Cheaper brand food, what are the hidden gems?

Kermit.de.frog

Just had a packet of Centra salted roasted peanuts. Don't get me wrong, they are no KP but they are serviceable in my considered opinion.

And that's what this thread is for. Unearthing the diamonds in the rough among the cheaper brands.

Cheaper doesn't always mean worse!

So what would you buy in Aldi instead of Supervalu?

Can a mod move to after hours? I put in wrong place.

Mrs OBumble

Lidl gluten free chocolate covered rice cakes. 25% of the price of most other brands - and nicer.

fineso.mom

Loads of stuff in Aldi. Their sweet tomato relish is delicious, raspberry way jam nicer (fruitier) than Chivers. Their porridge in the black bag, nicer than flavahans. That's just a frw off the top of my head. To be honest there's very little I would go elsewhere for.

odyssey06

Lidl italiamo range

Thelonious Monk

Cans of Rheinbacher in Aldi, it's like 4.40 for 4 and it's delicious

CIARAN_BOYLE

I think there used to be a megathread in bargain alerts for this sort of thing.

Kermit.de.frog

Ironically enough near the end of the tiger years when Aldi/Lidl set up shop here I remember loads of people wouldn't be seen dead in either. Now it's like a badge of honor

Vic_08

Aldi

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057449529&page=381


Lidl

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057482448&page=121

zerosugarbuzz

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Ironically enough near the end of the tiger years when Aldi/Lidl set up shop here I remember loads of people wouldn't be seen dead in either. Now it's like a badge of honor

Not for all of us, I'd only every buy bits and pieces there, never a full shop.

corner of hells

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Ironically enough near the end of the tiger years when Aldi/Lidl set up shop here I remember loads of people wouldn't be seen dead in either. Now it's like a badge of honor

My sister in law said that she would never shop in LIDL or ALDI because is her own words "its a shop for poor people ", at the height of the last recession, even when her husband was unemployed.
Her own father , a tough ol' townie laughed at her asking if her shiite smelled of roses too.

Mad_maxx

Lidl bitter lemon drinks , 25 cent per one litre bottle , think im the only one in the country buys them though ?

find Lidl greek yoghurt very good too and their gluten free biscuits , saskia sparkling water is lovely too

jmcc

odyssey06 wrote: »

Lidl italiamo range

The Italiamo pizza gear is excellent. The ice cream is good too.

Regards...jmcc

Muahahaha

Aldis multopack of 'Hoops' are basically identical to the far more expensive Hula Hoops. Someone on Twitter bought a multipack of Hoops and out came packets of Hula Hoops so theyre obviously made in the same factory and they definitely taste identical.

Gunmonkey

Aldi sometimes has a knock off Wibbly-Wobbly-Wonder ice cream, 6 in a box for about €3. Not made by HB anymore but still delish. Also got some great ice cream in Lidl during their recent "Alpine Fest": one tub black forest and another Bavarian cream and strawberries....bloody gorgeous stuff.

Doctors room ghost

Muahahaha wrote: »

Aldis multopack of 'Hoops' are basically identical to the far more expensive Hula Hoops. Someone on Twitter bought a multipack of Hoops and out came packets of Hula Hoops so theyre obviously made in the same factory and they definitely taste identical.

I wouldn’t be believing any of that old Twitter sh1te.they just put them hula hoop bags in for the drama of it.I’ve ate the aldi hula hoops and thought they were muck.may more salt on them and drier and a bigger size.

Zebra3

There’s great value high protein granola in Aldi.

odyssey06

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Ironically enough near the end of the tiger years when Aldi/Lidl set up shop here I remember loads of people wouldn't be seen dead in either. Now it's like a badge of honor

LIDL for a long time now is nothing like the LIDL that first opened.
I remember going into the Baldoyle store in its first year, no fresh stuff, nothing Irish, it was all dry goods from the Continent - I was there for the Ice Tea

EmmetSpiceland

Aldi’s version of Pringles, called ‘Stackers’, are dynamite. The salt and vinegar ones are the best but the BBQ do in a “pinch”.

Why they bother selling “ready salted” or sour cream and onion is beyond me. Shelves are always full of those but no old seems to buy them. Because they are muck.

Same thing happens with the freezer pizzas, ham and pineapple as far as the eye can see but no four cheese or pepperoni.

completedit

What's the story with their meats? I have spoken to a few people who continue to take pride in the fact they don't shop in Lidl or Aldi. I brought home some rolls and meats to workers I had working in my house a while back and they scoffed at it calling it 'cheap stuff'. Such a cringeworthy mindset whereby you're a slave to Dunnes Stores or Supervalu but if the food quality actually is better than I get it.

Lidl's fruit and veg can be terrible though. Within a couple of days it starts to go off. Happens too much tbh.

Cienciano

Everything in lidl

RacoonQueen

zerosugarbuzz wrote: »

Not for all of us, I'd only every buy bits and pieces there, never a full shop.

