ALDI The Best Grocery Store On Earth by The Fat Electrician's Fat Files - Reaction

[@ExRazR]

The whole story gets even better: WALMART tried to set foot here in Germany around the Year 2000. They Failed Hard in every aspect and pulled out only a few years later. There are a few videos about it, might be worth an reaction too ;) (or wait till TFE may or may not does a followup on it)

[@karstenbursak8083]

They started in 1997 and quickly had issues with local culture and a frontal impact train crash with german regulators and unions and this continued until the highest working rights court struck down walmarts "ethics code" for not only violating german workers rights but also for violating the constitution in 2005. Walmart left germany and effectivly the whole EU the following year after loosing 1bio$ ... and did gladly not come back 😂

[@nord1k015]

The funny thing is, I'm Romanian and I've also lived in the Netherlands for awhile. And from what I can tell literally every European supermarket chain does this the same way as ALDI (with some minor differences).

[@Silverized84]

except the talkative cashier, here they just ask if you have the card for points and that's it. The supermarket where i go has automatized part of the checkout

[@HF7-AD]

ALDI did it first though

[@LordTzeentch]

In the U.K. Aldi, there is also the what I call “The Random Lootbox Aisles” A couple of aisles that are filled with random contraptions that you would see on the shopping channel. Want a dog water bowl that doubles as a frisbee? Lootbox Aisle. Want a stepping stool made out of 100’s of layers of cardboard? Lootbox Aisle. It is insane.

[@PPfilmemacher]

The aisles and their unexpected „treasures“ are actually the only reason why go to Aldi and Lidl here in Germany

[@Humpelstilzchen]

Treasue Island yes love it 😊

[@m.h.6470]

Trader Joe's wasn't originally Aldi, it was bought by Aldi North. Aldi South on the other hand just created new stores.

[@AdamNisbett]

2:20 Actually my local ALDI did have chairs show up this week among their random “while supplies last” products.

[@spirosgreek1171]

In Greece we don't have ALDI, but we have the other German company LIDL. Same philosophy (cheap products) though it has its funny scandals every now and then. Like when a customer found a frog in the salad he bought

[@brigidtheirish]

Added protein!

[@PPfilmemacher]

These random product aisles and the possibility to find some unexpected „treasures“ is actually the only reason why go to Aldi and Lidl here in Germany

[@edim108]

Maybe it was "French Week" when they bought it 😂

[@brennanhearn6342]

There's an Aldi within about a mile of my apartment. It is one of the few places I can get perfect General Tso chicken. SO many places either make it too sweet or too spicy, and either of those things utterly ruins it. I love that Aldi is the number one AND number two grocery store in America.

[@mordreek]

17:30 Naw boss, remember the north/south split from earlier? Aldi and Trader Joe's is similar only Aldi handles internal groceries, Trader Joe's handles imports. So they made sure to separate their niches for maximumer efficiency

[@hydranmenace]

I feel you on the gas thing. I had a 1996 Suburban. The K2500. With a 454 that made 9 mpg. I did not care because it could pull a house. Never got stuck in the winter. Only reason I had to replace it is because I snapped the crank in half. I was... very sad. But it was... a worthy way for it to go, let's just say.

[@edim108]

How, in the name of all that's holly, did you manage THAT?! I'm not mad, I am impressed 😳

[@dontshanonau1335]

Other than the limited selection, that's pretty much how every single supermarket in Germany operates, not just Aldi.

[@markjones127]

I remember ALDI coming to the UK when I was at college and basically every student I know instantly started doing all their food shopping there because it was so cheap, so the big supermarkets in the UK fought back by having ranges of basic products which were cheaper than normal, TESCO brought out their 'Tesco Value' range for example which did well, even today when you shop at big supermarkets like ASDA and TESCO you'll see signs by some products saying same price as ALDI. The other store in UK is called LIDL and the only time I shop there at the moment is for Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Beer, the price of EVOO has gone though the roof everywhere but it's still not too bad at LIDL and the one thing I love about LIDL is they import beer from continental Europe so I buy Staropramen and Budweiser Budvar (not related to US Bud) as they sell the ones actually brewed in the main brewery back in Czechia, and it's so good!!!

