Lidl vs Aldi: What is Cheaper For Americans?
Reviews
Aldi vs Lidl - Which Store to Choose?
Below are the six main categories you should consider when evaluating which location you want to choose for your new favorite grocery destination:
Prices
Both of these stores are obviously known for their amazing prices. But which is cheaper? The answer is that it honestly depends. When you compare Aldi and Lidl prices, most people agree that in general, Lidl is generally cheaper on average per trip. This is because even though Lidl’s prices on staple goods are slightly more expensive, their prices on non-staple goods are cheaper. If you are only shopping for staple items though, or make a conscious effort to bargain hunt, Aldi will be cheaper. This is especially true for Aldi’s house brand products since they make up the majority of the store.
Products
Quality and Taste - The product quality of both of these stores is not large enough for everyday people to notice a difference. The only noticeable difference may be in bread since Lidl has a bakery. This is discussed in greater detail later. That being said, Aldi’s bread is still always fresh and of high quality. You just will not get to watch it come out of the oven.
Because Aldi primarily sells house brands, these are the store’s most popular products. By manufacturing most of what they sell, Aldi is hands-down better at quality control in general. Their most popular products are ones they make themselves, such as SimplyNature. An extensive list of their most popular product brands can be found in one of the following sections.
Store Locations and Working Hours
There are roughly 1,600 brick and mortar locations of Aldi in the United States and only 94 Lidls. Both have free parking. Lidl is usually open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aldi is usually open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Customer Service
You bag your own groceries at both of these stores. Lidl is more convenient because cashiers have two conveyor belts to keep your items separate from the items of the person behind you. You won’t have to move your items to bag them, unlike at Aldi.
Delivery
Aldi is currently partnered with Instacart to provide delivery for its customers, whereas Lidl uses Shipt. Both platforms are easy to access and navigate for both people interested in ordering and getting paid to deliver. Delivery costs are also essentially the same ($8-9/month), so this is not really something to consider when trying to decide where to shop. Delivery is not available 24/7 since neither of these stores is open 24/7. That being said, as long as you order while the store is still open, both platforms can provide you with same-day delivery. Remember to tip your delivery workers if they do a good job!
Discount and Sales
Like all grocery stores, both of these options have discounts and sales. The best place to find them is in the stores’ weekly flyers and circular. If you don’t have time to go discount hunting, then no worries. You can easily access both the weekly Lidl flyer on Rabato. Along with weekly Aldi ad, there are also leaflets from many of your other favorite retailers that are updated on Rabato regularly to ensure that you are always viewing the most recent deals. Bookmark the flyers on your computer’s homepage so that you never forget to check them before shopping!
Aldi vs Lidl – What Are the Major Differences Between Them?
If you are happy as long as you are shopping on a budget, then the truth is that you would probably be happy with either of these stores. However, there are some minor differences that might make or break an option for pickier shoppers. One big difference between Aldi and Lidl is their respective sizes. Lidl stores are inherently bigger than its competitor. While some may enjoy the larger aisles and bigger selection, others may not like how it increases shopping time.
Another difference is that Lidl supermarkets have a bakery, whereas Aldi just has a section in stores dedicated to bread. That being said, Aldi bread is always very fresh, and they do carry a lot of variety. Some just would prefer to purchase their bread straight from its baking source. Because Aldi is smaller though and has a very unique supply chain, it does have the leg up in some scenarios. It has a fun seasonal section in which its products are always changing.
Another obvious difference is that when you stroll through the aisles of Aldi, you will find a ton of house brands. Here are some of their most popular ones:
- SimplyNature;
- Fit & Active;
- Specially Selected;
- Mama Cozzi’s;
- liveGfree;
- And more!
While Lidl does have some of its own brands, such as Oaklands and Newgate, they carry many more products manufactured out-of-house. Therefore, if you are looking for the brands you would find in other non-discounts supermarkets, you’d be more likely to find them at Lidl. This difference in brand-makeup is one of the most noticeable differences, especially for children. If you have a hard time getting your kids to eat off-brand food, then Lidl is a better choice. If you’re shopping for adults who don’t care about the brand of their food though, you won’t mind Aldi.
Are Lidl and Aldi Related?
Because these two companies have similar aesthetics and values, many people assume that they are sibling companies. This is not the case, however. In no way, shape, or form are these companies related or owned by the same people. They are both family-owned and their respective families are not connected. Some people may get confused because Aldi is technically split into two different companies. Aldi Nord, which is owned by Trader Joe's, and Aldi Süd, which is just Aldi. The company was founded in Essen, Germany, and split into two in 1960. Today, it is 11,234 stores strong.
Lidl was founded by a man named Josef Schwarz in Neckarsulm, Germany. Though the company started as primarily a place to purchase wholesale fruit, it eventually evolved into the food behemoth it is to date. It is worth several billion dollars, but it much more integrated into Europe’s market than America’s. The company did mimick Aldi’s “pass on the savings to the customer” model, and so the two have similar elements. The stores even look the same, with large boxes sitting directly on the shelves rather than individual packages.
Lidl and Aldi are competitors with similar business models and products, just like Wendy’s and McDonald’s. Just like these fast food restaurants, you can favor Lidl or Aldi because of their prices, layout, service, and selections. Because Aldi came to the U.S. in 1976, you are probably much more familiar with this company. Lidl did not cross the sea and arrive on American land until 2017. By this point in time, its competitor had already taken over much of its cheap niche market. Americans are more likely to view Aldi as integrated into society than its counterpart.
Conclusion
Statistically speaking, if you live in America, you are likely further from Aldi than you are Lidl. It will take you less time and gas to reach your nearest Aldi making it an obvious choice. If you have both nearby though, then the best way to choose which one you should shop at is to make a list and compare prices. Because their quality is similar, you can just choose wherever you can fulfill your list for the cheapest total cost.
