I work in Aldi – the best days to shop and avoid the queues and what to buy to bag the biggest discounts
IT’S recently been named the UK’s cheapest supermarket, so it’s not hard to see why so many of us love shopping at Aldi.
Not only that, but the brand is famed for it’s amazing dupes, from perfumes to cosmetics.
It’s also impossible to not get excited by the special buys middle aisle, which features a whole host of amazingly-priced random and forever changing items.
If you want the low-down on when to pop in and what items you should keep an eye out for the best deals on however, the best person to ask would probably be someone who works there.
Chloe Tyler, 24, has been an Aldi employee for just over eight years, after joining straight from school at the age of 16 in 2014.
Now a deputy manager, she knows exactly when is best to visit to ensure you get the best shopping experience.
She says: “My best tip for shopping in store is that Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the quietest days.
“So, if you can, those are the best days to visit.”
Certain items are drastically reduced at certain times.
Additionally, plenty of own-brand products are a striking match with big name brands – but at just a fraction of the cost.
Chloe says: “I think people would be surprised to know that although our products are cheaper than branded items, some are even better quality.
“It’s all the little things we do, like selling fewer types of the same products, that means Aldi can offer the prices we do.
“If you want to bag even lower prices, items such as bread, meat and produce are marked down by either 30 per cent or 75 per cent as they near the end of their shelf life, so be sure to look out for these in stores too.
“Other cupboard staples such as rice, pasta, cereal, and tinned food may also be marked down by 30 per cent if the packaging is imperfect, with both initiatives offering more affordable prices while cutting back on waste.”
Aldi has its own version of yellow sticker bargains, too.
But in the budget supermarket they’re red, so you need to keep your eyes peeled if you were looking for discounted food labelled up differently.
Even without the heavily discounted items, Aldi was recently named the UK’s cheapest supermarket, according to The Grocer 33.
It’s a weekly comparison and it assesses the price of 33 items across all major supermarkets.
They overtook Lidl with a total cost of £46.78 for its items – £1.12 cheaper than Lidl, which finished second on the list.
Working on the shop floor and responsible for the day to day running of the store, what Chloe doesn’t know probably isn’t worth knowing.
She adds: “[My role] includes anything from ensuring that the shelves are fully stocked and that customers receive great service, to keeping up team morale and making sure all my colleagues are happy and motivated in their roles.
“I always want to make sure customers have a great experience and get everything they need when shopping at Aldi. We will always do what we can, so customers get every single product they came for.
“Working at Aldi is like having a second family and it’s my great colleagues who make coming to work a joy each and every day.”