Everyone enjoys finding bargains at the grocery store and especially when you can save while still buying high-quality items.
The budget supermarkets like Lidl and Aldi usually carry the same brand names as upscale stores, but for a lesser cost.
There is no one who would like to pay more for the same item, which may be the reason Lidl is still the holder of the UK’s most rapidly growing retailer.
There are over 690 Lidl stores across the UK and in 2022 it was named the seventh-largest supermarket according to market share, surpassing Waitrose.
The company announced recently that it was looking to set up Lidl locations within Cambridge, Ely, St Ives, Newmarket and other cities and towns within the area.
Find out 17 reasons that we are awed by Lidl and how to get the most from your shopping budget.
1.) The size of stores is small.
Many of the biggest supermarkets have huge superstores, where you can be sure you’ll require an enormous trolley when you wander through the aisles in search of what you’re looking for and then being enticed by items you don’t actually want or need.
However, they are they are not Lidl. The stores are small with between 14,000 and 26,500 sq ft . Tesco has hundreds of stores with more than 80,000 sq feet.
This is a great way of reducing the amount of amount of time you are spending in the room and also the amount you pay for.
Who would want to take hours on an extended trip in an aisle of a grocery store? On the other hand smaller stores often result in smaller parking spaces however, we’ve never heard complaints about parking issues.
2.) Every store has an on-site bakery
The first day of January, 2012 Lidl introduced bakeries in store in its supermarkets across Europe. The breads and pastries are displayed in the front, in baskets waiting for you to grab (use tongs!) and place in bags.
Lidl’s move Lidl will be a welcomed break from the traditional idea that budget stores are nothing more than warehouses that are shipping with crates of cheap items.
We saw croissants at 35p, rolls for just 15p Apple turnovers at 59p as well as scones at 29p. white bloomer loaves on £1.
3) They don’t make hand-held baskets any longer
The majority of supermarkets provide you the choice of purchasing a large trolley for your daily shopping or a basket for when you’re simply doing a quick topping-up shopping.
Lidl has regular trolleys however the only option is now large trolley baskets that include handles and wheels, that allow you to move around the aisles like you do using a suitcase at the airport.
It certainly stops your arms hurting from carrying an entire basket, but the baskets that you pull-along are huge and deep, so it appears like a clever method of entice customers to spend more. Make sure you stick to your shopping list.
4.) The prices can turn out to be extremely affordable
About 90 percent of the items sold by Lidl are private label brands specially created for the business.
This means Lidl is able to control the manufacturing cost and reduce the costs of supply, meaning it will charge less, and still earn more than big-name brands.
We found, for instance, W5 dishwasher tablet priced at £2.95 for a set of 60. They were discounted to £1.99 at a recently held discount event on the weekend. It’s a lot cheaper than £7 on 60 tablets from Tesco’s own brand, and £7 to buy 60 tablet produced by Finish.
You will see some brands that are well-known in the stores and Lidl has experienced the highest rise in the sales of these items – thanks to deals like the very first Big 99p sale that brought top brands such as Walkers, Cadbury, Uncle Bens, Heinz and HP available for sale at this price.
It seems like Lidl has shifted its focus to be more upscale, while maintaining its initial goal to be a discount shop.
5) The brands that own their own labels have been awarded prizes
Annual awards for taste tests held through The Grocer compare big makes with their own-brand items from Lidl and other retailers.
The 2017 Awards for Lidl brands included products as pulled pork, slow-cooked lamb, piri-piri chicken, cheesesand fishcakes truffles, cookies cider from apples, salmon smoked, and popcorn.
Food labels that contain brands you’ve never heard about doesn’t necessarily mean food that is unpalatable to the trash.
The awards also went to items made by The Co-op, Aldi, M&S, Morrisons, Asda, Iceland and Tesco and it’s evident that all supermarkets are increasing their offerings by introducing own-label items that are no longer just subpar imitations.
If the flavor is delicious and the cost is reasonable then it must be worth a shot.
6) The products are displayed in their original boxes
The majority of the items that are sold at Lidl are displayed in the containers they were delivered in. This means it’s much more convenient to replenish and doesn’t require more staff members to move things onto shelving.
The downside is that this can make the stores appear basic and look a little like a warehouse. You can decide if you’d like your shopping trip to be an eye-catching or if you are content to pick up what you need and move onto another item your list.
7) But beware of the labelling
Similar to Aldi Similar to Aldi, Lidl prices are displayed on the shelves over, not directly below the item as is typical in supermarkets.
Don’t be caught off guard. It’s often not clear which price applies to what item, particularly in an area where the exact sort of item is shown.
In the image above the wholemeal bread isn’t priced at 45p, despite the price label displayed next to it. It’s actually 79p, and the label is displayed above.
8) It’s the best for flowers that are fresh
Lidl was awarded the Fresh Flower Retailer of the Year at the Retail Industry Awards 2017.
Although the variety will depend upon the dimensions of the shop There are some great value flowers available. For example, the Valentine’s Day roses are a excellent illustration. There are plenty of pot plants , too.
