30 Things to Know Before Shopping at Aldi

Maybe you just noticed Aldi was one of the stores offering hours for vulnerable shoppers during the pandemic (Tuesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.), but that's not the only reason to stop there. The 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.

More than 90% of everything sold in Aldi stores is packaged under the Aldi brand. Although the name may be unfamiliar, the products are created by some of the largest U.S. food producers. According to Aldi, this allows its products to meet strict quality standards at a much lower cost.

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.

Related: 13 Things That Are Cheaper at Aldi Than the Dollar Store

Retail king Walmart launched a price war 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%, according to Reuters. Aldi responded by announcing plans to expand its fresh food sections by 40%. Who won? Shoppers.

Aldi has a reputation for focusing on workaday food staples. Shoppers unfamiliar with the store might be surprised to learn they can also find items such as European chocolates, almond milk, smoked salmon, award-winning cheeses, and quinoa.

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. Don't have a quarter? Ask to borrow one from an employee (be sure to return it!). 

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 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 is lean staffing. Just like there's no shopping cart chaser, there's no grocery bagger. Shoppers bag their own groceries — which might be preferable during this pandemic anyway.

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. (with the exception of the 8:30 a.m. opening for an hour exclusively for vulnerable shoppers) 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 all store departments, from electronics and clothing to furniture and garden equipment. Special Buys come with a 60-day refund policy.

Similar to Special Buys, these spur-of-the-moment deals on premium food and household items 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, 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, the stores all have the same layout. During the pandemic, there are also temporary one-way aisles and reduced occupancy limits. 

Aldi touts partnerships with winemakers around the world and boasts at least 20 award-winning wines, which it sells in select locations. We tracked down several Aldi house wines that are worth trying. 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 there's one nearby.

Aldi’s Highland Black Scotch Whisky ($17) and Glen Marnoch Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky ($23) has earned gold medals from trade publication The Spirits Business, putting them right up there with costlier and better-known brands like Chivas Regal. Unfortunately, they're not available at Aldi in the United States.

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, and has announced plans to expand to 1,200 stores by 2025. Aldi maintains a presence in 19 countries, including Switzerland, Portugal, and Spain. In Eastern Europe, Aldi has locations in Poland, Slovenia, and Hungary.

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

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 dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (and other things with really long names). The products, which include everything from cereal to salad, have 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, parents can expect to save as much as 50% — 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. Another innovation thanks to the pandemic? Temporary protective barriers at checkout and all employees wearing masks or other face coverings. 

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, they can bring it back for a replacement — and a full refund.

The late founders, Theo and Karl Albrecht, were cheap themselves. They didn't just refuse to pay to advertise their stores but used pencils down to the nub and even argued for a tax deduction on a ransom paid to get Theo back from kidnappers. But some in the younger generation of Albrechts get $36 million annually from a family trust.

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

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. As of last year, there were 461 Trader Joe's stores in 41 states and Washington, D.C.

Aldi opened its first U.S. location in Iowa in 1976. Today, there are more than 1,900 Aldi stores in 36 states serving 40 million customers. In 2017, the company opened 34 stores in Southern California and announced plans for a massive, nationwide, $3 billion expansion to achieve the goal of having more than 2,000 U.S. stores serving 45 million people.

Aldi announced a $1.9 billion spending spree to modernize and upgrade existing U.S. locations by 2022. 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.

Like Pioneer Woman? The TV personality has been a popular brand at Walmart, and Aldi had no problem snagging a piece of the action. For a limited time last year, Aldi carried a brand of floral cookware aimed at enticing fans with a countrified design — and a lower price point, too. 

Though it surely chagrined Reese's fans, Aldi won best peanut butter cup in a blind taste test by Yahoo. Honorable mention went to Trader Joe's, and those beloved Reese's Peanut Butter Cups? They warranted only runner-up status. 

Aldi customers who don't feel like going to the store can buy everything online and get it delivered the same day (sometimes in less than an hour), thanks to a partnership with Instacart.

Aldi employs more than 25,000 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.