This is a sponsored post as part of the ALDI Brand Ambassador Program, but all opinions expressed are my own.
For those of you outside California, you know ALDI, the grocery store. I had heard of ALDI from my days on the East Coast, but we don’t have any in the Golden State… at least, not yet. That’s right. They are expanding and coming to the West Coast. WHOOOT!
I was a single mom for 5 1/2 years before I met Christopher. I know a thing or two about stretching a dollar. Si te gusta ahorrar tus centavos, if you like to save your pennies, ALDI is your store. I recently visited an ALDI with other cool food bloggers and saw some crazy, awesome super savings. I’m talking mega, MEGA savings! Let me give you some examples …
33 cents for tortillas. My fellow Mexicanos will agree that that’s just dirt cheap. I’m thinking tacos and chilaquiles. Or just with some frijoles de la olla. Yum!
Prosciutto for $2.99. Seriously, people, I’m totally blown away by these prices. I think I paid $7.99 at my local grocery store the other day.
I’m guilty of keeping spices way too long in the cupboard. Spices can be expensive, and sometimes, I just use a pinch of this or a teaspoon of that. At 99 cents for spices, I could throw things away and not feel badly about it.
They also sell other stuff like plastic containers, laundry baskets, and seasonal items. They even have stuff for the garden. I’m growing tomatoes this year. Cross your fingers, light a candle, and rub a belly for me. I’m hoping the bugs won’t get to them before I do.
For all the wine lovers, ALDI gets their wine from winemakers all over the world. At $6.99 for a bottle of sangria, that’s an excellent savings for your next party or late nights in front of the TV in yoga pants. It’s a mom thing… Lol.
So how do they get the prices so cheap? For one, they have their own private label brands that are similar to the leading brands even organic and gluten-free products too. Each of the packages have these extremely long barcodes to make checkout super duper fast. Also, they cross train all their employees. Everyone can do other jobs, not just stock stuff.
That’s another way they save money. Do you see these boxes? They are placed on the shelf in the original shipping box. Open up the top and ready to be bought. There is no extra time stocking. There is no need to pay someone to re-stock products.
Oh, and if you’re visiting ALDI, you have to bring a quarter for the shopping cart. There is no one to retrieve the carts from the far side of the parking lot. You insert the quarter to get the cart, and you get your quarter back when you return it. Now that’s BRILLIANT!
ALDI truths. These are hanging all over the store. The ALDI truth #60: “We make delicious cost a lot less.” After visiting ALDI, I know this to be true.
Vas ahorrar mucho dinero con ALDI. You’re going to save a lot of money with ALDI…. once they get to California. More on my visit to come…
Elena Sullivan says
May 15, 2015 at 9:09 amWhen my husband and I were 23 and poor as church mice, we got our first apartment together in Chicago. On our first day there he went to Aldi with $20 in his pocket and came home with a ton of groceries. (It was 1993, mind you.) He was so proud of himself and I will forever associate Aldi with that day 🙂
Maggie Unzueta says
May 15, 2015 at 9:21 amI love that story!
San Diego Momma says
May 15, 2015 at 9:24 amI totally remember ALDI from my Chicago days! When are they opening in CA? Where will it be?
Maggie Unzueta says
May 25, 2015 at 5:18 pmI don’t know the dates exactly, but I hope sooner than later. 🙂
Ally's Sweet & Savory Eats says
May 15, 2015 at 10:46 amGreat post Maggie! Was wonderful meeting you on this trip. Can’t wait for an ALDI to come near you soon!
Maggie Unzueta says
May 25, 2015 at 5:17 pmIt was great meeting you too, Ally. And yes, I can’t wait for ALDI to arrive on the West Coast.