Lidl/Aldi brands v names brands

Qualitymark · 26-01-2014 06:12PM

Alun wrote: »

Are you sure? I always thought it was a fermented milk drink?

Oh God, you're right of course! It's a kind of thin beady yoghurt thing! Used to have lots of friends who made it. Sorry! I'm thinking of freekah.

Incidentally, in re things Lidl/Aldi no longer do, remember that delicious slightly brined roast pork one of them used to have? Ohh, it was delicious! And Aldi every now and then used to do stuffed chicken thighs that were divine. Alas!

cosmic · 05-02-2014 12:57AM

cosmic wrote: »

I'm hooked on Lidl's cream crackers. They're the nicest I've tasted in a long time. I can't stop eating them! I'm having some at my desk right now

Sadly, I have to retract this

They've only gone and changed their recipe. They're no longer doughy and mealy and creamy - now they're crunchy and burned. Boo

fussyonion · 05-02-2014 01:49AM

I agree. They changed their crackers, as did Aldi at one point but now they've returned to the original recipe.

Tesco do delicious crackers, taste exactly the same as Jacob's, for 26c.
Trust me..I used to only eat Jacob's so I know what I'm talking about!

Qualitymark · 05-02-2014 08:05AM

Are they sneaking up their prices, by the way? For instance, Lidl had 'Tuscan rolls' (very nice mini-breads) at three for 99c, and they're now 39c each, which works out at 18% dearer. Or was that a 'special'?

Alun · 05-02-2014 10:15AM

The 3 for 99c offer on those and other rolls was a special which has now ended.

Qualitymark · 17-02-2014 10:41AM

Just tried the little expensive jars of Duneen yogurt in Aldi - delicious! Lovely sour yogurt like the yogurt in France!

xpto · 02-03-2014 04:19PM

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows what is the quality of the food in Aldi when compared to Dunnes or Tesco?

Example: is the Irish meat available in Aldi the same as the Irish meat available in Dunnes? And fruit and the vegetables are they alike?

Thanks

homemadecider · 02-03-2014 04:39PM

The food is much higher quality in Aldi, particularly the meat. I like the fruit and veg from Lidl the best.

Dizzyblonde · 02-03-2014 05:36PM

Threads merged.

Layinghen · 02-03-2014 08:58PM

Agree totally regarding the meat in Aldi. The Aberdeen Angus sirloin steaks are truly excellent.

Missyelliot2 · 02-03-2014 10:18PM

Layinghen wrote: »

Agree totally regarding the meat in Aldi. The Aberdeen Angus sirloin steaks are truly excellent.

Sublime!:D

Qualitymark · 03-03-2014 11:02AM

Yes, very good meat generally in both Lidl and Aldi. Supervalu's better, as is your local butcher, but Lidl and Aldi are very good.

the beer revolu · 03-03-2014 01:03PM

Qualitymark wrote: »

Yes, very good meat generally in both Lidl and Aldi. Supervalu's better, as is your local butcher, but Lidl and Aldi are very good.

That completely depends on your local butcher. I know my local butcher sells better meat but there are an awful lot of rubbish butchers out there.

username123 · 03-03-2014 01:12PM

Qualitymark wrote: »

Yes, very good meat generally in both Lidl and Aldi. Supervalu's better, as is your local butcher, but Lidl and Aldi are very good.

Couldnt agree with this at all. My local Super Valu is appalling for meat, I stopped buying any meat there years ago due to them selling gone off smelly rotten meat! My butcher sells far superior meat to any supermarket, I am not a fan of pre packaged meat, for one thing you dont get to have a good look at what you are buying, you dont know how long its been packaged, and its such a waste of plastic/tray etc... I prefer to buy my meat with as little plastic waste as possible.

rubadub · 03-03-2014 03:02PM

the beer revolu wrote: »

That completely depends on your local butcher.

Its weird the way some people go on about butchers as though they are a brand or chain of shops. Reminds me of the odd faith people put in doctors, like they are all beyond reproach.

During the horsemeat scandal I heard loads of irrational comments about butchers in the media.

I know an ex butcher who told me some shocking things which were standard practise in his place.

bridgetown1 · 25-03-2014 01:51PM

I know many people don't like it, but if you do try the Lidl one, done by Linessa. FABULOUS!!

Qualitymark · 26-03-2014 11:35AM

rubadub wrote: »

Its weird the way some people go on about butchers as though they are a brand or chain of shops. Reminds me of the odd faith people put in doctors, like they are all beyond reproach.

It's a question of local shops. Where I live, there used to be a row of 15 shops - butcher, baker, greengrocer, convenience store, post office, café, laundry, etc. With the coming of supermarkets, it devolved into offies, betting shops, takeaways; by the crash it was 'We Buy Your Clothes' and the like…

Now, 13 of the 15 are shuttered, and another has a big For Sale sign on it. Even the bookies and the We Buy Your Clothes shops have shut.

