My first Lidl shopping trip — and how it compares to and differs from ALDI! Maybe you’ve also been curious about this ALDI competitor?
Hey! Have you had the chance to visit a Lidl yet? I write a lot here about ALDI USA, but until recently, I’d never had the chance to visit their rival Lidl. Although Lidl opened their first US stores in 2017 and have been expanding ever since, they’re still only located on the East coast. A couple of weeks ago, however, I found myself in Virginia and near several Lidl locations — so I thought I’d check one out and see how they differ from US ALDI stores.
As an ALDI shopper, let me tell you a few of my thoughts on how the two discount grocers compare, and where they differ. I’ve been curious, so figured you may be as well.
ALDI vs Lidl
If you’re visiting this site you’re likely an ALDI shopper as well, so I’m just going to focus here on how Lidl compares.
You don’t need a quarter at Lidl
Unlike at ALDI, the carts at Lidl are just unlocked and available — And, the one I visited even had the tiny carts for little kids to push. (Watch your ankles with these…) You do still need to bag your own groceries at Lidl, though, which sports a long counter by the registers for this purpose just like the one at ALDI. The cashiers were standing, rather than seated on tall stools as at ALDI.
Lidl runs more traditional grocery store sales
While ALDI stores often do put items on sale, they don’t run more traditional grocery store sales such as multibuy discounts. The week I visited Lidl, though, their ad looked much more like a traditional grocery flyer. For instance, one of their sales included a “ten for $10” pantry item offer, where the price of each dropped to $1 when you bought ten participating products.
Lidl wants you to use their app
ALDI focuses heavily on the simplicity of their shopping experience, with no coupons other than the very occasional store coupon around a grand opening. By contrast, Lidl heavily pushes their app for rewards and coupons, with signage all over the store.
Several good sale prices at Lidl even required use of the myLidl app. As a visitor to town, this was honestly a little annoying; the last thing I need is another app for a store I’m unlikely to re-visit for years. I also much prefer the simplicity of the price you see, is the price you get.
You’ll find more name brands at Lidl
While still smaller than most major grocery chains, your typical Lidl is quite a bit larger than your typical ALDI store and generally carries about twice as many products. Perhaps this is why this one also sported so many national brand labels mixed in with their store brand products. While the overall focus was still on private label products, there were more name brand options here than at ALDI.
Even though ALDI has been adding more name brand products lately, especially as special buys, they don’t have anywhere near the national brand selection of Lidl. National brand prices seemed all right but not exceptional, maybe around Target level on most items.
Lidl also has a middle
Fans of ALDI’s Aisle of Shame will be pleased to know that Lidl also sports a middle aisle (well, at this store, three aisles!) of random and seasonal merchandise. Enjoy the serendipity of special buys there, as well.
With more middle aisle space, Lidl seemed to have more random “while supplies last” merchandise — and their Pride Month items made me realize I haven’t seen any of these at ALDI.
Look, a bakery
The Lidl store I was at also had a bakery right inside the door, which very few ALDI stores have. I’m not sure if this is typical of Lidl, though, or if I was just at a larger store. It looked as though they were actually baking items on site rather than just having them shipped in, and I appreciated the wider variety here.
Prices seem comparable
Which is cheaper, ALDI or Lidl? Well, overall, prices on most store brand food items seemed fairly comparable between this Virginia Lidl location and my Chicago-area ALDI stores. In terms of pantry staples, for instance: Beans, cheese, pasta, oil, salad dressing, broth, and more were priced almost identically at both stores. I did also notice that most items were shelved right in their shipping boxes, just as at ALDI; a cost-saving measure common to both stores.
Milk and butter were significantly cheaper at this Lidl than at my local ALDI stores, but milk prices vary so much by location that this was likely just due to regional differences.
Lidl has more stuff
Since this Lidl was significantly larger than an ALDI, it unsurprisingly carried more items: A wider variety of produce, more meats, more prepared foods. It was still small enough, however, that you still shouldn’t run into the same kind of decision fatigue as at a major national grocery chain or someplace like Walmart.
Overall
If Lidl ever expands out to my area, I’d likely shop at both stores: For the different sale items, the wider selection of produce and meat, to check out the different middle aisles, and to pick up items (such as pizza sauce) that my ALDI stores don’t carry every day. For everyday shopping, though, I do prefer the smaller footprint of my ALDI stores; it’s easier and quicker to get in and out.
Lidl seemed to occupy a space somewhere between ALDI and a conventional US grocery chain, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to check one out. More competition is good for us as consumers, so I do hope to see Lidl out in the Midwest one of these days!
