Everyone enjoys finding bargains at the grocery store particularly when you can cut costs and buy top-quality food items.
The budget supermarkets like Lidl and Aldi typically carry the same brand names as upscale stores, however at a cheaper cost.
There is no one who would like to pay more for the same item, which may be the reason why 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, beating Waitrose.
The company recently announced that it was planning to open Lidl locations located in Cambridge, Ely, St Ives, Newmarket and other cities and towns within the area.
Find out 17 reasons we love Lidl and how to get the most from your money-saving shopping.
1.) The size of stores is small.
A lot of the major grocery retailers have massive superstores, where you can be sure that you’ll need an enormous trolley when you wander through the aisles searching for the things you’re looking for – and being enticed by things you don’t actually want or need.
However, they are it’s not Lidl. Their stores are tiny with between 14,000 and 26,500 square feet – while Tesco has numerous sites with more than 80,000 sq feet.
It’s a way of reducing the amount of amount of time you are spending in the room and also the amount you pay for.
In the end, who would like to commit hours to an extended trip in the supermarket? On the flip side smaller stores often be smaller car parks and parking spaces, however we’ve not heard any complaints about parking issues. Find Lidl opening times here..
2.) Every store has an on-site bakery
On January 1, 2012 Lidl opened bakeries inside stores in its supermarkets across Europe. The breads and pastries are displayed in the front, in baskets waiting that you can grab (use tongs!) and then put into a bag.
Lidl’s move Lidl will be a welcomed break from the commonly held idea that budget stores are just warehouses that ship packed with cheap goods.
We saw croissants at 35p, rolls for just 15p and apple turnovers for 59p as well as scones at 29p. white bloomer loaves that were sold on £1.
3) They don’t make hand-held baskets anymore
Many supermarkets have you the choice of purchasing a larger trolley to carry your shopping or a basket if looking to do a quick top-up shopping.
Lidl has trolleys that are regular however the only option is now large trolley baskets that come with handles and wheels that allow you to move around the shop like you would carrying a suitcase to the airport.
It certainly stops your arms pain from carrying the full basket. However, the baskets that you pull-along are huge and deep. It appears like a clever method of entice the customer to spend more. Make sure you stick to your shopping list.
4.) Costs can vary but can also be shockingly affordable
About 90 percent of the items sold by Lidl are brand-names that are specifically designed for the company.
This means Lidl is able to control the manufacturing cost and reduce cost of supplies, which means it is able to charge less but still earn more than big-name brands.
For instance, we spotted W5 dishwasher tablets for sale at £2.95 for a set of 60. They were discounted to £1.99 during a weekend-long discount sale. This is in contrast to £7 on 60 tablets from Tesco’s own brand as well as £7 to buy 60 tablet produced by Finish.
You will discover some well-known brands available on the shelves. Lidl has seen the highest rise in sales of these brand products – due in part to deals like the very first Big 99p sale that brought big brands like Walkers, Cadbury, Uncle Bens, Heinz and HP offered at that price.
It appears that Lidl has shifted its attention to appear more expensive, but maintaining its initial goal to be a discount shop.
5) The brands that own their own labels have been recognized with prizes
Annual awards for taste tests held through The Grocer compare big makes with products made by own-brand brands from Lidl and other supermarkets.
The 2017 Awards for Lidl brands included products as pulled pork, slow-cooked lamb, piri-piri chicken, cheesesand fishcakes truffles, cookies smoke salmon, apple juice, and popcorn.
So , food labels with names that you’ve never heard of don’t necessarily mean that food items are unpalatable and destined to the trash.
Awards were also given to products that are from The Co-op, Aldi, M&S, Morrisons, Asda, Iceland and Tesco and it’s evident that all supermarkets are increasing their offerings with their own brand products that aren’t just cheap imitations.
If the flavor is delicious and the cost is reasonable then it must be worth trying.
6) The products are displayed in their original boxes
The majority of the items available 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 products onto shelves.
So the down side is that it makes stores appear basic and look a little like a warehouse. It depends on whether you’re looking for your weekly shopping to be an eye-catching experience or you’re happy to buy what you need and then move on to your next thing on your list.
7) But beware of the labelling
Like Aldi Similar to Aldi, Lidl cost labels can be found located on the shelves over, not directly below the item as is typical in supermarkets.
Don’t be caught off guard. It’s not always clear which price applies to what item, particularly in an area where the same type of product is shown.
