ALDI is a family owned German grocery chain that is FINALLY making its way to Lafayette, LA! Known for selling quality items at discounted (cheap) prices they sell a large array of items – anything from fresh produce, frozen and shelf stable groceries, cleaning and bathroom supplies, baby products, pet supplies, clothes and furniture. The first store front in Lafayette is opening on February 10th at 4518 Ambassador Caffery Parkway in the Caffery Center shopping plaza. Two additional store fronts are in the works to open at later dates as well. If you’ve never been to an ALDI before, here are some things to look forward to!
Fresh Produce
The majority of the produce at Aldi is prepackaged which saves you time and the hassle of finding the rolls of plastic produce bagging stations. Also makes me feel like the food is slightly cleaner with fewer hands touching the actual food. For example, there are generally three bell peppers pre-wrapped sold as a unit price. This also reduces the time at the checkout counter because items do not have to be weighed. Several of these items are also organic selections at reasonable prices.
Gluten-Free and Keto Options
Aldi has a large selection of gluten-free products ranging from pastries to snacks to frozen items. The store carries several Fit & Active brand items to support a keto or high protein lifestyle. Walking down the pantry or snack aisle, several brands market their cookies, granola bars, ice cream, or chips as being Keto friendly.
Majority Store Brand Items
Another cost saving option is the Aldi brand of products. Oftentimes, these will be the only option available, such as in the canned goods section. By offering fewer selections of a particular item, the store can cut back on its footprint and deliver even lower prices to the consumer.
Aldi Finds
This section of the store is known as the rotating seasonal section that contains items “hot buy” items. If you see an item you like, buy it now. If you wait until tomorrow, it may not be there anymore. Items I’ve purchased here are things like German food during the Oktoberfest celebration and heart shaped pasta for Valentine’s Day (and yes, I packed this in my suitcase during a recent trip to Florida). I’ve also purchased children’s toys in this area before.
Be aware that one of the ways Aldi is able to provide these low-priced items is by reducing their costs. The grocery chain achieves this by NOT providing bags at the checkout, so make sure to bring your own bags to bag your groceries or load / unload them individually into your car. The cashiers are incredibly fast at their job so there is no time to bag while they scan. Finally, Aldi supplies grocery carts that are chained to one another. In order to get a shopping cart, you must deposit a quarter into the slot, which will unlock the chain. At the end of your shopping trip, return your cart to the cart corral and reinsert the chain to get your quarter back. This cuts down Aldi’s costs by not having to hire a cart crew.