As with the bakery that is in the store it is yet another sign of Lidl offering something more expensive to compete with the products of the major supermarkets.
9.) There are a lot of limited-time discounts
Aldi is famous for its attractive Special Buys aisles. At Lidl there are many comparable sections labeled With Stocks Until Last, often using an orange label.
You can find shoes, clothing kitchen appliances fitness equipment, and a lot more, but with limited availability , and in many ways, it’s similar to Aldi products.
The Vileda robotic duster (£19.99) was a hit with us and is a great choice for those who would like to lounge on their couch as a machine moves around the room, doing housework.
10) These deals include discounts on food items too.
Aldi’s Special Offers do include some food items – there are containers of cooking sauces however, the majority of it is clothing and household items.
Lidl however, offers lots of food items within it’s While Stocks Last sections, including cheese, gammon smoking salmon, juice from fruit pasta, and sausages when we last visited.
These deals are generally located that are at the very side of the store, but it is worth checking at the aisles first to determine if something you’re looking for is available at a bargain price.
In one instance, we purchased a few cleaning supplies from the usual displays but were surprised to see even more affordable versions in the special-offer sections, so we had to take the rest back.
11.) It is stored stored in special glass cabinets.
You won’t need to do any hunting in the chilled areas around the perimeter of the store.
The majority portions of meat are displayed inside glass cabinets. The meat is displayed with red on one side, and white meat to the side.
It’s all quite neat and makes it simpler to find the items you’re looking for than other stores.
12.) You can also get luxurious products
If you’d like to make it appear as if that you’re in M&S or Waitrose for a moment and include some fancy food to your cart, take a look at the Deluxe collection, like wild mushroom, chicken and Tarragon pizzas.
The chicken pies that are available in the regular variety are just as delicious and it’s interesting to know what the different Deluxe products actually tasted. It’s a good bet that it’s not just fancy packaging that you’re paying for. Have you compared? If yes, let us know.
Visit this website when looking for Lidl opening times.
13) and there are healthy foods , too.
Health and alternative foods are available in Lidl stores, but they’re not abundant or readily available. There is no dedicated “Free From’ section and you’ll have to search while you shop.
There was a small selection of soya beverage. The cartons cost 59p similar to the drink sold by Aldi (who also have almond drinks as well).
In the past, low-cost soya milks were dripping and disgusting, but now they’re perfectly fine and Tesco has an Everyday Value Soya at the same price of 59p.
For those who are vegetarians, there’s a vegetarian range that is meat-free, including cauliflower burgers.
We also found a few smoothie kits that are in the freezers, stuffed with superfoods, like gojiberries and flax seeds that will provide energy and vitality.
14.) Breakfast is inexpensive and also
The frantic pace of modern life usually calls for quick breakfasts or at the very the very least one that is quickly prepared.
Porridge pots are an excellent alternative – simply fill them with hot water, then ready to go. Aldi has Harvest Morn pots for just 35p in golden and original syrup varieties, and at Lidl we came across the Oatlicious brand for 39p. Both have the same flavors, with the blueberry and apple varieties that cost a little more at 45p.
For a better price purchase boxes that include oatmeal packets that are handy portion sizes for meals (89p for Lidl’s 8-sachet box with blueberry and apple flavours as compared to that of Tesco’s 10-sachet box priced at £1). You’ll also require milk and microwave.
The best value (but not as practical as kitchen sachets and pots) is an oats bag that is loose that cost £1.49 for the 750g. You only need to measure your own portions every day. As a comparison the oat Sachets from Lidl weighs 288g.
Whatever you pick It’s an excellent price. It’s Quaker’s Oat So Simple porridge pots in other supermarkets are priced at £1.
15) Toiletries may seem a bit to be a bit limited
Another thing that is similar with Aldi is the tiny area of toiletries that is located situated at the end of one side of the aisle. Do not expect anything extraordinary here.
It’s a good choice for daily needs, including toothbrushes, toothpaste deodorant, shower gel, and other bathroom necessities.
16) However, there are some incredible bargains available
We did find some great deals in the bathroom department. Blades to replace your razor can be expensive however, we came across packs from Cien (a Lidl own-brand) comprising a razor and 25 blades for £3.69.
Supplements can be quite cheap If you’re an avid fan of vitamins. Produced by Minavit the majority cost 99p, but some were 75p, and a handful (omega 3 chewable vitamin C chewable) priced at £1.29 as well as the glucosamine supplement at £1.99.
Aldi offers a similar range that is produced by Activ-Max. They can be a lower cost option than the dedicated health stores.
17) There’s also an online photo service.
Lidl did not simply expand into a bakery of its own. It introduced Lidl Movies in 2009 and it was the most affordable online DVD rental company, however tragically, it was liquidated two years after.
Another benefit is Lidl Photos, a photo-sharing service online that was launched in August 2013. Lidl Photos offers prints, photo albums and the ability to display your images on cushions, mugs, shower curtains, and T-shirts.