Aldi is well-known for its straightforward approach, low prices and high-quality products.
The middle aisle is filled with a diverse range of incredibly cheap and highly desirable items, from advanced tin openers to leaf blowers - It's the kind of store where you might pop in for tea bags and walk out with a kayak.
Former Aldi employee Emily Carubia has revealed a list of 14 things that the casual shopper may not know about the budget supermarket, including when to find the best discounts and Special Buys and how to pack your bag as the cashiers speed through your shop.
Discounts
All perishable food products nearing their sell-by date get reduced throughout the day, up to 75% off. These include bread, meat, and produce, while imperfectly packaged items like rice, cereal, and tinned food are discounted by 30%.
The best time for reduced items is usually towards the end of the day, but you might find some before then, too. Keep an eye out for the red stickers, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Unlike other supermarkets, however, Aldi doesn't gather its red sticker items together, so you'll need to keep your eyes peeled for offers scattered around the store.
Too Good To Go
What happens to all the reduced items that don't sell?
Aldi offers a scheme called Too Good to Go - if a food item is nearing its sell-by date and hasn't been bought, it will be scooped up and put into a box full of food items with a value of no less than £10, but you can get it for £3.30. It's an excellent way to help prevent food wastage and get loads of great food for your money.
Specialbuys
The best time to grab Specialbuys is right when the store opens at 8am. Due to their limited availability, it's crucial to be prompt to avoid missing out.
Aldi offers two days of Specialbuys: Thursday and Sunday. The colour of the signage above the aisle indicates which day they're available - blue for Thursdays, orange for Sundays.
These are typically located in the middle aisles at the back of the store. Stay updated on upcoming Specialbuys by following Aldi's Instagram page @aldispecialbuysuk or downloading the Aldi app.
Timing and Targets
Employees are not only expected to achieve a scanning target of 1,500 items per hour, but they're also timed on how quickly they can work through a palette of stock. This allows for frequent restocking throughout the day.
As a result, the store can employ fewer staff members and maintain low prices.
Dupes
There's nothing quite like discovering a great dupe. Something that performs just as well as your go-to moisturiser, boasting an equally impressive ingredients list, but for a fraction of the cost.
Aldi's range of hair and beauty Specialbuy products are receiving high praise for their quality. Shoppers have been particularly impressed with items such as the Clinique moisturiser and Dior lip oil alternatives, noting that these beauty essentials are consistently at least half the price of their branded counterparts.
But be quick - these popular items tend to fly off the shelves. An Aldi staff member has even lauded the "amazing" tangle tee*zer brush lookalike, likening it to a "feels like a head massage."
Flowers
When it comes to flowers, Aldi's selection is not only more affordable compared to other supermarkets but also boasts a respectable longevity. Customers should, however, keep an eye on the best before dates.
Cigarettes
Intriguingly, Aldi does not stock cigarettes, a policy rooted in the company's history. The decision dates back to the 1960s following a dispute between the store's founders, German brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht, over tobacco product sales.
This led to the division of the chain into Aldi North, which sold cigarettes under Theo, and Aldi South, which did not under Karl. As Aldi expanded internationally from Germany, the brothers divided the world's countries between them.
It is Karl's Aldi South that operates the UK stores, hence why, unlike most large supermarket chains, Aldi in the UK does not sell cigarettes.
Best food dupes
For those sceptical about trying non-branded goods, Aldi offers a variety of food dupes worth sampling. Many customers find these alternatives indistinguishable from the name-brand originals.
Nutoka's spread is heralded as a near-perfect match for Nutella, offering consumers the rich taste they love for a slice of the price. Rivalling the famous Lotus Biscoff spread, Belmont's biscuit spread is another Aldi alternative that doesn't disappoint in flavour.
An Aldi insider revealed to the ECHO: "I think the Racer bars are better than the real Snickers to be honest."
Best alcohol dupes
Aldi's commitment to providing exceptional value has seen the continuation of its popular Wine of the Week promotions all year round. Notable mentions among the top-tested alcohol substitutes include Haysmith's Rhubarb and Ginger gin, available for just £14.99 and acclaimed globally with a prestigious Gold Outstanding award at the IWSC Spirits Awards.
At the same price point, St Germont Vodka offers a taste that rivals premium brands like Grey Goose, which retails at £41.50 at Morrison's.
Pack after you pay
To maintain efficiency and keep staffing costs low, Aldi encourages customers to pack their shopping after payment, a strategy that helps shorten queues and ensures the retailer can continue offering competitive pricing with fewer staff members on hand.
Boxes for bags
A handy tip that works across various retailers if you happen to forget your reusable bags, grab an empty cardboard box from the fruit and vegetable aisle, often equipped with handles, it not only saves plastic but also spare change.
Electric price cards
With technology advancing, many Aldi stores have upgraded to electronic price cards which automatically revise prices. If you're looking for an item that seems out of stock, these digital displays can indicate whether it's simply sold out with a convenient 'Out of Stock' notification.
If this is the case, you can be certain that there won't be any more stock in the back. However, if this message isn't displayed on the card, staff will be more than willing to check in the back for you.
Magnificent memories
This may no longer be the norm, but once upon a time, all Aldi in-store colleagues were required to memorise the prices and codes of 750 products. Although barcode readers now aid with this task, staff still need to remember the codes for many items, especially produce.
Constantly hiring
Aldi is always on the lookout for new team members. If you don't mind early mornings and a bit of hard work, it's a fantastic job opportunity.
Perks include paid breaks, a pension scheme, and potential career progression. Find out more here.
