Supermarkets

[PaulT]

In the UK the big four, ASDA, Morrisons, Sainsburys and Tesco used to battle it out amongst themselves. Waitrose, that has positioned itself in a different area did partially join in by pricing some items the same as Tesco. The German (dont mention the war) supermarkets, Aldi and Lidl had a very small presence and very low market share.

It has now changed with Aldi, Lidl and Waitrose increasing market share whilst the 'big' four are losing market share and cutting staff, outlets and cancelling expansion plans.

In blind tests some of Aldi and Lidl products have scored extremely well and they are also involved in fairly aggressive marketing.

What is the situation in France?

PS have noticed that the volume of weekly non food specials is far larger in the UK than in France.

[YCCMB]

One thing I learned from an interesting article in the Sunday Times (hence I can't provide a free link) a couple of weeks ago is that all is not as it seems with "consumer tests" and the high placing of Aldi and Lidl. It doesn't mean their products aren't good, but apparently, most of such tests require the supermarket in question to pay in order to submit products for testing. In one such test, as an example, Lidl submitted 70 or more products, Tesco 64 and Sainsbury, M&S and the others submitted no more than 5 or 6, hence their chances of "winning" were exponentially smaller.

OTOH, Lidl has succeeded in getting some very high end producers to manufacture some of their own brand products. If you are in the UK, Lidl is selling an own brand "Finest" muesli made by Dorset Cereals. Fact.

[Théière]

[quote user="You can call me Betty"] In one such test, as an example, Lidl submitted 70 or more products, Tesco 64 and Sainsbury, M&S and the others submitted no more than 5 or 6, hence their chances of "winning" were exponentially smaller. [/quote]

Betty, is that to one category you are referring, say the best muesli and therefore you could only submit one or two of your muesli range not 70 so providing you take part the odds are reasonably similar or have I misunderstood? 

PS I too only buy Lidl's muesli

[woolybanana]

Judging by my local Lidl, it would seem to be aimed at a slightly economically less well off section of the population that the UK ones. Somewhere between Leclerc and Netto I guess.

[PaulT]

A fool and their money WB.

The area we live in the UK nearby we have the Co-op and Lidl. Did not use Lidl where we lived before but needs must now and quite surprised at how good some of the food is.

[vette]

There is an Aldi in Knutsford Cheshire. For those that don't know the area, it's in the golden triangle of UK wealth.

I have no qualms about shopping there instead of my previous Tesco or Sainsburys stores and once you see the multitude of high end vehicles in the car park it becomes obvious that it is very popular with not just the less well off.

I also use both Aldi and Lidl in Mayenne far more than Hyper U.

As for quality, our German friends swear by them.

I think the main difference price wise is that they are private companies so are not liable to shareholders in the way that the UK stores are.

They certainly save me some money.

[Patf]

In the UK I admit I'm a supermarket snob and love Waitrose, and all things John Lewis. Wouldn't be seen dead in Tescos!

We have Lidl and Aldi in the nearest market town as well as Carrefour and Intermarché - I go into Aldi regularly for their promos and a few food items, but up to now they have nowhere near the range of the bigger supermarkets, where I do the rest of my shopping.

Aldi sells fresh bread, somehow warmed up if you want, which gives a delicious smell.

[YCCMB]

[quote user="Théière"][quote user="You can call me Betty"] In one such test, as an example, Lidl submitted 70 or more products, Tesco 64 and Sainsbury, M&S and the others submitted no more than 5 or 6, hence their chances of "winning" were exponentially smaller. [/quote]

Betty, is that to one category you are referring, say the best muesli and therefore you could only submit one or two of your muesli range not 70 so providing you take part the odds are reasonably similar or have I misunderstood? 

PS I too only buy Lidl's muesli

[/quote]

Teapot, I can't remember the detail, unfortunately, as it was a wek or so back, but I am assuming it was probably over several categories, unless it was something like wine..

I've never been a supermarket snob, as I've always been too lazy and tight fisted. Until we moved, I was lumbered with Tesco or Sainsbury, with the odd foray to faraway Lidl. Now I'm lumbered with Morrisons and have resorted to online shopping for stuff I've got used to but can't buy locally. Lidl is a distant memory unless my live-in same-sex partner, Mr Betty, pops into the one in Poplar.in his lunch break?

[Chancer]

[quote user="Patf"]In the UK I admit I'm a supermarket snob - I go into Aldi regularly for their promos and a few food items, but up to now they have nowhere near the range of the bigger supermarkets, where I do the rest of my shopping.
[/quote]

 

And that is their key strength and the core value of their business model.

