Five Things I wish ALDI carried regularly (but they don't)
What products do you wish ALDI carried that you haven't been able to find there on a regular basis? I do love that ALDI has been expanding its variety, cleaning up a lot of its foods, and adding more natural and organic options -- but there are just a few more items I'd like to be able to pick up there on my regular weekly trips.
Five Products I Wish ALDI Would Carry
Salsa Verde
ALDI regularly stocks several different varieties of salsa, but only occasionally sells salsa verde as a limited time special buy. It's always seemed odd to me that they don't carry this basic kind of salsa, when they have several other varieties on the shelf. I use salsa verde all the time in recipes like pulled pork enchiladas verde, or in salsa pulled pork soup, or in easy cheesy chicken and rice, or in slow cooker salsa chicken... and hate having to run out to a different store for just one thing when I'm trying to pick up ingredients for dinner.
Balsamic and/or Red Wine Vinegar
ALDI has recently started carrying organic apple cider vinegar on a regular basis (how cool is that?!) in addition to the basic white vinegar they have always carried, but they still don't sell either balsamic or red wine vinegar on a regular basis. (They do sell balsamic once or twice a year as a special buy.) I'd like to see them rotate these other types of vinegars in as well, since I often use them when making my own salad dressing and in recipes.
No Sugar, No Palm Oil Almond Butter
I'm happy that ALDI now stocks an organic peanut butter that contains just peanuts and salt, and would also love to see an almond butter option without sugar & palm oil. (It doesn't even have to be organic, ALDI; I'm easy!) I buy my almond butter at Costco because it contains just roasted almonds or make my own from whole almonds, but would appreciate having the option of picking it up on a regular ALDI trip -- and sometimes would like to buy a smaller jar than you can get at Costco, lol.
Frozen fish that's not processed in China
Frozen fish at ALDI is usually a great price! I mean, like: How about 16 oz of wild caught pink salmon fillets for $3.79, great? It's pretty much all processed in China, however. I'd much rather pay a little more and avoid the China processing facilities.
(ALDI is far from the only offender, here. If you take a look at bags of frozen fish in general, a lot of the fish we get in other stores is also processed in China -- but it's something to be aware of.)
A wider variety of spices
ALDI devotes shelf space to a number of basic spices (and I love that they also carry organic spices at a decent price), but they could easily squeeze a few more in there. Cayenne & rosemary spring to mind as basic spices that I use all the time, but more variety in general would be fantastic. ALDI is generally a great place to pick up cooking basics, and a wider selection of spices & seasonings would really help them up their game. Note: They do carry a wider selection of holiday baking spices as a special buy once a year, but not these additional basics.
That's my list -- What else should ALDI carry?
What other items would you like to see ALDI carry that you don't regularly see on their shelves?
I love all of the Organics Aldi carries now, but, I have a problem with organic and plastic containers. I wish they would consider using glass. I agree with you about them carrying salsa verde and if they would find one with lower sodium it would be great. I really liked the boxes of Organic Coconut milk and I believe they had almond and soy too. The Organic Coconut milk was the one I tried and it had the least amount of additives I ever found and it was good. I guess I would be happy with anything they could do to carry Organic, use glass and watch the sodium.
I soooooooooooooo agree!!! I miss their shelf stable organic coconut milk in the carton. That is the only place I ever bought coconut milk. This is frustrating to me because managers at two stores told me it was a great seller.
OMG YES! I use to buy those boxes all the time. I once considered buying them in bulk becaused they were 1.69 a carton and seemed to sell out fast. Now they no longer exist. T,T I started making my own almond milk instead or go to whole foods.
Larger quantities of fruit. When they go on special, it's usually all bought out before I can get there. More meat cut varieties. And toiletries that were affordable. I find that they uncharge on deodorant, shampoo, etc because they stock the name brand and there are no choices. I would shop there more if it were a one stop shop. But I find myself going to Walmart because I know I can get it all there at a decent price.
Just as an aside, I love the salsa verde that Trader Joes carries. It's been my go-to green salsa for years now. It's not too spicy and not too acidic or tangy like some tend to be. I really like using it when I'm making chicken enchiladas.
I totally agree--I think TJs has the best salsa verde, and it is the perfect consistency for things like enchiladas.
Trader Joe's is owned by ALDI . It's all the same stuff from the same manufacturers.
Trader Joe's is not owned by Aldi. They are two separate companies.