This destroys localities, with all kinds of effects redounding through society: lonely young mothers don't meet older women at the shop who coo over their babies and help them with advice on their kids' teething problems; old people don't meet neighbours who help them with their shopping and notice if they're finding it hard to cope; there isn't the flow of money through a local area, with people starting little businesses and being able to sell to their neighbours then expand…

When all this business goes to the great multinational chains, where is society?

vicwatson · 26-03-2014 11:40AM

Northern catch Cod in batter in Aldi is amazing, far superior to Donegal catch and others I've had. Really nice batter on it. On special at moment - 2.49 per bag, about 4 pieces in it.

rubadub · 26-03-2014 12:45PM

Qualitymark wrote: »

It's a question of local shops.

Well that's the other main reason I see butchers recommended, which is fair enough. I am talking about the way many people seem to recommend them on the presumption they will be far better, and more moral/trustworthy etc than supermarkets.

freshpopcorn · 26-03-2014 04:46PM

Qualitymark wrote: »

It's a question of local shops. Where I live, there used to be a row of 15 shops - butcher, baker, greengrocer, convenience store, post office, café, laundry, etc. With the coming of supermarkets, it devolved into offies, betting shops, takeaways; by the crash it was 'We Buy Your Clothes' and the like…

Now, 13 of the 15 are shuttered, and another has a big For Sale sign on it. Even the bookies and the We Buy Your Clothes shops have shut.

This destroys localities, with all kinds of effects redounding through society: lonely young mothers don't meet older women at the shop who coo over their babies and help them with advice on their kids' teething problems; old people don't meet neighbours who help them with their shopping and notice if they're finding it hard to cope; there isn't the flow of money through a local area, with people starting little businesses and being able to sell to their neighbours then expand…

When all this business goes to the great multinational chains, where is society?

This isn't exactly relevant to the thread.
In my local town Tesco, Lidl and Also have all opened in the past 10 years. Prior to this there was a very badly run SuperValu and other local shops. Take the local green grocer. My mother shoped there for years and spent a lot of money there and not once did he have a special offer on/gave here a discount.
Before the supermarkets came SuperValu was poorly run, closed at six o clock, wasn't clean, didn't stock special offers, they didn't even stock own brand milk/bread/sugar. The supervalu was so expensive it paid people to travel other towns to do their shopping. It was all most impossible for people/families on a budget to shop there.
So when Tesco opened people of all ages were delighted because there was eventually completion in th town.
SuperValu started stocking own branded products, extended their opening hours, had special offers, it still isn't the cleanist tough. So why would people want to shop in a dirty/smelly SuperValu when the could shop in a clean Tesco. Tesco was a hit with people off all ages you still had old people/young people talking, people offering to help people out if they needed it. There is a good community atmosphere where I'm from tough.
Along followed Lidl/Aldi again being a hit with shoppers of all ages particular the men so they could have a look at the tools in the special buys.
I know of lots of people who welcomed the supermarkets because the standards of the local business were poor. Be it price wise, customer service, cleaning standards. Before the supermarkets opened local business felt they could charge what ever they liked and if a customer asked for help they never really gave it to them. So why would people bother supporting these people now. When they were never thanked/rewarded before.
We still have a local butchers/deli/greengrocers/SuperValu and these shops are so expensive people simply could not afford to shop in them now.

username123 · 26-03-2014 04:57PM

rubadub wrote: »

Well that's the other main reason I see butchers recommended, which is fair enough. I am talking about the way many people seem to recommend them on the presumption they will be far better, and more moral/trustworthy etc than supermarkets.

Do you mean prepacked meat in supermarkets or a butchers in a supermarket?

I would rarely buy prepacked meat. I like to see the meat (you cant see the underside of prepacked meat), I like to get particular cuts, I like the meat prepared how I like it (fat trimmed, boned etc....), I hate hard plastic or foil tray packaging - its such a waste. I also like that the butcher tells me how to cook meat in certain ways, or recommends particular things to me that are good value at that time. And because Im a good customer he generally knocks a few quid off or throws in a few bits for nothing.

So I generally wouldnt buy any meat in LIDL or ALDI for the above reasons.

A butchers in a supermarket is fine.

Dermighty · 26-03-2014 06:52PM

ene wrote: »

i bought milk in aldi the other day and didnt think it was nice at all... infact my family refused to drink it it was that horrible!

I know it's an old post but I wonder if the people who didn't like the taste knew it was Lidl milk (or any brand other than their usual) before they tasted it.

rubadub · 26-03-2014 07:03PM

username123 wrote: »

Do you mean prepacked meat in supermarkets or a butchers in a supermarket?

When I see people mention it they never make a distinction

username123 wrote: »

A butchers in a supermarket is fine.

I think this is the first time I have seen a comment along these lines. My friend worked behind the deli & meat counter in a well known supermarket, a lot of the meat nearing its use by on shelves would be taken into the "fresh meat counter", chickens near the use buy would be put on the rotisserie.

