Aldi is a German discount supermarket chain founded by brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht in 1946. The chain is made up of two separate companies: Aldi Nord, headquartered in Essen, and Aldi Süd, headquartered in Mülheim.
As of 2019, Aldi operates nearly 10,000 stores in over 20 countries.
Aldi’s business model is based on offering a limited selection of products at low prices. The company does this by keeping costs down in a number of ways, including:
- Aldi stores are smaller than most supermarkets, which reduces operating costs.
- Aldi does not accept manufacturer coupons.
- Aldi charges customers for shopping bags and requires them to pack their own groceries.
While Aldi’s prices are very low, there is a catch: the selection of products is much more limited than what you’ll find at a traditional supermarket. For example, you won’t find any organic produce or name-brand products at Aldi. Additionally, Aldi stores typically don’t carry fresh flowers or baked goods.
So, if you’re looking for the lowest prices on groceries, Aldi is a great option. Just be prepared to make some sacrifices in terms of product selection.
The catch with Aldi is that the selection of products is much more limited than what you’ll find at a traditional supermarket.