[@RustyDust101]

One of the Albrecht brothers, Theo, bought Trader Joe's in 1979. Aldi Süd/Aldi South opened its first store in Iowa in 1976. Walmart came to Germany in 1998 and left the country in 2005 with a total of three billion in losses. One concept works, the ither doesn't. Especially if you do the typical Walmart and try to pull illegal shit like ignoring employees' rights while also ignoring local laws about trying to limit relationships among their employees. Treat your employees like crap and you will very quickly loose in Germany. Because customers WILL hear about that stuff, and they vote with their wallets.

[@Anson_AKB]

one of those important laws in germany is about predatory pricing: they were not allowed to permanently sell anything under their own purchasing price until competitors went bancrupt, and then do whatever they want with high prices (customers mostly understand that paying a little less for a few month, in the long run makes them pay double prices after a monopoly is established). but then they were not used in how to handle competition in really being cheaper, faster, and better. and there were lots of such local/german competing cheap supermarket chains already ...

[@SilverKnightXx]

As a german I can relate with not buying meat there, thankfully another grocery store shares the same parking lot: EDEKA and thats where I get everything else that I don't want to buy from Aldi :D

[@owenkasaboski6902]

AlDI's is to grocery stores as No Name brand is to products

[@kurokami5964]

Im in belgium and thats how the average grocery store is Only "hypermarkets" are how american groceries are and you go here mostly for hyperspecific products

[@josephdalziel1733]

As someone who lives in Iowa like TFE, he is laying it on a little thick. There are quite a few different grocery stores that are pretty much just groceries, and you aren't meant to spend your day there. The main thing is that most stores have changed to being supermarkets as opposed to just being grocery, or hardware, or automotive. Its all about increasing your selection to bring more people in more often, and sometimes it is convenient to get groceries, medicine, motor oil, and a new TV without having to make several stops.

[@naphackDT]

The US is the only country where Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd compete with another. Everywhere else, when one company opens stores, the other stays out. In the US, Aldi Süd started opening stores under the Aldi brand and Aldi Nord bought up the already existing brand Trader Joe.

[@FrogmanAnime]

When Aldi split they split into Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud with Nord opting to have cigarettes and Sud continued as normal From what I understand, at some point in the past trader Joes was failing as a supermarket aka going out of business. Aldi Nord seeking to break into America and being blocked due to the law about similar logos and names. Jumped in and bought Trader Joes and applied the Aldi model to their stores and turned them around. However, as trader Joes was an American company first, that’s the reason you’ll see their check out people still standing.

[@JB09712]

Literally went to both Aldi and Walmart on a single grocery run 3 hours ago and spent $90.30 and 96.59 at Walmart even though I got twice the amount of stuff that I got at Walmart. Anyone that hasn’t been to Aldi needs to try it at least once and realize just how much money is getting sucked out of their wallets by these big grocery and superstore chains. The only thing Walmart has as an advantage is the variety of things they sell. The price isn’t even a factor anymore

[@RenegadeSamurai]

About the thing with "Did you find everything?" after Wal Mart fucked off out of Germany there was still one of the employees who seemingly had this question in his head and my Dad one time foled around a bit. After he was asked by the guy (who is a lovely chap btw and I believe now that he's just being nice) my Dad told him "Actually yes, Natriumchloride" The guy loked up and said "Oh no, I will check on that!" And believe me, he was serious about it...I don't know how long it took until he realized that my Dad...was talking about normal Salt :D

[@brothersgt.grauwolff6716]

Fs in chat for the Chair🫡

[@gregorysiegel1178]

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[@SaraphDarklaw]

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[@duckguy8597]

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[@phoenixburns79]

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[@oldmanrae2061]

I have been shopping at Aldi's for decades. I have NOT shopped at Wal-Mart since 2010 because the place sucks balls.

[@waldensonsenterprises8069]

Only 2 things I guarantee I can tell the difference on. I have proven it on multiple occasions. Miracle Whip and the generic corn flakes at the dollar general store. Both are my favorites have been since I was a kid and I can tell the difference every time. Believe me my parents and some of my other family members have tried to stump me or trick me over the years lol.

[@Ravenforce3]

Generic Corn/Frosted Flakes, to me, are like regular potato chips and name brand are like kettle cooked style. Thicker and crunchier.