I have seen the chicken fillets arriving to my local butchers, they are in prepackaged 25 packs which they cut open and put out. He has his sign up about being a "Associated craft butchers of Ireland", which if you look up online seems pretty meaningless, its just a thing they pay for, it doesn't seem like any audits take place or that they all agree to only sell irish produce or anything, which I guess some people might have presumed. Maybe someone will correct me but I see nothing on their site.

http://www.craftbutchers.ie/difference/
there are many quotes like this on the site about buying local etc

ACBI encourages consumers to look for the CraftButcher logo to be sure of having the very best, traceable, traditionally prepared meat available. Meat from a Craft Butcher is sourced, slaughtered and prepared locally and so reduces Food Miles (helping our carbon footprint), and also eliminating stress to the animals. Transporting animals long distances before slaughter has a detrimental effect on the meat quality. By supporting your local Craft Butcher you can be sure of the highest quality produce.

but the membership makes absolutely no mention of commitment of doing anything like buying local

http://www.craftbutchers.ie/download/pdf/2013_acbi_application_form.pdf

squonk · 27-03-2014 04:42PM

What does a discussion of local craft butchers have to do with Lidl v Aldi brands? Please move this to another thread!

rubadub · 27-03-2014 05:20PM

squonk wrote: »

What does a discussion of local craft butchers have to do with Lidl v Aldi brands?

The thread is not lidl vs aldi, it is lidl/aldi vs "named brands". If you look back there are numerous posters saying they go to the local butchers.

"the butchers" is seems to be regarded by many as a "brand", some people seem to recommend them over lidl/aldi as though they will all be almost identical. The "Associated craft butchers of Ireland" would make some people think they are almost like a chain of shop or franchise.

You have comments like this

ElleEm wrote: »

I dont know what it is, but I wouldn't trust their meat so I get that from the butchers.

Some butchers could well be selling lidl produce, I heard in another thread of some guy with a trolley full of very cheap chickens and people reckoned it could be a butcher or restaurant owner.

username123 · 28-03-2014 01:31PM

rubadub wrote: »

Some butchers could well be selling lidl produce, I heard in another thread of some guy with a trolley full of very cheap chickens and people reckoned it could be a butcher or restaurant owner.

Im pretty sure plenty of places are selling LIDL produce, I personally witnessed a young chinese guy buying about 40 jars of peanut butter and then crossing the road and letting himself in to the chinese restaurant there one morning. Perhaps the usual supplier had let them down or maybe the peanut butter is just cheaper there.

My butcher has a whiteboard of suppliers on his wall so any customer can have their details immediately.

Alun · 28-03-2014 01:40PM

username123 wrote: »

Im pretty sure plenty of places are selling LIDL produce, I personally witnessed a young chinese guy buying about 40 jars of peanut butter and then crossing the road and letting himself in to the chinese restaurant there one morning. Perhaps the usual supplier had let them down or maybe the peanut butter is just cheaper there.

I'm guessing the latter, just buying up a load to make the satay sauce with.

rubadub · 28-03-2014 02:06PM

username123 wrote: »

My butcher has a whiteboard of suppliers on his wall so any customer can have their details immediately.

I would be dubious of these too. In some chinese takeaways I see certs up on the wall saying some Irish supplier serves them their beef or chicken. This does not prove they buy ALL of that particular meat from them.

They could genuinely buy some, so if someone questioned the supplier, the it would be confirmed.

I buy lidl hazelnut chocolate bars, they have various grades and all are about 20-24% nuts, while dairy milk whole nut is only about 12 or 13%.

fussyonion · 28-03-2014 02:19PM

rubadub wrote: »

I would be dubious of these too. In some chinese takeaways I see certs up on the wall saying some Irish supplier serves them their beef or chicken. This does not prove they buy ALL of that particular meat from them.

They could genuinely buy some, so if someone questioned the supplier, the it would be confirmed.

I buy lidl hazelnut chocolate bars, they have various grades and all are about 20-24% nuts, while dairy milk whole nut is only about 12 or 13%.

How should they prove it?

rubadub · 28-03-2014 02:49PM

fussyonion wrote: »

How should they prove it?

I have no idea, I am just saying I would not have much faith of signs like this in the likes of an owner run butchers or takeaway. I would have more trust in a mcdonalds burger being from where they state, or lidl.

The workers in McDonalds or Lidl have less vested interest in engaging in any dodgy practise. My friend worked throwing out stuff in mcdonalds, like burgers thrown out after 30mins, I doubt a owner run chipper would be throwing out what is in effect, his own money out as easily, or butchers. Of course most are hopefully decent people but I am just saying they do have a vested interest in such things.

During the horsemeat scandal I saw lots of people recommending butchers, the likes of Darina Allen on TV. I did not hear of any examination of butchers meat at the time though, did anybody? I only heard of supermarkets stuff being examined. I can find nothing online, I did find this

Irish butchers are reporting a flood of families returning to their local butcher's shop in the wake of the horsemeat scandal.

Sales of meat through butchers' shops have increased by as much as 25pc in the past fortnight, according to Dave Lang of the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland.

Lidl/Aldi brands v names brands

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