Aldi is the number one supermarket for affordability in the U.S. right now and one of the biggest reasons behind the record low prices is the fact that they stock over 900 private label products over brand names. With such a huge focus on shopping on a budget without sacrificing quality, more and more shoppers are looking to save where they can – but the biggest question is, just how good are these items in comparison to the brands we know and trust?
Big brands vs private label
Well, the good news is that as many companies make use of the same manufacturers, they are often identical. In cases where they may be different, manufacturers can often be in-house, meaning that levels of quality control go above and beyond the normal standards. This is a win-win for consumers everywhere.
Price/product comparisons
As product quality is often called into question the most, we thought we’d bring you the ultimate comparison list. It’s easy to see that in almost all cases, packaging is as close to copied as it can get, so what about the contents? Let’s get started.
Breakfast items:
1. Fruity Cereal
One of the top comparisons is cereal, especially as the packaging is so similar. With Kellogg’s Froot Loops being rivaled by Aldi’s Millville Fruit Rounds, you may be interested to know that Aldi’s brand is about 12 cents an ounce, whereas Froot Loops at Kroger are 35 cents an ounce. With taste testers claiming an almost identical experience, the verdict is looking good.
2. Toaster Pastries
The next item up is Millville Toaster Tarts, a cheaper version of the beloved Kellogg’s Pop-Tart. Amazingly, a 12-count box of Aldi’s brand was $1.65 compared to Kellogg’s $2.99 at Kroger. This means you’re paying 14 cents a pastry vs 25. Those in the know have actually reported more filling and less pastry for Toaster Tarts, making them the preferred option of the two.
3. Toaster Waffles
Aldi’s Breakfast Best Homestyle Waffles are $1.35 for 10 (around 11 cents per waffle), while Eggos at Kroger were $2.49 for 10 (around 25 cents a waffle). The general consensus is that the private label is crispier vs branded chewier, so your personal preferences will definitely come into play.
Drinks
4. Apple Juice
Aldi’s Nature’s Nectar is $1.25 per bottle against $2.64 for Mott’s Apple Juice at Kroger. That works out to less than 2 cents an ounce compared to just over 4 – and as critics suggest the two taste exactly the same, you’d be silly not to make the switch.
5. Diet Cola
No product comparison would be complete without diet cola and there aren’t many brands that match up. Sadly Aldi Diet Summit Cola is just another one to add to the list, but at $2.65 for a dozen cans versus $5.49 for 12 Diet Cokes at Kroger (that’s 22 cents vs 46 cents a can respectively), you may be tempted to make the change anyway.
Lunch items:
6. Sliced Turkey
Aldi charges $2.59 for a 9-ounce packet of its Lunch Mate Turkey breast, which is designed to go up against Oscar Meyer’s Deli Fresh Oven Roasted Turkey. While the latter is $3.99 at Kroger, you’ll be spending 28 cents an ounce at Aldi, and 44 cents an ounce elsewhere. Taste testers suggest differences in texture, but not in taste, so it’s worth a try.
7. American Cheese
Sixteen Happy Farms Singles from Aldi cost $1.65, while Kraft’s American Singles cost $3.79 at Kroger. With reports of no difference aside from thickness and color, 10 cents a slice vs 24 cents a slice is definitely worth a punt.
Snacks:
8. Blueberry Mini Muffins
Who can resist a mini blueberry muffin? Well with Aldis Baker’s Treat brand costing just $2.55 for five against a massive $3.99 for Hostess at Kroger, knowing that 51 cents a muffin is far cheaper than 80 cents may make you buy these taste-alike treats more often.
9. Corn Chips
Clancy’s Corn Chips Big Dippers at Aldi will set you back a cool 85 cents for a 9.25-ounce bag, but a 15.5-ounce bag of Fritos Scoops at Kroger is a whopping $4.49. That’s 11 cents an ounce for Aldi’s chips, and 29 for Fritos. With nothing but a little difference in crunchability, it’s a no-brainer.
The verdict?
In every single price comparison, Aldi comes in significantly cheaper, and the quality was definitely on par for almost every item on the list. While diet cola was lacking, this is a common occurrence across all unbranded rivals, so it’s not too big of a deal in the grand scheme of things.
Shop at Aldi today
While you won’t find a million different products, too many (if any) name brands, or visit a huge store that’ll keep you impulse buying for hours, Aldi has a fantastic (and ever-growing) reputation for good reason. Check out Aldis ad this week to find out what products, deals, and discounts are on offer, you won’t be disappointed.