[@Anson_AKB]

even when there are differences, those differences are tiny most of the time (eg once i compared milk: same factory for three versions, the costly 4.5% brand milk, a somewhat cheaper identical "house brand" version, and a really cheap 4.1% noname version). and then you still have the choice to buy twice the amount of that slighly less superior product for half the price, or the smaller package of more expensive brand products. yes, for some products, i prefer the brand that i am used to for all my life, but for most others, it's just not worth it. we have several companies, and there usually is one normal chain of supermarkets for each of them, another discount chain that has more noname and less brand products, and sometimes even a "better" chain. but overall, there are several companies with several chains, and fierce competition between them all, still enabling you to get all items that you need, in a quality that you can accept, for affordable prices. in the worst case, you go to the discounter first, and then to a second shop to get those brand products or other items that the discounter didn't have. even shopping in two such stores (that over here can be reached quickly by foot) is cheaper and faster than going by car to one oversized store and walk around forever to find and check dozens of alternative brands.

[@ninjabearpress2574]

I prefer to make a predawn raid on the supermarket when they open, there's no traffic, good parking, no crowds and short checkout lines. By the time ALDI opens I'm home, sipping coffee and watching Fat Electrician videos.

[@laughingcanadian4961]

I feel like I should experience an Aldi now as a canadian. im not sure if im missing out

[@irminschembri8263]

"....given up the ghost ?" Now that is a German saying literally translated into AE. 😁And Aldi Süd has a better choice than Aldi Nord and I am not talking about cigarettes here in Germany. And you do find some bargains in the " Walk of Shame" aka the aisle in the middle eventually .😁 Same goes for Lidl btw. Grüße aus Aldiland aka Deutschland.

[@shadowstalker130666]

Oh i feel you on the gas thing. I drive a squarebody suburban, get like 10mpg, and have a 40 gallon tank... its financial battery every time im at the gas station.

[@MGwin79]

The Aldi store here and the one in the town I used to live in (an hour away) both had issues with their meat dept being not very good. I think it's just the way the stores deal with that and not just a single location issue. Otherwise, good stores to shop at.

[@PPfilmemacher]

ALDI is universally known for their notoriously bad meat section (not in a harmful dangerous way but simply cheap quality and taste) even here in Germany the people usually buy somewhere else their meat

[@TheNamesDust]

The mean i find ok as long as its every day stuff and you freeze it right away. Burger, weekend steak, pork chops, chicken thighs,ect. If its something like rib eye steak or stew meat or even good fresh frook ill go to meijer or a bigger grocery store. Say what you will, their fruit usually lasts longer.

[@themalcontent100]

While I have been in an Aldi, I never really bought anything from there. mostly because I am pretty quick when it comes to super markets. ever since self service machines, it takes me about 10 minutes.

[@JediKnight19852002]

Malt-o-Meal is better because you can rezip the bag and it stays fresher, longer. Not that I usually keep cereal that long.

[@ashisgod]

The problem with common sense is that it isn’t so common

[@acrisaevum195]

i agree with the meat part, i have trader joes, and though their meat is good, its all single servings and specialized, but meat has always been a buy in bulk item, thats kinda what we are used too, another thing i have to point out, is that i suspect they target the local community (which makes sense) but when you live in western washington, you get alot of organic stuff and other items that is instant cooking stuff like microwave dinners and fancy cheese stuff like garlic herb curds

[@MrThsharp]

As a cashier at a certain Huge American chain I can agree Yes I came in for milk and walk out with 2 1/2 carts worth of shit 😂 Now I came from a old job that was all about get cust in and out so I’m a express cashier I scan faster than most haha

[@quehostia]

Mister Evrart would be proud to have your chair, Old Man.

[@Banedragon]

@old man reacts you may want to consider a Kei truck if you're looking for something more fuel efficient

[@BloodQueenOG]

I also don't shop for meat at Aldi. I go to a butcher instead

[@brigidtheirish]

I'm one of the people who has her head on a swivel in grocery stores and stares at walls of cereal. It's not that I'm overwhelmed by all the pretty colors, though, it's that I have multiple dietary restrictions and I don't trust stores to keep the products I can eat or manufacturers to keep making products I can eat. So I'm *constantly* on the lookout for changes. I'm also on a fixed income, so price is something I have to keep a close eye on, too. I've also answered "no" when asked if I found everything because I often haven't. Thus the lack of trust in stores and manufacturers. Seriously throws the poor cashiers off. Don't usually get the charity guilt trip speech, either. Probably because I'm obviously the sort of person who *receives* charity.

[@Guardian-of-Light137]

Firstly I pray things get better for your situation. But secondly the whole head on a swivil thing is a bit exagerated I say as a walmart stocker. Yeah people stop and stare at products a lot but it's not always a bad thing. People need what they need. And what they can afford. It hurts any time I see someone can't get what they need. Be it for money reasons or we just don't have the item.

