FAB FIND: Aldi Grocery Store

There’s a new grocery chain in town that offers high-quality products at low prices. It’s a different kind of shopping experience at ALDI.

With the kids on summer vacation, that means I’ve had to figure out two things: how to keep them occupied and what to feed them! My kids are older so keeping them busy is easier as they often have their own ideas about what they want to do. Now about feeding them, well, that’s another story. Daily grocery tips can get pretty expensive.

Fortunately, I discovered our local neighborhood Aldi on Magnolia and Warner. The first thing that you’ll notice is that there are no grocery carts abandoned in the parking lot. That’s because you’ll need a quarter to unlock a grocery cart for you to use. You can retrieve your quarter when you return your cart. Inside is a pretty simple layout that is easy to navigate. Brands on the shelves may not be anything you’ve heard of that’s because they are Aldi’s house brands, much like, Trader Joe’s has Trader Joe-branded products.

I found good quality, affordable food at Aldi.  And while I didn’t have to use it, it’s comforting to know they have a Double Guarantee,  which promises that Aldi will replace product you are not 100% satisfied with AND they will refund your money.

An Interview with Aldi representative

I emailed me Aldi to see if they could just tell me more about their company. Tom Cindel, Group Director of Operations and Logistics for the Moreno Valley Division at ALDI took the time to answer my questions.

SurfCityFamily: What makes Aldi different from other grocery stores?

TomCindel: Today’s shoppers are pressed for time and money. We pioneered a model that addresses both issues. Our shopping experience is designed to make life easier for people and to offer high-quality food at affordable prices. Our innovative approach has made us one of the fastest-growing retailers in the U.S. and a favorite among smart shoppers. We sell exactly what you need – nothing more, nothing less. We react quickly to food trends and deliver the same quality at a lower price. It can take food companies two years or more to go from concept to product. It often takes us nine months or less.”

Q: What can a first-time shopper at Aldi expect?

TomCindel: We are a leader in providing better-for-you choices for feel-good shopping and living – without hiking the cost. More than 90 percent of our store is private label, and what we carry tastes as good as or better than name brands. Our streamlined selection removes the guesswork from shopping, and we’ve helped people understand that brand name does not define quality. Also, our store layout is simple. We only have four or five aisles for a streamlined experience to provide what people need on their first shopping trip.

We offer healthy options, including a range of organic products. We were the first grocery store to make all of our ALDI-exclusive products free of certified synthetic colors, partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) and added MSG, and our milk and all of the milk used to make our cultured dairy products, like sour cream and yogurt, is hormone/rBST free.

Q: Do you have some shopping tips for budget-conscious families?

Yes! We offer value on the things people want most, throughout our store. Whatever your tastes, we save you money. This philosophy applies on everything from fresh organic produce to frozen pizza. These low prices are consistent and available every day.

Families should check out our ALDI Finds. We frequently introduce new products at low prices through ALDI Finds, which are premium food and household products that are in stores for a limited time. It’s a way we surprise our shoppers with trendy new products, and also an opportunity to test out new items that could become part of our everyday selection. These items are ever-changing and can sell out quickly.”

You can learn more about Aldi at aldi.us To find your nearest Aldi location, click here.

Nearby Aldi grocery stores are in Fountain Valley and Westminster:

Aldi -Fountain Valley
17070 Magnolia St, Fountain Valley, CA 92708

Aldi -Westminster
13900 Goldenwest St, Westminster, CA 92683