worth a look, where you’ll find things to buy that you didn’t think you’d need! ? Yes, on the whole I like Lidl, I just wouldn’t want it to be my only supermarket.

cornishpatsy is bang on the money, the middle aisle is a such a fun treat, you’ll never know what you’ll find. I found a really great rug that looked near identical to an expensive one I’d seen in a magazine for £14. I always get compliments on it. My tagline would be “more fun for less”!

I must admit to being a bit off Waitrose lately. Aldi has taken its place. Their own brands are good. Don’t be afraid to try some. Dishwasher tablets great, and their Gold Tea bags are too. Sainsburys is good for a big shop. Not keen on Asda as it is so big and I wander around far too long.