If all of the supermarket chains in the UK except for Aldi and Lidl disappeared, would you care?

I'm reminded of a clip from The Vicar of Dibley I like about not believing it's butter... (Sadly I never watched the show at the time, thinking I wouldn't like it. I was wrong!)

Has anyone seen squash in Aldi or Lidl recently? They only seem to have that rancid "high juice" or the expensive Robinsons stuff.

I always bought the Apple & Blackcurrant Sun Quench (Aldi) or Lindhouse (Lidl) squash but when I went in to our usual Aldi in mid-August there was none in stock and no space where it always used to be. I asked a member of staff and he said he believed they had stopped stocking it. When we went back for our fortnightly shop and it was back in stock but in a more rounded bottle rather than the rectangular shape it used to be. Upon trying it at home it was a totally different flavour to how it used to be; it was really quite unpleasant. I then noticed the Irish flag on the side of the bottle proudly proclaiming "Produced in Ireland" which I thought was a peculiar thing to put on a bottle, until I read the text which said it was produced for Aldi Ireland, together with the .ie web address and Irish contact details. I've not since seen this in the shop.

I've also been into two branches of Lidl and again couldn't see any nor a space where it used to be.

Find it hard to understand why they may have stopped producing and selling this; surely it's a staple in most homes, the normal supermarkets still produce many different types at varying price points.

Mojo said:

Has anyone seen squash in Aldi or Lidl recently? They only seem to have that rancid "high juice" or the expensive Robinsons stuff.

I always bought the Apple & Blackcurrant Sun Quench (Aldi) or Lindhouse (Lidl) squash but when I went in to our usual Aldi in mid-August there was none in stock and no space where it always used to be. I asked a member of staff and he said he believed they had stopped stocking it. When we went back for our fortnightly shop and it was back in stock but in a more rounded bottle rather than the rectangular shape it used to be. Upon trying it at home it was a totally different flavour to how it used to be; it was really quite unpleasant. I then noticed the Irish flag on the side of the bottle proudly proclaiming "Produced in Ireland" which I thought was a peculiar thing to put on a bottle, until I read the text which said it was produced for Aldi Ireland, together with the .ie web address and Irish contact details. I've not since seen this in the shop.

I've also been into two branches of Lidl and again couldn't see any nor a space where it used to be.

Find it hard to understand why they may have stopped producing and selling this; surely it's a staple in most homes, the normal supermarkets still produce many different types at varying price points.

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That is the advantage of larger supermarkets over the discounters / corner shops. A much higher number of product lines - meaning a choice of brands and even speciality ranges. For example, all the well-known brands in teabags (in a variety of sizes), plus fruit-teas etc.

Tesco seems to be cutting back at the moment, some brands have been removed, or are stocked in smaller amounts, meaning the shelf is empty at times.

Baxenden Bank said:

That is the advantage of larger supermarkets over the discounters / corner shops. A much higher number of product lines - meaning a choice of brands and even speciality ranges. For example, all the well-known brands in teabags (in a variety of sizes), plus fruit-teas etc.

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I know that but it’s weird how they have gone from selling two types of squash (both a cheaper essential/simply and a normal one), to suddenly selling none, when quite a large area of space was previously devoted to selling it.

I saw on the BBC's news yesterday the rate in which Aldi are opening new stores at and how many they plan to have opened in the UK in the next two years, plus it showed an example of another supermarket somewhere (a Waitrose) getting replaced with an Aldi which made me think maybe my question of 'If all of the supermarket chains in the UK except for Aldi and Lidl disappeared' might be closer to reality than we might all think.

175mph said:

I saw on the BBC's news yesterday the rate in which Aldi are opening new stores at and how many they plan to have opened in the UK in the next two years, plus it showed an example of another supermarket somewhere (a Waitrose) getting replaced with an Aldi which made me think maybe my question of 'If all of the supermarket chains in the UK except for Aldi and Lidl disappeared' might be closer to reality than we might all think.

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Well they're just plans and massive expansions can bankrupt companies, so it isn't necessarily a good thing or a sign of the future.

LOL The Irony said:

Well they're just plans and massive expansions can bankrupt companies, so it isn't necessarily a good thing or a sign of the future.

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Like Tesco's expansion plans that they had a few years ago but largely never happened, some of their new stores planned were even built but never opened.

175mph said:

Like Tesco's expansion plans that they had a few years ago but largely never happened, some of their new stores planned were even built but never opened.

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Other players had the same problem. There is a big, never occupied, Sainsburys in Middlesbrough where they already have a large store.
Morrisons were intending to take space off B & Q warehouses to develop into foodstores, including my local one. Did any happen, my local one didn't?

175mph said:

I saw on the BBC's news yesterday the rate in which Aldi are opening new stores at and how many they plan to have opened in the UK in the next two years, plus it showed an example of another supermarket somewhere (a Waitrose) getting replaced with an Aldi which made me think maybe my question of 'If all of the supermarket chains in the UK except for Aldi and Lidl disappeared' might be closer to reality than we might all think.

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Opening 52 stores per year when you are a relatively small player is easy enough (if you have the desire and cash). As your market share grows it becomes more difficult. What are the relative store numbers/floorspace of the big four versus Aldi?

Waitrose - I don't know what they were playing at. Is it another Morrisons Local situation? Desperate to expand very quickly so end up with second rate locations? The new Lidl (or Aldi) in Leek was previously a Waitrose and before that a Co-op. Tesco's turn next?