Same here, suppose it depends how you shop/eat in general but I never found it all that cheaper anyway for what I buy. Fruit and veg is much the same price and better quality from Dunnes IMO.
When I ate meat I'd pick up the smoked bacon bits in lidl, they were lovely, in everything...and would get mince and mozzerella in there if making a lasagna. Most basics are the same price in the budget lines in Dunnes and Supervalu.

odyssey06

completedit wrote: »

What's the story with their meats? I have spoken to a few people who continue to take pride in the fact they don't shop in Lidl or Aldi. I brought home some rolls and meats to workers I had working in my house a while back and they scoffed at it calling it 'cheap stuff'

LIDL have beef rib roast on the bone... ribeye steaks... as good if not better than anything you'll get wherever those few people shop.
Their duck is the same Silver Hill duck you get anywhere else.

Those people don't have a notion of what they are talking about.

pgj2015

sugarman wrote: »

Most "own brand" stuff from the likes of Aldi and Lidl are just rebranded goods from well known brands made on the very same production lines.

Its not always obvious, but you can tell when there are certain food recalls at times.

I remember Muller yogurts had a big recall for possible pieces of plastic/metal and it included Brooklea and Millbona brands made for Lidl and Aldi.

Another I recall is McGraths tea in Aldi, made by Robert Roberts and I think Lidls version is made by Bewleys.

You just have to be open to tasting a few things and voting with your taste buds rather than the consumerism of big brands.

Sure an awful lot of the quality of big brands are shite now anways, Cadbury being the prime example since Kraft/Mondelez bastardised it by changing the ingredients with cheap substitutes and making everything micro sized.

Lidl/Aldi luxery ranges of Belgian/German/Swiss chocolates are far superior these days and cost much the same if not less than what you'd pay for Cadbury.

Bewleys must be awful so because that Fallons tea from lidl tastes like piss.

gameoverdude

Lidl fishcakes, especially the haddock ones.

elperello

pgj2015 wrote: »

Bewleys must be awful so because that Fallons tea from lidl tastes like piss.

And you recognise that taste because ......

My nomination for hidden gems is Gelatelli Almond Choc Ices in Lidl.

Rubberlegs

sugarman wrote: »

Most "own brand" stuff from the likes of Aldi and Lidl are just rebranded goods from well known brands made on the very same production lines.

Its not always obvious, but you can tell when there are certain food recalls at times.

I remember Muller yogurts had a big recall for possible pieces of plastic/metal and it included Brooklea and Millbona brands made for Lidl and Aldi.

Another I recall is McGraths tea in Aldi, made by Robert Roberts and I think Lidls version is made by Bewleys.

You just have to be open to tasting a few things and voting with your taste buds rather than the consumerism of big brands.

Sure an awful lot of the quality of big brands are shite now anways, Cadbury being the prime example since Kraft/Mondelez bastardised it by changing the ingredients with cheap substitutes and making everything micro sized.

Lidl/Aldi luxery ranges of Belgian/German/Swiss chocolates are far superior these days and cost much the same if not less than what you'd pay for Cadbury.

Absolutely, my daughter bought a multipack of Aldi crisps recently and included was a packet of Tayto Meanies

Sharpyshoot

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Ironically enough near the end of the tiger years when Aldi/Lidl set up shop here I remember loads of people wouldn't be seen dead in either. Now it's like a badge of honor

Lidl is a poor mans Aldi.

Kermit.de.frog

To play devil's advocate here...

Is there not a point to make here that there is inevitably a difference in quality and you get what you pay for?

Isn't it just a fact that the quality of items in Supervalu, for example, is going to be better than that in Aldi/Lidl?

It can't all be just as good. Goods are cheaper in value stores for a reason, make no mistake.

I see some saying some things might taste nicer but isn't that in a "needs more dog" type of way to quote the Simpsons? Even for those things it must be balanced with quality assurance, cheaper ingredients, mice in the kitchen etc...?

Notmything

Rubberlegs wrote: »

Absolutely, my daughter bought a multipack of Aldi crisps recently and included was a packet of Tayto Meanies

KP produce meanies fwiw.

EmmetSpiceland

Sharpyshoot wrote: »

Lidl is a poor mans Aldi.

The only think Lidl has on Aldi is the bakery “section”.

Aldi has far superior crisps and snacks.

shawki

Just as nice as Loop the Loops and they are the proper shape before they were shrunk.

8 for €2.60 in SuperValu

https://shop.supervalu.ie/shopping/frozen-foods-sticks-lollies-franco-s-lemon-lime-pops-8-pack-640-ml-/p-1391849000

Kermit.de.frog

Sharpyshoot wrote: »

Lidl is a poor mans Aldi.

Aldi is a poor man's Tesco which in turn is a poor man's Dunnes.

Can't stomach the food in LIDL or ALDI..
I don't know if its just me but I've tried many times to get into the lidl/aldi buzz, family & friends recommending it.
I don't trust their packing or handling tbh, meat stuck in the middle ísle sometimes, like I know people throw things back, but seems to be more so there, or not placed back by staff too often, non frozen items in the freezer, and then ends up where?
I shop in tesco, the meat is OK quality but go to the butcher mainly for that, tesco fruit is good too, dosnt last long in my house anyway!
Get my rice and spices etc in our local Asian shops, 10/20kg bags of quality rice for half the price of Dunnes & tesco.

igCorcaigh

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Aldi is a poor man's Tesco which in turn is a poor man's Dunnes.

