Diary of a DAAP kid: groceries

Hey all! Sorry I've been behind on the posts - school is starting to catch up and get in the way of the rest of my life (don't you hate when that happens?), but I'm here now.

Many people believe that college kids sustain themselves solely on Red Bull, Captain Crunch, and Ramen Noodles. This may be true for freshmen (and engineering majors)but we the Hipsters over at DAAP cannot settle for such a banal existence (though the amount of takeout ordered in studio increases as project week rolls around)

But when it's not project week, we like to cook and eat well. Fresh produce, things made from scratch, even occasionally organic. My friends and I try and get together once a week for a "Sunday Dinner" - everyone brings a dish and hilarity and good eating ensue.

Eating well is great, but alas, I am on a college budget. Where do I turn to get the best deals on food? (The answer is not Meijer. Sorry.)

*drum roll please...* ALbrecht DIscount!!!!!!

Wait, you've never heard of it? Sure you have:



Yes, Aldi's. The mecca of discount grocery stores. Back in the day, it was a little shady - aka only go there to buy potatoes and junk food - but now it is a great store with the best prices and really quality food.



I got this photo off Flickr The three bags on the left are from a chain of "mainstream" grocery markets called Sun Fresh: total cost = $105. The three bags on the right are from ALDI: $45. Granted, they were different types of groceries, but sill. The savings is that consistent.

I go to Aldi's for their "Fit and Active" line - 100 cal packs, unsalted peanuts, all the healthy food you want to get but don't want to pay the extra money for, their dairy, frozen food - especially shrimp and fish -, canned food, boxed food, baking staples... do I have to go on? I am picky about some things - orange juice, for example, so I usually make more than one trip on my grocery excursions, but the bulk of my shopping is done at Aldi's.

I grew up with my (upper-middle class-ish) family going to Aldi's simply for the savings. It's familiar to me, but that's not why I love it.

So, how do they manage to make the food so cheap, but not scrimp on the quality? Several things:

1. They only hire the minimum amount of people to get the job done. No cart boys, no midnight stackers. However, these employees are paid above minimum wage with health benefits. Good deal.

2. The carts are corralled and connected together just outside the front of the store. In order to use one, you have to put a quarter in a slot near the handle. The quarter releases your cart. When you are done with the cart, you go back up and connect your cart to the rest of the group, and it releases your quarter. This prevents carts from being stolen and left all over the place.

3. There's only one brand. No competition for shelf space, no need for excess. There's one kind of maple syrup, one kind of ketchup, one kind of flour, etc, etc. There are different flavors of yogurts and salad dressing, for example - but only one brand. There's no marketing campaigns, and no circulars at your door every week... because the prices don't change. Why advertise when it's always on sale?

4. The store is laid out very economically. The product is stacked on top of each other in their original shipping boxes - no need for shelving, and it's an interesting effect:



5. You have to pay for your bags. This is not only economical, but ecological. You can get bags at Aldis, but you have to pay for them - .10 for paper, .25 for plastic, I think. OR you can bring your own reuse able bags - they sell these as well, only twice as big as the ones from other stores - or just use the cardboard boxes that the food comes in to put your cans and boxes in. You also bag your own groceries. At checkout, you put all your stuff on the conveyor belt, then bring the cart to the end of the stand. The checker scans your food then puts it back in the cart. Then you go over to a bagging area - a really long counter - and bag your own groceries. I like this because I am particular with what food stays together. Baggers at other places either pack the food wrong (hello, squished fruit) or severely underbag.

On top of all of that, Aldi's also gets some national brands at a discounted price -**CORRECTION (thank you, Anonymous) - ALDI's are supplied through ALDI's own system of distribution centers. ALDI will buy directly from the manufacturer / producer, if they get a good deal (e.g. if Captain Crunch wants to clear inventory because they want to change the design of the box). So they don't buy overstock from Krogers, but rather from Captain Crunch directly. They also have "special purchases" - random seasonal items that are non-grocery - this week is bags of Cypress Mulch for $2.29, "Garden for the Cause" pink gardening set for $14.99, and more.


I don't usually get all my produce there, because I will grant you that it can be a bit spotty. But if I'm there on the right day I'll get mushrooms, bell peppers, even pineapple sometimes. I actually am sharing a fruit and vegetable bin from Farm Fresh Delivery with my roomie for this month. I'll let you know how it goes.


So... shop at Aldi's. It's not scary, it's not trashy, and you'll save a ton of money. A brand new one opened in December off Ridge Road - right next to the Home Decor Emporium, across from McDonald's (coming off of 71, go past the intersection where you turn to go to Bigg's/Lowe's, and it will be on the left)

Yay food!