Lidl vs Aldi: Which is cheaper and better?
As a regular shopper, you’re no doubt familiar with Lidl and Aldi, two popular self-service retailers offering everything from furniture to food. But which is cheaper, Aldi or Lidl?
Although their business philosophy is the same, these German retail stores can be compared using several criteria. You’ll discover their commonalities, differences, and pros and cons in this tutorial.
About Lidl
Lidl was founded in 1930 and has its main office in Neckarsulm. However, it entered the grocery business in 1977, following Aldi’s corporate structure. The company is part of The Schwarz Group, the fifth largest retailer in the world.
The off-price chain currently has about 11,200 stores in the US and Europe. In addition, Lidl offers a wider range of products and actively promotes national and international product brands.
About Alder
Albrecht Discounts, commonly known as Aldi, is a grocery chain owned by Karl and Theo Albrecht. This grocery chain opened in 1913 as a general store. Muelheim an der Ruhr-based Aldi Sud and Essen-based Aldi Nord split in 1960 due to irreconcilable differences in company operations and management.
Aldi Sud is concentrated in English-speaking countries and Austria, while Aldi Nord is concentrated in Europe and northern Germany. Aldi currently operates 11,235 stores worldwide.
Aldi vs. Lidl: The Similarities
While each of these supermarkets is unique, some obvious commonalities are worth highlighting.
Pricing plan
Both supermarkets operate as low-cost chains in the countries in which they operate. So their pricing is reasonable compared to other stores. If you want to save as much money as possible, these two are your best bets.
In addition, some products are similar in appearance to well-known brands, and in many cases, they are placed directly next to them, but at a much lower price. Both Aldi and Lidl rely heavily on their own private labels, which is one of the reasons both retailers are able to sell their goods at such low prices.
refund policy
Refunds are allowed on own-label purchases from stores in both supermarkets. Let’s say a customer decides not to keep an item they purchased or isn’t happy with it.
If so, the customer can return the item and get a refund after presenting the receipt as proof of purchase. Thanks to this strategy, customers can feel confident shopping with both companies, making the experience simpler and less stressful.
bagging rules
Aldi and Lidl also offer similar bags to their customers. Customers are required to bring shopping bags to the store so they can load their items.
When customers are unable to bring their own, shopping bags can be purchased at the store. The two supermarkets allow shoppers to pack their own items while shopping. As a result, both have drastically reduced staffing.
display packaging
Lidl and Aldi supermarkets stock their shelves with already packaged goods to cut labor costs. This technique avoids handling unit packs by placing cases of product directly on display.
By avoiding perforations, the two companies can set up boxes quickly and efficiently, significantly reducing labor costs.
High Quality Product Line
Both companies offer premium product lines where you can buy high-end items, including cheeses, meats, and higher-quality pasta varieties. Overall, this strategy will guarantee buyers that they are getting their money’s worth when purchasing quality merchandise.
It’s important to remember that other stores use this tactic too, raising prices on premium items to make a name for themselves.
Lidl vs Aldi: Key Differences
Despite these commonalities, distinct distinctions clearly distinguish them and define their identities.
space
The first difference you might notice between these two German grocery chains is store size. Lidl stores are typically between 14,000 and 21,000 square feet, making them significantly larger than Aldi stores, which are typically around 10,000 square feet. Due to the extra space, the former is able to store twice as many products as the latter.
Additionally, many customers have noticed that some Lidl stores appear to be more organized than their competitors. The Aldi store has several empty boxes, disorganized displays and gaps in inventory. Still, it’s understandable since Aldi has fewer employees than Lidl.
product
In terms of products, many consumers will rate Lidl higher than Aldi. The products produced in Lidl’s in-house bakery are then delivered to consumers. Aldi, meanwhile, has no staff bakeries.
In addition, Lidl offers a special counter where consumers can purchase any quantity of dried fruit throughout the year. Aldi, on the other hand, only has seasonal stock. Another difference is that Lidl often offers sushi to its customers, while Aldi rarely buys frozen sushi.
commodity supplier
Aldi employs a UK buyer so all the buying is done there. However, Lidl uses a pan-European procurement system. Nearly 77% of Aldi’s merchandise comes from UK suppliers who create unique packaging and designs for the UK market. In addition, Lidl’s packaging is multilingual and suitable for the entire European market.
quality
Consumers are known to perceive Lidl to offer a higher quality product than Aldi, especially when it comes to private label products.
Customers specifically mention that Lidl’s stock is newer than Aldi’s. That’s probably because groceries are always available, unlike Aldi, which is often hit and miss.
price
While both supermarkets pride themselves on being low-cost retail companies, the price differences between Aldi and Lidl are stark. Generally, market pressures have forced supermarkets to focus on pricing, leading to these apparent differences. Customers generally believe that Aldi’s prices are cheaper than Lidl’s.
shopping experience
Every part of the customer experience is different. Because they’re seated, Aldi’s cashiers, for example, can scan things faster.
At the same time, Lidl’s cashiers work standing up, so customers don’t have to wait in line for so long. Lidl cashiers naturally tire faster, which can easily affect the quality of their service.
Aldi has also set up two conveyor belts so shoppers can easily pack their purchases while store associates scan them. This allows the cashier to scan another customer’s product in case shoppers are moving slowly.
judgment: Aldi vs Lidl prices and quality
Compare the two and you’ll see that Aldi is the cheaper store. That said, Lidl offers a more premium selection in their stores, such as bakery, dried fruit, etc., so the prices are slightly higher than Aldi.
You can get a better idea of the differences between the two stores with this comparison table of basic items.
| LIDL | Aldi | |
| Egg | $3.29 per 18 eggs | $2.79 per dozen Organic |
| canned food | $0.47 – $1.09 depending on type | $0.50 on most items |
| baked goods | $0.59-$2.29, depending on the type of bread.wider choice | $0.55-$3, depending on the type of bread.fewer choices |
| dairy products | $0.75-2.89 depending on type (milk, creamer, etc.) More variety | $0.32 – $5.29 depending on type (milk, yogurt, creamer, etc.) Less variety |
| Meat | Many well-stocked options have clear country of origin | Not many choices and unreasonable prices |
| salad | Most Organic Salad Kits $2.99 | Chopped Organic Salad $2 – $3 |
| Alcohol | Few options for empty shelves | Great variety, well stocked and cheap (even under $3) |
| vegetable | More choices of organic vegetables | Second-rate quality, poor packaging. |
| snack | More options | Fewer options, but still plenty |
frequently asked questions
Are Aldi and Lidl related?
Aldi and Lidl are separate and unrelated businesses. The respective owners of the two supermarkets are also not connected in any way. They are competitors with similar business strategies. Despite sharing similar business approaches, the ownership groups are quite different making them competitors in the market.
Is Lidl good quality?
Yes. As mentioned earlier, Lidl offers you a great selection of high quality products at low prices. Organic, grass-fed, humanely raised and non-GMO are the Lidl specialties.
The supermarket also specifies the country of origin for most select items, including red tomatoes, apples straight from the orchard, fish and meat.
the bottom line
Customers are changing their grocery shopping habits as cost of living concerns continue to hit consumers hard. In this case, buying daily groceries from affordable stores is the preferred strategy.
Supermarkets such as Lidl and Aldi are good places to buy what you need. Indeed, every store has pros and cons.
While Aldi is cheaper, Lidl offers better quality. Your decision about the best supermarket will depend entirely on your own preferences and geographic area.
