Introduction
ALDI is one of the most popular grocery stores in the world, and it’s no surprise why. With its low prices and wide selection of products, it’s easy to see why so many people choose to shop there. But did you know that there are some secrets about ALDI that you may not know? In this article, we’ll reveal 10 secrets you never knew about ALDI that will make your shopping experience even better. From the best time to shop to the best deals, we’ll cover it all. So, let’s get started and discover the secrets of ALDI!
10 Secrets You Never Knew About ALDI — Eat This Not That
ALDI is one of the most popular grocery stores in the United States, and for good reason. It offers a wide selection of products at low prices, making it a great option for budget-conscious shoppers. But there’s more to ALDI than meets the eye. Here are 10 secrets you never knew about ALDI.
1. ALDI is a German Company
ALDI is actually a German company, founded in 1913 by two brothers, Karl and Theo Albrecht. The company has since expanded to become one of the largest grocery store chains in the world, with over 10,000 stores in 20 countries.
2. ALDI Stores are Smaller than Other Grocery Stores
ALDI stores are typically much smaller than other grocery stores, with an average size of about 10,000 square feet. This allows them to keep their prices low by reducing overhead costs.
3. ALDI Stores Don’t Accept Credit Cards
ALDI stores don’t accept credit cards, so you’ll need to bring cash or a debit card if you plan on shopping there. This helps keep prices low by avoiding the fees associated with credit card transactions.
4. ALDI Stores Have a “Double-Back” Guarantee
ALDI stores have a “double-back” guarantee, which means that if you’re not satisfied with a product, you can return it for a full refund and a replacement item. This is a great way to ensure that you’re always getting the best quality products.
5. ALDI Stores Have a “No Frills” Approach
ALDI stores have a “no frills” approach to shopping, meaning that they don’t offer many of the services that other grocery stores do. This includes things like bagging your groceries, providing samples, and offering coupons.
6. ALDI Stores Have Their Own Brand of Products
ALDI stores have their own brand of products, which are typically of high quality and much cheaper than name-brand items. These products are often made with the same ingredients as name-brand items, but cost much less.
7. ALDI Stores Have a “Bring Your Own Bag” Policy
ALDI stores have a “bring your own bag” policy, which means that you’ll need to bring your own reusable bags if you plan on shopping there. This helps reduce waste and keeps prices low.
8. ALDI Stores Have a “Try Before You Buy” Policy
ALDI stores have a “try before you buy” policy, which means that you can try out a product before you buy it. This is a great way to make sure that you’re getting the best quality product for your money.
9. ALDI Stores Have a “No Questions Asked” Return Policy
ALDI stores have a “no questions asked” return policy, which means that you can return any item for any reason. This is a great way to ensure that you’re always getting the best quality products.
10. ALDI Stores Have a “Price Match” Policy
ALDI stores have a “price match” policy, which means that if you find a lower price on an item at another store, ALDI will match it. This is a great way to make sure that you’re always getting the best deal.
Whether you shop at the discount supermarket ALDI or not, you’ve probably wondered where it came from, what the name means and the secrets that make millions want to shop there. While formally you can trace the founding of the beloved ALDI grocery chain back to the year 1946, ALDI traces its roots back much farther than that. ALDI founders, brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht, were born in the early 1920s, but their life’s work had been established for them in 1913, the year their mother opened a small shop in the German city of Essen.
The brothers entered the grocery business of the Albrecht family early on, and by the 1950s, Theo and Karl, still in their early 30s, were in the leadership position of a rapidly expanding company. ALDI’s success in the middle of the 20th century came thanks to the same model it uses today: low prices, a tightly controlled inventory, minimal advertising or in-store decorations, and rapid response to customer demand. Here are some other secrets you may not have known about ALDI.
Once called Albrecht Diskont (the AL comes from the first letters of the family name, the DI from the German word for “discount”). The chain is spread across four continents and with thousands of stores worldwide.
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Founded as a single discount grocery chain in Germany in 1946 as noted, in 1960 ALDI was split into two separate companies, Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud, meaning Aldi North and Aldi South, respectively. While both companies offer the same basic products, use similar logos and design schemes, and are almost indistinguishable from one another, they are separate entities. At present, anyway: according to the USDA, there are plans to re-merge the chains together.
To be more specific, Aldi Nord owns Trader Joe’s, and it has since Theo Albrecht bought the California-founded grocery chain way back in 1979, which was a mere dozen years after the first TJ’s had opened in Pasadena, CA, per Reader’s Digest. So while Traders Joe’s may seem to be a quintessentially American brand and while most stores have a local feel, its owners are far afield.
According to Taste of Home, ALDI stores usually stock new products on Wednesdays, which means older products, especially those nearing expiration, are usually marked down by midweek. Produce also usually goes on sale at ALDI on Wednesdays.
About a decade before the time of this writing, a scandal shook ALDI that might sound like something so farfetched as to be made up, but it wasn’t. According to The Guardian, ALDI stores in the UK were found to be selling products that used meat that contained horsemeat in place of beef, and in some cases the meat was not a blend of the two but was 100% equine. The meat came from a French supplier that in turn blamed Eastern European producers, and numerous recalls were required, costing the chain millions.
If you see an ALDI product sign with a little letter “D” written on it, that product is soon going to disappear from ALDI shelves, per Honey Kitchen. So if you ever see a “D” added to the tag of a product you love, stock up.
According to Best Life, ALDI stores mark their bread (and some other baked goods) down a full five days before its expiration date. And usually, that discount is an entire 50% off. You can score great deals on this marked-down bread, which can be briefly baked for a fresh taste or can be frozen for many weeks, too.
Boasting Facebook communities, Instagram hashtags, Reddit threads, and more, the ALDI Aisle of Shame is actually a few dozen feet of shelf space, usually at the center of the store, dedicated to temporary and rotating inventory, much of it seasonal in nature, per Atlas Obscura. And yes, according to Mashed, aficionados of the Aisle of Shame (AKA the Aisle of Dreams) really do caw at each other like crows.
If you didn’t know about ALDI’s “Twice as Nice Guarantee,” you may be missing out big time. ALDI will not only accept a return of almost any item (alcohol and a few other products excepted) for up to 90 days, but they will both replace the unsatisfactory item and will refund your money. So yes, it’s yours for free. (And please, let’s not take advantage of the chain’s goodwill!)
Many people think ALDI “charges” a quarter per shopping cart used to prevent people from stealing them, but really it’s to encourage shoppers to return their carts, at which point the quarter is refunded. This policy saves the company money because it reduces the need for employees to spend their time corralling loose carts from the parking lot.