The Brand Name Girl Discovers Aldi

Remember my post about brand name snobs? Well, I think I am a recovering brand name snob.
Truthfully, there are a few I refuse to give up. Among those are Bounty Towels, Welch's Grape Jelly Horizon Organic Milk and of course, Diet Coke.

Aldi has been around for a while. I knew about it, I even went in a time or two. Daddy and Florence have shopped there on a regular basis for years, Ragan has discovered an all new love of cooking that Aldi fits into nicely. I held out thinking Aldi was something like Go Grocery. I truly dislike Go Grocery, it is dirty and smelly. Unlike Go Grocery Aldi primarily stocks their own brands.

I reluctantly decided to do some research and see what Aldi was all about. I quickly discovered that Aldi and Trader Joe's are owned by the same company. Hummmmmmm, I love Trader Joe's. I stock up every time we visit Lacy and Bashar. Next I found a site that reviewed Aldi products.
I made some notes and took off to Aldi.

First, you need a quarter. You put your quarter in the buggy to release it. When you return it you get your quarter back. OK, that works for me. No loose buggies dinging my car.
The store is small, no frills but very clean.

Some of the items I purchased are:

Fresh Sweet Corn - 4 ears $1.49
Fresh Pineapple $1.49
Deli Style Sliced Swiss Cheese $1.99
8 oz. Whipped Cream Cheese $1.29
64 oz. 100% White Grape Juice $2.29
100 oz. HE Laundry Detergent $6.99
6 oz. Tomato Paste $ .39
8 oz Tomato Sauce $ .25
Limes (6) $ .99
4 oz. Sliced Mushrooms $ .55
Roasted Vegetable Crackers $1.69
Onion Soup Mix $ .69
24 oz. Salsa $1.49
Lemons (6) $1.49
Envelope Taco Seasoning $ .33
Avocados $ .99

These are the items that I have tried so far. I would purchase every single one again. In fact, I would go so far as to say some are actually better than the name brand.
The fresh corn was the very best we have had all year.
There are a few brand names available also.

You will need to either bring bags or purchase them there. Large plastic bags are ten cents and paper bags are six cents.

All of our surrounding towns have Aldi, Asheville has two, Morganton, Lenior and Forest City have one each. Hopefully, Marion will have one soon.

Let us know if you are an Aldi devotee. What do you buy? What will you not buy again?

So, until tomorrow...............
S~~~