[@brigidtheirish]

@@Guardian-of-Light137 Thanks. They may get better, but probably not by much. Disabilities suck ass.

[@Guardian-of-Light137]

@@brigidtheirish I know. But thank God you're at least still able to keep going right? Some aren't so fortunate.

[@brigidtheirish]

@@Guardian-of-Light137 Yeah. I've got a great family to help me out.

[@BucketOfFail]

If you have a Sam's Club membership they carry LaZBoy office chairs and I got one eight years ago when my back was really bad. It was the only chair I could sit in without a ton of pain and it was only $150.

[@danielseelye6005]

It's the same thing as Hardee's for the Eastern US and Carl's Jr for the Western US.

[@shogunender8752]

I love Aldi’s they have amazing products for pretty great prices I live in the Midwest. They used to have these pretzel bites that are pepper jack cheese which were so good sadly I haven’t seen them in a year.

[@nickschnider9191]

Not gonna lie, I finally checked out aldi after watching the fat files. It's the only grocery store i go to now and my budget has gone done.

[@nickschnider9191]

Don't wanna edit but I do agree it's better to find a good local butcher. There's a local store my dad says he went to as a kid. If I need to stock up on meat I go there. Brisket for $3.99 lb. Sometimes find pork for $1.49-1.99 lb even ribs

[@Rygat]

wait, TJ's is aldi? is that was there are no Aldi in my area? becasue we have Trader Joes?

[@UndeadJohnGaming]

He do be right in that we say ALDIS over here lmao dunno why it's just how it is and I will say....... It's a damn good store. NAH but why does every F--KING CHECKOUT have a MINI FRIDGE WITH A GLASS WINDOW AND RACKS WITH GUM, MINTS, OTHER STUFF YOU MIGHT NEED?! It's..... INSANE!

[@christinajahnke2827]

How is Lidl doing in the US?

[@adamskeans2515]

this is weird. They just opened an Aldi's across the street from me and I've never even heard of them. I've gone and I love them, but they don't have everything I need so I don't usually go there. Trader Joe's, however, has been here for years, and I don't see any resemblance between the two, Trader Joes in this area is godawful experience, where as Aldi's is amazing.

[@SpartanB209]

You think gas for a pickup is expensive, I go through over $3k in diesel a week in my semi.

[@Sasha-ph9uv]

Well you're grocery stores look like hell in USA

[@irminschembri8263]

Aldi USA = Aldi Süd Trader Joe's = Aldi Nord :))

[@Storyideas81]

I strongly disagree about generic products being the same as name brand counterpart. Dr Thunder and Mr. Pibb do a side by side comparison of Dr. Pepper and Mr. Pibb, unless you have bad taste buds, you can tell the difference.

[@scyfrix]

Some people will be annoyed that a place has Pepsi instead of Coke, but simultaneously think you can't tell the difference between Sprite and Walmart lemon-lime. It's a bit odd. Another one for me is Goldfish. The cheese penguins or whatever that places will stock as alternatives are still decent, but they're recognizably not Goldfish. It's not anything to flip out over, but people saying you can't tell usually haven't actually had much of the product they're saying is indistinguishable.

[@jasonskeans3327]

i go to aldies for bread milk and wine anything else no

[@dragongreek9059]

I’ve never been to a video earlier than at least an hour I’m here in 14 minutes

[@devilfanmik]

SCP-1609?

[@rmartinson19]

TFE's video got me all hyped to try shopping at an Aldi (the closest one is only about a 90 minute drive from my house). But then I found out that their U.S. branch has recently decided on what amounts to a "straight white people need not apply" policy for new hires, officially stating that literally every other category of person will be prioritized ahead of you in their hiring process, regardless of individual qualifications, talents or merit. So yeah, I'm no longer all that interested in giving my money to yet another bunch of DEI-preaching racists.

[@shmee123ful]

thats fair aldi meat is very hit and miss aleaste down here in Australia it is

[@loganyee1904]

Yee

[@warbacca1017]

I used to go to aldis, but they never had everything i needed, so i just ended up going back to the walmart neighborhood market that was two blocks down. i ended up having to go there anyway to get what aldis didnt, so why waste time at another store?

[@jasonmatkovich6342]

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[@boelwerkr]

"Can Germany win a world war?" It's hard to win a war if 20% (4% German population. The other Japan, Italy,...) of the world population fights against 70%. But it was a good try, a close one too. ;-P

[@gregorysiegel1178]

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