4 ms·

IMO, what Aldi succeeds in is doing more with less. Aldi's aisles, stores, and product ranges are smaller compared to big grocery stores. However, Aldi leverage

IMO, what Aldi succeeds in is doing more with less. Aldi's aisles, stores, and product ranges are smaller compared to big grocery stores. However, Aldi leverages a 'curated assortment' of products to offer good quality items at a lower price than other grocery stores. There's also 1 "Aldi Finds" aisle in the stores which seems like it's to beta test potential items or offer short-term deals on limited items (? - just my guess). The German discount grocery chains are really taking off in the US with Aldi and Lidl. I would like Rewe to come to the US next.

sofaofthedamned 7y ago
The 'curated assortment' bit is interesting. If I go into my local Tesco, which isn't a huge ones, they've got about 15 types of coleslaw. The Lidl has 2. But they're nice ones. The cheapest is not awful, like the cheap Tesco one. The most expensive isn't ridiculously priced, but it is superb. Baked beans - one type at Lidl, their own brand, but it's nicer than Heinz these days. The dishwasher tablets are half the price of the branded ones but better in my dishwasher. I honestly love both Aldi and Lidl. They do have their gaps (you need to do ~10% of your shop in Tesco for these) but for the rest...
- noir_lord 7y ago
  I was happy when they opened a lidl half way between my home and the local massive asda, I can go get the few bits I need from ASDA then hit lidl on the way back for the majority. LIDL's meat is amazing compared to asda's and they get a lot of cheese and stuff off the continent making it excellent quality for less than ASDA sells a block of bright orange 'Red Leicester'.
- dingaling 7y ago
  Lidl do have some shortcomings. Other than a couple of wobbly bicycle racks out the front of the local store, Lidl UK are entirely car-orientated, in every aspect from location of the store to making pedestrians walk through the car park without pavements. That surprised me for a European chain. My other main gripe with Lidl is that they don't do home delivery. I'm not going to walk 25 minutes to their store, dice with cars and then haul groceries home when Tesco will bring shopping into my kitchen for £4.
greggeter 7y ago
I was about to post this exact sentiment. Great companies in the future will curate products, experiences, processes, providing less choice and convincing the user they don't need more.
tannhaeuser 7y ago
Maybe Tchibo and German whole-foods chains will be more novel in the US (but I don't know really). Tchibo is originally a coffee company focussing on quality and price (with whole-beans-grinding at the store) but they've long expanded into selling all kinds of clothing and home/gardening stuff. They're fanatic, too - their slogan has been "every week a new world", and they'd decorate their small shops anew every week.

sofaofthedamned 7y ago

The 'curated assortment' bit is interesting. If I go into my local Tesco, which isn't a huge ones, they've got about 15 types of coleslaw. The Lidl has 2. But they're nice ones. The cheapest is not awful, like the cheap Tesco one. The most expensive isn't ridiculously priced, but it is superb. Baked beans - one type at Lidl, their own brand, but it's nicer than Heinz these days. The dishwasher tablets are half the price of the branded ones but better in my dishwasher. I honestly love both Aldi and Lidl. They do have their gaps (you need to do ~10% of your shop in Tesco for these) but for the rest...

noir_lord 7y ago
I was happy when they opened a lidl half way between my home and the local massive asda, I can go get the few bits I need from ASDA then hit lidl on the way back for the majority. LIDL's meat is amazing compared to asda's and they get a lot of cheese and stuff off the continent making it excellent quality for less than ASDA sells a block of bright orange 'Red Leicester'.
dingaling 7y ago
Lidl do have some shortcomings. Other than a couple of wobbly bicycle racks out the front of the local store, Lidl UK are entirely car-orientated, in every aspect from location of the store to making pedestrians walk through the car park without pavements. That surprised me for a European chain. My other main gripe with Lidl is that they don't do home delivery. I'm not going to walk 25 minutes to their store, dice with cars and then haul groceries home when Tesco will bring shopping into my kitchen for £4.

greggeter 7y ago

I was about to post this exact sentiment. Great companies in the future will curate products, experiences, processes, providing less choice and convincing the user they don't need more.

tannhaeuser 7y ago

Maybe Tchibo and German whole-foods chains will be more novel in the US (but I don't know really). Tchibo is originally a coffee company focussing on quality and price (with whole-beans-grinding at the store) but they've long expanded into selling all kinds of clothing and home/gardening stuff. They're fanatic, too - their slogan has been "every week a new world", and they'd decorate their small shops anew every week.