12 Things You Didn’t Know about ALDI
I’m an ALDI Super Fan. I’m not only a loyal shopper, but as a registered dietitian, I also served as a member of the ALDI Advisory Council.
I’m also something of an ALDI guru to my friends and family members. They ask for my personal guided store tour and use my favorite-products lists when they shop. Even random people in my community have been known to sheepishly approach me with a question by asking, “You know a lot about ALDI, right?”
I do know a lot about ALDI—and I also know there are still a few misconceptions AND a whole lot of cool stuff that people may not have heard about yet. So, get the scoop below on what to know about ALDI.
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1. Does ALDI accept credit cards?
This is MAJOR, people. It used to be that ALDI only accepted cash, debit cards, and EBT. But now, you can use credit cards including VISA, MasterCard, and American Express. Rejoice!
2. Is ALDI organic?
ALDI has an ever-growing number of organic items, including organic milk, apples, salad greens, frozen berries, peanut butter, coffee, granola, spices, wildflower honey, coconut oil…and I could go on. They even sell USDA choice organic grass-fed ground beef.
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3. Is ALDI dye free?
All of the ALDI-exclusive brands are now free of certified synthetic colors (yay!). Plus, they’ve eliminated added MSG and partially hydrogenated oils, too. These are ingredients a lot of shoppers (like myself) are avoiding, so it’s nice to know I don’t have to scour ingredient lists for them at ALDI.
4. Are ALDI shopping carts free?
Yes. You have to pay a quarter to get access to a cart—but you get that quarter back when you return the cart. This move saves you money because it means they’re not paying employees to fetch carts from the parking lots (or spending money replacing carts that go missing). I’ve also seen more than a few folks pass along their cart when they’re finished shopping to arriving customers, and refuse a quarter in return, which always warms my heart.
5. Does ALDI have baby formula?
Yep! And diapers, wipes, baby wash, infant cereal, and organic baby food pouches, too. Their brand new Little Journey line includes nearly 50 necessities for babies and toddlers at the lowest possible prices.
6. Does ALDI have shopping bags?
No reason to panic if you forget your reusable bags at home. Though ALDI encourages customers to bring their own bags (it cuts down on costs and is friendlier to the environment), ALDI does have paper, plastic, and reusable bags you can buy at the register. Or you can simply grab an empty box from the shelves and pack up your groceries that way.
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7. Does ALDI carry any name brands?
More than 90 percent of the products on shelves are ALDI-exclusive brands. But you’ll also find some name-brand stuff too—and it’s always fun to see what products appear each week. I’ve nabbed everything from Ghirardelli brownie mix to Kerrygold butter (at great prices of course).
8. Can you get beer & wine at ALDI?
ALDI carries a selection of craft and imported beers. Plus, they have red, white and sparkling wines that have racked up some prestigious awards. Check the ALDI store locator to see if your store, or a store near you, carries wine and beer. Here’s more about Buying Beer and Wine at ALDI.
9. Is ALDI gluten free?
ALDI has its own line of gluten free foods. If you’re eating gluten-free, check out their liveGfree line of products, which includes pasta, pretzels, crackers, baking mixes, bread and cookies– all free of gluten. See what’s in their gluten-free line here.
10. Why is the ALDI checkout so fast?
Even I didn’t know this one until recently. I’ve always been amazed by how quickly the cashiers at ALDI can scan the products—and now I know why: The ALDI products have multiple barcodes on them, so they’re easier to scan. How smart is that?
11. Is ALDI non GMO?
The ALDI SimplyNature line is all organic or Non-GMO Project Certified and is free of artificial ingredients and preservatives. The Non-GMO Project ensures verification and labeling for non-GMO (genetically modified organism) foods. If eating GMO-free is important to you, look for the Non-GMO Project Certified label on products.
12. Does ALDI carry party food?
Obviously you can get all the basics at ALDI, but you can also buy smoked Gouda cheese, premium ice cream, jumbo scallops and garlic stuffed olives. Their Specially Selected line was made with the foodie in mind. So if you need to stock up on something special for a party—or you simply like the finer things in life—you’ll find what you need at ALDI. Here’s How to Make an Epic ALDI Cheese Board.