In the above image the bread that is wholemeal isn’t priced at 45p, despite the price label that is next to it. It’s actually 79p, and the label is positioned high 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 in the space of the shop There are some great value flowers available. For example, the Valentine’s Day roses are a great illustration. There are a lot of pot plants , too.
Similar to the bakery in-store it is yet another sign of Lidl offering something higher-end to compete with the products of the major supermarkets.
9.) There are many limited-time deals
Aldi is famous for its appealing Special Buys aisles. At Lidl there are numerous similar sections that are marked When Stocks Last, typically using an orange label.
You can find shoes, clothing and kitchen gadgets fitness equipment, and much more, with a restricted availability and in many ways, it’s similar to Aldi products.
The Vileda robotic duster (£19.99) attracted our attention and could be a good choice for people who like to sit on their couch as a machine moves around the room, doing housework.
10) They also offer deals on food items too.
Aldi’s Special Purchases do contain some food items – there are the jars of cooking sauces but the bulk of it is clothes and household items.
Lidl however, offers plenty of food items available inside the While Stocks Last sections, such as cheese, gammon, the smoked salmon, fruit juice pasta and sausages, when we last visited.
These offers are generally located towards the side of the store, but it could be worthwhile looking for them first to determine if something that you want to buy is available for sale.
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.) Meat is kept stored in special glass cabinets.
You won’t need to do much hunting for meat in the chilled areas around the perimeter of the store.
The majority all of it is displayed on glass cabinets, which have red meat on one side, and white meat to the side.
It’s very attractive and makes it simpler to find the items you’re looking for than other stores.
12.) You can purchase more expensive products
If you’d like to make it appear as if that you’re in M&S or Waitrose for a minute and also add some more expensive food to your cart, take a look at the Deluxe range , such as wild mushroom, chicken, and tartargon pizzas.
The normal chicken pies are just as delicious and it’s interesting to know the difference in how the Deluxe items actually tasted. It’s a good bet that it’s not just fancy packaging that you’re paying for. Have you made a comparison? If yes, let us know.
13) There are also health food items too.
Health and alternative foods are available in Lidl stores, but they’re not widely available or easily accessible. There’s no ‘Free From’ section, so you’ll need to look around when you shop.
We found a tiny display of soya drinks. The cartons cost 59p which is the same price as the drink sold by Aldi (who also sell almond drinks as well).
In the past, low-cost soya milks were dripping and terrible, but today they’re perfectly fine and Tesco offers 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 goji berries, and flax seeds that will boost your energy levels and increase your vitality.
14.) Breakfast is inexpensive and also
The fast-paced pace of modern life usually requires grabbing a quick breakfast or at the very least one that is quickly prepared.
Porridge pots are an excellent option . Just put in hot water, and then you’re ready to go. Aldi offers Harvest Morn pots for just 35p for the golden and original syrup varieties, and at Lidl we came across the Oatlicious brand for 39p. Both have the same flavors. There’s also an apple and blueberry version that cost a little more at 45p.
For a better price buy the boxes that contain Oats packets in convenient portions for meals (89p for Lidl’s 8-sachet box with blueberry and apple flavours in comparison to the Tesco box with 10 sachets to £1). Also, you’ll need milk and microwave.
The most affordable of all (but not as practical as containers or sachets) is the loose oats that cost £1.49 for 500g. It’s all you have to do is measure your own portions every day. To give you an example the oat Sachets from Lidl weighs 288g.
Whatever you pick It’s an excellent value for money. The Quaker’s Oat So Simple porridge pots at other supermarkets cost around £1.
15) Toiletries could be a little to be a bit limited
Another thing that’s similar with Aldi is the tiny section of toiletries situated at the end of one side of the aisle. Don’t expect much here.
However, it is perfectly sufficient to meet the needs of everyday life, such as toothbrushes, toothpaste deodorant, shower gel and other bathroom needs.
16) There are some fantastic bargains available
We did come across some genuine savings in the cosmetics aisle. Blades to replace your razor are expensive, however, we came across packs from Cien (a Lidl own-brand) comprising a razor and 25 blades at £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. There are also a few (omega 3 chewable vitamin C chewable) priced at £1.29 as well as the glucosamine supplement at £1.99.
Aldi has a similar selection that is produced by Activ-Max. These are a less expensive option than those at specialist health stores.
17) There’s also an online photo service.
Lidl did not just expand into a bakery of its own. It also launched Lidl Movies in 2009 and it was the most affordable online DVD rental company, however unfortunately, it went into liquidation two years after.
Another benefit is Lidl Photos, an online photo service 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.