27 Things to Know Before Shopping at Aldi

Aldi, a budget grocery store with European roots, is disrupting the industry. Its streamlined shopping experience and cost-saving measures translate into big price reductions on common items. The Aldi shopping experience, however, can be unfamiliar and even intimidating to novices. Here is everything you need to know about Aldi and what to expect when shopping there, as well as some details to help understand its corporate culture.

Aldi has roots dating back to 1913 in Germany but has expanded into a global juggernaut that now beats budget and premium chains alike in all corners of Europe. The chain has opened new U.K. locations nearly weekly since 2016, a pace that only recently has seemed to slow, and maintains a presence in 19 countries, including Switzerland, Portugal, and Spain. In the East, Aldi has locations in Poland, Slovenia, and Hungary.

In 1960 the chain split into Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd when the brothers who owned it fought over whether to sell cigarettes. They carved the world up into regions peacefully, but the Albrecht family's younger generation has been known to feud.

In 1976, Aldi opened its first United States location in Iowa. Today, there are more than 1,600 Aldi stores in 35 states serving 40 million customers. Last year the company opened 34 stores in Southern California and announced plans for a massive, nationwide, $3 billion expansion that includes 650 new stores to achieve goals this year of having more than 2,000 U.S. stores serving 45 million people.

America is the only place the two Aldi companies compete: Aldi Süd owns Aldi-branded stores here; Aldi Nord bought the Trader Joe's chain in 1979, when it had only 18 stores, and as of last year had 461 stores in 41 states and Washington, D.C.

Aldi's in an announced $1.6 billion spending spree to modernize and upgrade 1,300 U.S. locations by 2020. Renovations include the introduction of green building materials and systems, including LED lighting and energy-efficient refrigeration. There are also plans to improve building aesthetics with natural lighting and open ceilings.

More than 90 percent of everything sold in Aldi stores is packaged under the Aldi brand. Though the name may be unfamiliar, what it sells is created by some of the largest U.S. food producers. This streamlined supply chain, according to Aldi, allows strict quality standards at a much lower cost.

Shoppers unfamiliar with the store could be forgiven for assuming it’s solely focused on basic food staples. Those same shoppers might be surprised to learn they can also find  items such as European chocolates, almond milk, smoked salmon, award-winning cheeses, and quinoa.

Aldi claims that by switching from national brands for weekly necessities such as meat, bread, and produce, customers can save as much as half off their grocery bills. How? Aldi avoids hidden costs such as marketing and advertising that other stores pass on to customers.

Retail king Walmart launched a price war last year designed to slow Aldi's momentum and reclaim coveted discount shoppers, leaning on suppliers and manufacturers such as Procter & Gamble to lower prices by 15 percent, according to Reuters. Who won? Shoppers.

At most grocery stores, paid employees spend hours corralling stray shopping carts. Aldi reduces labor costs by keeping its carts in one place: To use one, you pay a quarter; when you return it, you get the quarter back.

Aldi discovered another opportunity for savings at the checkout line. As part of its simplified approach, Aldi doesn't give away bags. Shoppers bring their own or buy an Aldi reusable bags. The money saved on plastic and paper bags goes toward lower price tags on Aldi products.

The Aldi model is all about trimming the fat to create savings, and a big part of that comes from lean staffing. Just like there's no shopping cart chaser, there's no grocery bagger. Shoppers bag their own groceries.

Competitors are likely open earlier and later than Aldi — by design. Aldi's lean business model dictates that the store opens only during peak shopping hours. Depending on location, doors are likely to open at 9 a.m. and close within a maximum of 12 hours.

Aldi occasionally issues regional coupons or coupons associated with grand openings. Other than that, don't bother looking — the focus is on keeping costs low by simplifying operations, and since Aldi negotiates for the lowest possible prices, it does not honor coupons for the few national brands in the store.

Aldi may not offer coupons, but it does have "Special Buys" every Wednesday and Saturday featuring items from among all store goods, from electronics and clothing to furniture and garden equipment. Special Buys come with a 60-day refund policy.

Similar to Special Buys is "Aldi Finds" — spur-of-the-moment deals on premium food and household items that don't last long. Past Aldi Finds have included German specialty items, a Belgian waffle iron, Thai food, and seasonal holiday fare.

Veteran Aldi shoppers know the brand is packaged with several barcodes just so cashiers don't have to spend precious seconds searching for one — just to speed up the shopping experience. That's also why, in addition to being smaller and easier to navigate than large grocery chains, every store has the same layout.

Aldi touts partnerships with winemakers around the world and boasts at least 20 award-winning wines, which it sells in select locations. The company also sells beer, including a Beer of the Month, at certain locations. A store locator makes it easy to filter results to find out if one's nearby.

Aldi’s Highland Black Scotch Whisky ($17) and Glen Marnoch Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($23) recently earned gold medals from The Spirits Business trade publication, putting them right up there with costlier and better-known brands like Chivas Regal.

Aldi has created a team of nutrition experts called the Advisory Council to make healthy eating suggestions to customers. It has also removed harmful oils, synthetic colors, and MSG from all products in the Aldi brand line, expanded offerings of organic produce, and installed checkouts without sugary snacks displayed.

Aldi markets its Simply Nature brand for what it lacks: Every item in the line is made without anything on a list of more than 125 additives such as monosodium glutamate and dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (and other things with really long names). The line, which includes everything from cereal to salad, has no artificial ingredients or preservatives.

Aldi's LiveGFree product line is for those going gluten-free. The line includes snacks and sweets, frozen foods, pantry items, broth, produce, and chips. Customers can also find gluten-free recipes on the Aldi website.

Aldi's website lists a whole bunch of scary average costs for essential products for babies and young children. Aldi says that by buying diapers, wipes, and formula from its Little Journey baby product line,mom and dad can expect to save as much as 50 percent — or $1,200 a year — with no sacrifice in quality.

Aldi prides itself on industry innovation, but doesn't stray too far when it comes to payment. It accepts all major credit cards, cash, most debit cards and EBT. Neither WIC nor checks — which can slow down checkout — are accepted.

Aldi insists that its products meet or exceed the quality and flavor of national brands and backs that with a Double Guarantee. If shoppers don't like something they bought, it can be brought back to be replaced — and their money refunded.

The late founders Theo and Karl Albrecht were cheap themselves, not just refusing to pay to advertise their stores, but using pencils down to the nub and even arguing for a tax deduction on the ransom paid to get Theo back from kidnappers. But some of the younger generation of Albrechts get $28 million annually from a family trust, Bloomberg News says.

Aldi employs more than 24,000 people across the United States and is looking for help to fuel its expansion. Employee hierarchy is simple, and the company vows to pay industry-leading wages and compensate employees with full benefits packages that include retirement plans and insurance.