They are however related in that one brother owns Aldi and another brother owns Trader Joe's.
The caramel sauce in a jar and beef gravy.
I love shopping at Aldi. Will you be posting Aldi sales or is there another site I can find them? I have become so reliant on you over the years that I no longer get our local paper!
I don't know anyone else who blogs ALDI deals locally -- the produce sales and a few other things will vary by region. I post a weekly ALDI meal plan here: http://www.mashupmom.com/category/meal-planning/ -- and you can view ALDI's weekly ads online here: https://www.aldi.us/en/weekly-specials/our-weekly-ads/
I recently found the red wine and white wine vinegar on Aldi shelves. Perhaps your message was echoed.
Thanks for your helpful information.
Yes! This is one thing they've added (this is quite an old post, that I should probably update). 🙂
Red cabbage. Being a German company you'd think...
I love Aldis, but agree too that they would have palm oil/coconut oil free almond butter. I'm allergic to coconut. I also wished they had more dairy free items: coconut yogurt (my girls are allergic to dairy, but can have coconut), dairy free butter sticks and spread, buckwheat flour, more gluten free items, more organic meat, lunchmeat, cheese (my husband and boys can have dairy), produce, etc. But at least it's a start... I also wish they had more natural organic health and beauty, home items, etc.
Can you bring back fit n active juices with low sugar. It was great
Bay Leafs would be nice.
Bags of ice
Amen! Throw them in the existing freezers, no need for special equipment.
The reason why ALDI is so affordable , is because they carry the "basics" and not all of the odds and ends that Major Super Markets carry ... Driving up their prices and causing them to raise their prices on the everyday "basics"
I am VERY content with all that they have to offer . And just make a trip to another store to get what ALDI does not offer. In my opinion there is not better place to get the amount of food at the prices that ALDI offers .
It is a pain when you are in a rush and they don't have what you need . It just happened to me today at ALDI with corn starch .
Shaved parmesan cheese. They have the shredded all the time in the plastic tub, but the shaved is not available anymore.
I just picked up my Stella shaved parm from Jewel tonight, coincidentally 🙂
An aside- I'm thrilled that Aldi now carries baby stuff. Their formula is great (and half price of Enfamil at Jewel, and I don't have to use checks and coupons), and their diapers work for day time diapering for my kids. The oatmeal and rice cereals are well priced around $2 each for the small containers.
Do they carry canned coconut milk similar to Thai Kitchen? I use that a lot. I was thrilled to see the organic apple cider vinegar at my store, and also organic coconut oil.
I agree with Ed's comment. Once they start adding all of that other stuff then they're turning into another store. Realize that there is only so much store shelf they have. I think that that is the reason why they carry the special stuff occasionally and put it in the inside aisles when they get it because they can't store it anywhere else in the place (the "all-the-time" items are using up the other space). They still offer the other items, yes, and that's good, but the space limitations are there.
Also - if Aldi's can - at least in the summer time - offer bags of ice (like Catherine F said), but they would have to figure out what other item to eliminate or rotate with if they did because, again, of limited space.
i wish they would carry Taco Sauce on a regular basis. It is terrible I have to go to a different store just for that ( because they carry everything else I need for a Taco fiesta)
I wish they would carry the smoked salmon all the time. Not just November and December. Also our family really likes the Priano garlic and onion pasta sauce. It really should be available all the time instead of just during "Italian" special buys. I end up having to buy it by the case so I can make it to the next time they sell it.
Ours in Indiana had smoked Salmon just last week.
I've been looking every time I go in -- not back in my store yet! 🙁
During Italian days Aldi carries a balsamic vinegar that is excellent. It comes in a square bottom bottle and sells out quickly. When I am lucky enough to get it, I buy three bottles. I use it not only in salad dressing, but nixed with honey on Brussel Sprouts.
Being 80 years old .love my brand names ! do not like their generic products .altho produce and some dairy ok .dislike their meats strange taste , maybe from China .Hamburger & pork chops especially . And for inconvenience prices not all that cheap .
I wish they carried organic turmeric and greeting cards ! Turmeric is very good for health and organic would be better ! Goes great in smoothies!
