Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

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Earthmaiden
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by Earthmaiden »

I don't understand why Lidl stores vary so much. Some are bright and filled with interesting things and others are dingy, untidy and have poor stock. I don't think it's all bad management, there are different grades of store for sure but even that doesn't explain why some are downright depressing. I have a fair choice of stores but am always so disappointed if I'm near a bad one when I want something.
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herbidacious
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by herbidacious »

There are opening lots of new shops - I think they are focusing on those rather than doing up older ones.
I realize I rarely go into mine for things I need (just the things I can't get elsewhere) so haven't noticed stocking issues.

Sadly, I really want to go to the newish huge one in Wandsworth/Wimbledon...! I am sure it can be wangled if i can think of an additional incentive for the chauffeur...
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Stokey Sue
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by Stokey Sue »

Yes, since I go to several I’ve noticed that once a store is set up they do a minimum of refitting, those opened since lock down are much nicer than earlier shops, better lit and a slightly different layout. They seem to be slightly smaller than equivalent stores from other chaina and I think they are ruthless about eliminating lines that don’t sell well locally.
Norfolkman
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by Norfolkman »

We had a new Lidl on the outskirts of Downham Market open before Christmas.

One of the things I love about new Lidls is the parking bays. They have a metre wide portion either side of the part marked for the vehicle. So you can easily open the car door without danger of clouting your neighbour. Mind you there's still some plonkers who manage to park over that bit!!

They opened early one Sunday and the trolleys wouldn't run smoothly. I found out that they have electronic locks on one wheel to stop them being nicked and being an early start they had not been switched off that morning.

They have just recently installed electronic gates both in and out which open automatically but can be jammed if someone is trying to go without paying.

Lidl Plus is a good way of getting extra bargains or savings hence I have barely been in Tesco since Lidl opened.

As a bonus the staff are excellent. Friendly and helpful.
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herbidacious
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by herbidacious »

Sainsburys' in London have used those locks on trolley wheels for a long time... as we once discovered. Tottenham, 1998, had just moved there and unaware of the impact of match days. No car, and no taxis were available, so with too much to carry, we thought we might wheel things home (then obviously take it back again).
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herbidacious
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by herbidacious »

So it's Asia week

https://www.lidl.co.uk/c/flavour-of-the ... Sales_Week

I can imagine myself buying all sorts of things for novelty value, but there's a danger they would then sit in the cupboard. (Assuming I could get them in there. A big cull and reorganization is still needed.) If I get to go in the next day or so, there are some more useful things I might let myself have... I do use Thai curry kits... I am not well enough to walk there today though.
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Stokey Sue
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by Stokey Sue »

There are a few things in there that look nice but I don’t really need, like sriracha prawn crackers

Lidl has got a licence to open a bar in one of its Northern Ireland stores (Dundonald County Down)
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herbidacious
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by herbidacious »

They do sound nice, Sue. I guess may or may not be suitable for me.

A Lidl bar...!?!
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Earthmaiden
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by Earthmaiden »

Why does Wetherspoons spring to mind?
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herbidacious
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by herbidacious »

Why did EasyBar never happen?!?

(Mind you they could rename and all who 'sail' in it, Gatwick Airport, EasyAirport. But then what would you call Luton?!?)

Apparently EasyPizza existed briefly.
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Stokey Sue
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by Stokey Sue »

Well I went to Lidl, because it was a nice daay and I could walk via 3 parks

There were quite a lot of bits of Asian food, but it didn't hit you in the eye, lots of noodles of one kind and another, some frozen things including bao buns and dim sum, quite a lot of snacks.

The prawn crackers are proper Kroepoek (the Dutch/Indonesian name for prawn crackers/shrimp chip) containing 11.4% actual prawn, distributed by a Dutch firm but I can't see where they are made. They are just right, the first one I thought was a bit lacking in chilli, but by the 4th it becomes noticeable :D

I also git some frozen dime sum
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herbidacious
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by herbidacious »

T took me to the bigger (brighter, well laid out, more spacious. just all round better!) Lidl last night and a large bag of stuff was purchased, quite a bit of it from the Asia week.
We know how to live it up on a Thursday night... Actually he just walked around shadowing me while on his phone... You'd think we were womens' clothes shopping :)
They had a lot of vegan faux meat and fish options, I noticed. I am trying to avoid these somewhat. (Says she who will be having vegan tuna mayo and sweetcorn for lunch.)

They had a good stock of Coffee Mate (yeah. I know... but I don't want to drink coffee black and I don't like it with milk and can't be having cream all the time...) which is so hard to find in these parts now.

So primarily it was a shop of things I can't get elsewhere.

Also bought that double headed wood burner/poêle fan. Annoyed we can't get the really expensive one to work.
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Sloe-Gin
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by Sloe-Gin »

I like the shallots in Aldi. And the tins of cherry tomatoes.
Next week's falvout of the week in Lidl is the USA. It always come up Trumps :thumbsdown
KeenCook
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by KeenCook »

Grrrrr
KeenCook
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by KeenCook »

Pretty rubbish food, too, for the most part!
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herbidacious
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by herbidacious »

Yes, it's usually not a good advert for American food...

But I suppose a lot of the Asian week stuff is very junky too.
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Stokey Sue
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by Stokey Sue »

Sunflower was very scathing of Asian week - and that was in the days when it seemed to be more about cooking - little packets of dried fungus etc,
But then the new big thing in Beijing street food 16 years ago was stalls that poured boiling water into instant noodles for you, so they are in some way "authentic"
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herbidacious
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by herbidacious »

Lidl alert: Alps week from next Thursday. Now this probably comes in at no.2 after Italian week for preferred Lidl weeks for me, even though they tend to sneak meat into things.

They have a frozen cheesy spaetzle ready meal...

I think I shall be asking T to take me to the big(ger) Lidl for this.

I do wish they would bring back the frozen Flammekeuche which was surprisingly nice. I suppose that must have been part of Belgium/Netherlands week.
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Sloe-Gin
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by Sloe-Gin »

I liked that too, herbi. They have some interesting things.
mistakened
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Re: Aldi/Lidl specials - recommendations

Post by mistakened »

It is Alpine week in Cyprus starting on Thursday,
herbidacious wrote: Thu Feb 06, 2025 11:13 am They have a frozen cheesy spaetzle ready meal.
No cheesy spaetzli but a lot of sausages!
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