Dunnes used to be the poor man's Roches Stores.
But now it's the poor man's M&S.

It has really improved the quality of its stock.
I love the flatbreads and cheeses, I go to Dunnes especially for them.

But I find them expensive for most other things.
I get my smoked coley and mackerel from Aldi, never any bones, which there can be from Dunnes.

Not a food item, but generic OTC medicines.
I hate when I see my parents buy branded Panadol or Anadin from the pharmacy.
I guess it's just the name they are familiar with, rather than paracetamol or aspirin.
At least the pharmacists now have to advise of a cheaper alternative.


Oh, does anyone now of a cheaper but just as good version of Lea & Perrins?
I've seen Aldi/Lidl versions of worc. sauce, but not tried them.

jam_mac_jam

Lidl greek style yogurt is very tasty and creamy and much cheaper then other shops.

I find most of their stuff is fine. People complaining about them is mostly snobbery. Oh their veg magically goes off quicker etc. Most of their stuff is good quality.

The range is obviously not great. And one thing they don't do very well is cheese. But overall it's fine.

igCorcaigh

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

Lidl greek style yogurt is very tasty and creamy and much cheaper then other shops.

I find most of their stuff is fine. People complaining about them is mostly snobbery. Oh their veg magically goes off quicker etc. Most of their stuff is good quality.

The range is obviously not great. And one thing they don't do very well is cheese. But overall it's fine.

Agree with you on the cheese.
Dunnes has very good cheese, and cheaper than (also very good) M&S.

igCorcaigh

Lidl for the nuts.

Not the salty snacky ones, but the bags of natural nuts.
Way cheaper than the health shops.

I love the roasted hazelnuts on pasta or salad.

It's a pity the sell by weight roasted almonds aren't being sold anymore.

jam_mac_jam

igCorcaigh wrote: »

Agree with you on the cheese.
Dunnes has very good cheese, and cheaper than (also very good) M&S.

Dunnes has got much better over the years. I usually get my cheese in Supervalu.

jam_mac_jam

igCorcaigh wrote: »

Lidl for the nuts.

Not the salty snacky ones, but the bags of natural nuts.
Way cheaper than the health shops.

I love the roasted hazelnuts on pasta or salad.

It's a pity the sell by weight roasted almonds aren't being sold anymore.

Forgot nuts. They are very good for plain walnuts or mixed nuts for salads.

So much cheaper.

Kermit.de.frog

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

I usually get my cheese in Supervalu.

ooooh look at you

"The Bucket Bouquet residence, the lady of the house speaking..."

:pac:

Vita nova

Lidl and Aldi jams are excellent and seem very like Folláin jams, same packaging and similar taste.

Aldi have a very decent Champagne (Monsigny) for ~€20. Also, have some nice reasonably priced organic wines, actually drinking one of their organic Pinots at the moment.

igCorcaigh

jam_mac_jam wrote: »

Dunnes has got much better over the years. I usually get my cheese in Supervalu.

Dunnes cheese is very good.
They do a lovely block of extra mature cheddar for €2

zeebre12

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Ironically enough near the end of the tiger years when Aldi/Lidl set up shop here I remember loads of people wouldn't be seen dead in either. Now it's like a badge of honor

Lidl is actually in Ireland since 1999.

Gunmonkey

Gunmonkey wrote: »

Aldi sometimes has a knock off Wibbly-Wobbly-Wonder ice cream, 6 in a box for about €3. Not made by HB anymore but still delish. Also got some great ice cream in Lidl during their recent "Alpine Fest": one tub black forest and another Bavarian cream and strawberries....bloody gorgeous stuff.

Aldi Polar Bear bars. Basically Icebergers. Identical.

goat2

Where do Lidl get their potatoes, I don't like them, tried them, but never again

For those who are too lazy to make their own curry sauces from scratch, Aldi specially selected butter chicken or korma cooking sauces. With the spices in the lid.

Very tasty.

Forge83

Aldi Frozen shredded chicken is really good. Most of their chips are really good and cheap.
My favourite are their ham trimmings in the sandwich meat aisle. Big chunks of ham for less than €2.

KungPao

Deleted User wrote: »

For those who are too lazy to make their own curry sauces from scratch, Aldi specially selected butter chicken or korma cooking sauces. With the spices in the lid.

Very tasty.

"too lazy"?

Isn't it like alchemy? So many ingredients, so much dicking around, and it still tastes terrible.

Curry paste all the way.

freshpopcorn

goat2 wrote: »

Where do Lidl get their potatoes, I don't like them, tried them, but never again

What type of potatoes did you get?

Kermit.de.frog

zeebre12 wrote: »

Lidl is actually in Ireland since 1999.

Go away with your facts.

igCorcaigh

goat2 wrote: »

Where do Lidl get their potatoes, I don't like them, tried them, but never again

I don't know.
I like their organic white potatoes though.

I see they are now selling Italian new potatoes, haven't tried them yet. They seem a little pricey, maybe they are good?