One need, one product of the higheset quality and the keenest price to meet that need.

Do we really need to walk 100m along the yoghurt shelf to find what we want?

90% of what fills the big supermarkets are high price premium competing brand names where most of your money goes on marketting, their may be one budget own brand offering, often not that cheap and usually always the lowest quality.

What is on the shelves at Lidl Aldi is the premium product from the same line as the marques but at an own brand price or better, I challenge you to find an Aldi/Lidl product that isnt as good as a marque or to find a grand surface own brand budget range one that is.

[Chancer]

[quote user="Patf"]In the UK I admit I'm a supermarket snob - I go into Aldi regularly for their promos and a few food items, but up to now they have nowhere near the range of the bigger supermarkets, where I do the rest of my shopping.
[/quote]

 

And that is their key strength and the core value of their business model.

One need, one product of the higheset quality and the keenest price to meet that need.

Do we really need to walk 100m along the yoghurt shelf to find what we want?

90% of what fills the big supermarkets are high price premium competing brand names where most of your money goes on marketting, their may be one budget own brand offering, often not that cheap and usually always the lowest quality.

What is on the shelves at Lidl Aldi is the premium product from the same line as the marques but at an own brand price or better, I challenge you to find an Aldi/Lidl product that isnt as good as a marque or to find a grand surface own brand budget range one that is.

[mint]

I was already a Lidl fan in our old house in the Charente Maritime when I read a thread on here, ooh, years ago!

Then, once the incomparable Clair had spoken, there was absolutely no going back[:D]

Clair was talking about, if I remember rightly, about those "parcels" of bacon wrapped around some cheese (sorry, details are not possible with memory loss).  She'd worked in some factory that produced these things and she said they made the same product for all the supermarkets.  They just stuck different labels on the SAME products.

Apologies, Clair, if I have misquoted you, but I remember the very instant when I decided that I would never go to Leclerc or Inter if I could get similar products at Lidl, Netto or Aldi.

[Théière]

In the interest of science, or food snobbery I set up a blind taste test with some steaks from Donald Russel, Lidl, and Tesco and they finished in that order on taste and texture. It was noticeable when cooking the amount of water that came from the Tesco steak compared to the other two.

When I am ordered to Tesco, I take particular delight in opening the boxed version of their products to see just how small the portions are compared to the packaging and also showing any other shoppers near by.

Whilst the range maybe larger at Tesco's it is often because of foreign products but those that I buy come from the Asian supermarkets and are half the price that Tesco charge or less.

To food snobs, I would like to remind people many including M&S started with a market stall and M&S have theirs in the Baker street HO.  Whereas Aldi was owned by one of the richest men in the world. [:)]

[Chancer]

You mean he was already minted when he started Aldi or are you speaking of the break up of the business between the brothers, the second one Aldi North or South (I cant recall which) being started from a position of wealth and hitting the ground running.

I am always admirative of self made men, I am one myself albeit a tiny tiny one [:D] I also admire those succesfull entrepeneurs who sell out for millions and after a couple of years on the beaches etc decide to go back into a new business completely unlike what they did, they have the advantage of money and experience and with their track record the confidence of backers, they usually create superb businesses with very loyal customers in sectors that had until then disregarded them, if only they would do so in France.

In fact thats what France should be doing, encouraging these very people to come over here and shoot fish in a barrel, everyone would be a winner.

[andyh4]

Well having spent 17 odd years working in Germany, I naturally have no problem with shopping at Aldi and Lidl.

However, beware, as Chancer alludes to, there are 2 Aldis. When old man Albrecht died (AL-brecht DI-stribution) he split the empire into Aldi Nord (white logo on blue ground) and Aldi Sud (yellow logo on blue ground). Each son got an empire to run. In Germany I was in Sud territory and found them much better than Lidl, although I once visited a Nord establishment - which did not particularly gel with me.

In their European expansion, they seem to have carved the areas up and the UK is part of Aldi Sud. Aldi Nord won France. I have to say in France I find Lidl vastly better than Aldi.

[Judith]

Thanks - that might explain why Aldi in UK is better than Aldi in France.  I've given up with our nearest Lidl, always too cramped and if I did go in for something special they never had it.  I use Aldi for certain products (namely loo rolls, tissues, cheap pasta, tins of pineapple) and very little else. My major shopping now is in our local (walkable if needed) newish Casino, quite adequate for most day-to-day shopping, the second nearest butcher is the best for meat, and I get alcohol and diesel from the nearest Carrefour.  We have a weekly market (also walkable) where I get most of my fruit and veg. Simple really!

But if I am honest, I still miss Waitrose!