I was just making some granola bars today and deciding how much honey to add to the peanut butter (since it's natural PB you use) and noticed the label on my Jif Natural Creamy PB has sugar plus mainly the exact same things as the regular Jif PB? I found this post about Aldi adding sugar to their almond butter yet not their brand of PB and decided to mention this fact. Or I should have posted this in your new eating plan weekly post about added sugars? Anyway, I was shocked Jif has the same amount of sugar in their natural PB because the last batch of granola bars I made I know I used Kroger brand and it did NOT have the sugar in it! Also, the Kroger brand has the layer of oil on top and Jif did not. I ran out of natural kind and Kroger happens to have theirs on sale this week for $1 a jar plus a digital coupon for $1/2, up to 5 uses online! (alas they were wiped out of Natural PB this morning!
"Natural" is not a regulated term, so you have to watch the natural PB -- some of it has sugar and some does not, and some has those shelf stabilizing oils and some does not. The Smucker's Natural is good as far as national name brands and only contains peanuts and salt. http://www.smuckers.com/products/peanut-butter/natural-peanut-butter/natural-chunky-peanut-butter
For almond butter I've actually been buying the Kirkland brand at Costco; it's pretty good!
If you live near a Food 4 Less, they carry Kroger's brand of natural PB, and often have it on sale for $1.50. It just contains peanuts and salt. Both WF and TJ's also has natural PB, but it is $2.49 at WF, and $2.39 at TJ.
Buttermilk, I make homemade ranch all the time and pancakes etc and either have to go elsewhere or make cheater buttermilk.
Light Italian Salad Dressing
Hot Chocolate envelopes
They are both considered "seasonal"
So I guess I should stock up annually.
Why not use Hershey's cocoa and add the amount of sugar you desire?
I personally like Swiss Miss Simply cocoa a lot better. They put it on sale occasionally in the winter for $1 at Jewel, and it is fairly inexpensive at Target all the time. It does not have a lot of additives.
I would love to see chunky applesauce as a full-time item. The chunky tastes like apples, unlike the other applesauce. And nobody here likes to eat cinnamon applesauce, ever!
I love salmon but will NOT buy it at Aldi's. I think I saw that their garlic bulbs were also from China.
A lot of the garlic at Jewel and Valli produce is from China too. I try to buy it at the farmer's market when it is in season. I just saw some fresh organic garlic at the Evanston market on Saturday. I stock up on lots of garlic when the outdoor market closes the beginning of November, and when that runs out I get my garlic at Whole Foods. They have some organic garlic that comes from California that is usually under $1 for a huge head.
Costco has California garlic too -- the bulbs, the minced in the jar, and big bags of whole cloves.
My local Aldi doesn't carry pizza dough in a can! I've heard it exists though. I can usually supplement most of what I need at my regular (not even Super) Target or my regular grocery store Cub Foods in Minnesota where I buy most of my meat. I like their quality better after trying Aldi brand. We buy the organic beef at Aldi though as it's usually $3/lb less there and the skirt steak too.
Uh? In a can?!? Never heard of a such thing! Cool lol
Rotisserie chicken. Fastest and easiest dinner. Then boil the remainder for a lunch or dinner chicken soup.
They don't have room for a rotisserie in the store.
I miss our aldi carrying the packets of Italian dressing! I relied on those anytime I made a Italian beef sandwiches in the crockpot or pressure cooker! They still have the ranch packets, which are amazing too, but bring back the Italian!
Smoked salmon all year round
Gluten free bagels (theirs are awesome and only a special buy)
Gluten free General Tso's chicken (amazing and doesn't taste frozen)
I wish they'd take away more of the brand name stuff - it's never a good price and often theirs is better, with the exception of Cheerios.
Oh, the smoked salmon is great, I keep looking for it too!
Trader Joe's is supposed to have it all the time.
They do, but it's more expensive there -- and I'm at ALDI more often. 🙂
My Aldi in middle Tennessee carries smoked salmon all the time in the fridge section near the cheese. I too wish they carried salsa verde (I like the Kroger brand.) I also wish they had the sriracha ketchup all the time and not just a special buy. I like that they now have the jarred curry sauces all the time. (Instant pot "curry": Package of boneless skinless chicken thighs trimmed of fat, jar of Jalfrezi sauce, cubed potatoes, baby carrots, frozen peas. Cook on high pressure 6 minutes per pound of chicken, natural release 10 minutes, stir to shred up the chicken a bit and serve over rice.)
I want corn starch as a year round staple. They have many baking staples but this one.
Canned coconut milk!
Would love if Aldi had Tofu! They only have it seasonally during their asian food sales but Ive seen organic tofu at so many aldi stores in the UK and am shocked we havent gotten it yet.