I don't think the quality is always there for Lidl and Aldi. Soya milk, malt loaf bread and biscuits are some examples. I much prefer just going to a large supermarket, where I am exposed to a much wider range of products. I don't like the Tesco clubcard points because they expire - so I feel somewhat "pressured" to use them. I don't think there is a major difference between Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's or Morrisons. In essence, you just have to shop around to get the best bang for your buck, there is no "best" supermarket. Sometimes you just don't have a choice either.

Railguy1 said:

I don't think the quality is always there for Lidl and Aldi. Soya milk, malt loaf bread and biscuits are some examples. I much prefer just going to a large supermarket, where I am exposed to a much wider range of products. I don't like the Tesco clubcard points because they expire - so I feel somewhat "pressured" to use them. I don't think there is a major difference between Asda, Tesco, Sainsbury's or Morrisons. In essence, you just have to shop around to get the best bang for your buck, there is no "best" supermarket. Sometimes you just don't have a choice either.

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I'm inclined to agree with the general points that you are making. You get what you pay for, either in quality of the produce, the service, the convenience or a combination of the three. Contrary to being a member of the "metropolitan elite" as DarloRich implies, my choice is driven by convenience, quality and choice in varying degrees. Waitrose is as convenient as a corner shop but has a better range and better quality products, ( and we get John Lewis vouchers for all our spend there. Sainsbury I sometimes use for items not stocked round the corner, and we get nectar points. Tesco I use for Q10 Pro-enzyme capsules and other occasional items and the club card points earned go into my Virgin Atlantic Frequent Flyer account so they don't ever expire. Morrisons is good for meat cuts that Waitrose don't do, particularly lamb's hearts - a winter favourite. It's rare to go into Lidl & Aldi, and I can't see much attraction in Asda's food offering. They certainly went downhill after Walmart took them over. I see that they are now looking to offload them.

Anyone noticed that adverts for LIDL (or could be ALDI) when they compare with Tesco, they do not used 'own brand' at Tesco, although with LDL they are all 'own brand' and then have a rider on the bottom saying that certain own brand foods from Tesco maybe cheaper

Alos as others have said, it is a myth surrounding Waitrose, the prices for most are comparable to the Main players, there are of course items that do cost more.

I think I would care. Why would you want to reduce choice down to two supermarket chains, essentially creating a duopoly?

Sainsbury have gone a bit stale for me , dont really have a niche .

route101 said:

Sainsbury have gone a bit stale for me , dont really have a niche .

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Funnily enough I like Sainsbury because of their "fresh" bakery produce. Really gone off Morrisons as most of their "fresh" bakery stuff literally is stale, or soggy, or fruit scones with no fruit in, etc. We do our weekly shop at Sainsbury now. They also sell products the other chains don't such as a much bigger range of MrKipling cakes.

I don't understand why the press refer to LIDL and ALDI as 'discounters'. I shop at LIDL every week and have never been offered a reduction for paying cash, nor are the BOGOF type offers any more prevalent than at the others. What I do notice is that a branded item like stilton cheese (there is only one source for that, so no question of own labels) is considerably cheaper in LIDL than Tesco or Morrisons (my other local available store choices). Just an example.
To me, a discounter is someone who will sell you 10 of something much cheaper if you are willing to hamster it somewhere at home, Del Boy style, or gives you discount for paying cash. I know of no other explanation for the term and LIDL supermarkets are thus not discounters in any way, just overall much cheaper. However, it's a slightly more restricted assortment. Today we could find no bouquet garni spice pot nor parmesan cheese at our LIDL, and they don't worry if they run out of something, particularly. In fact they had also run out of stilton today.

HowardGWR said:

I don't understand why the press refer to LIDL and ALDI as 'discounters'. I shop at LIDL every week and have never been offered a reduction for paying cash, nor are the BOGOF type offers any more prevalent than at the others. What I do notice is that a branded item like stilton cheese (there is only one source for that, so no question of own labels) is considerably cheaper in LIDL than Tesco or Morrisons (my other local available store choices). Just an example.
To me, a discounter is someone who will sell you 10 of something much cheaper if you are willing to hamster it somewhere at home, Del Boy style, or gives you discount for paying cash. I know of no other explanation for the term and LIDL supermarkets are thus not discounters in any way, just overall much cheaper. However, it's a slightly more restricted assortment. Today we could find no bouquet garni spice pot nor parmesan cheese at our LIDL, and they don't worry if they run out of something, particularly. In fact they had also run out of stilton today.

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I’ve never heard of that before. I’d call that a cash and carry.

BTW, Squash back on sale in Aldi, same bottle and taste as before. No idea what that interlude was all about; they just have the same supplier as Lidl who were also having problems.

Am I the only one who can't differentiate between the two stores? I have one local to me but couldn't tell which one it is. I just can't remember the correct name.

Karl said:

Am I the only one who can't differentiate between the two stores? I have one local to me but couldn't tell which one it is. I just can't remember the correct name.

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Understandable, they do look very similar. My local Lidl has a far less welcoming feel to it than Aldi, indeed I get a similar feeling in most Lidl stores. Don't know why.

Anyway I quoted your post not for that, but to comment that the easiest way to tell which of Aldi or Lidl you're in is to look at the price labels. Significantly different look when you put them side by side.

Mojo: I've never had that issue with the squash in Aldi before, it's always on sale here. Got some recently and it's rather decent for 85p!

I think I would care, actually.

Both Aldi and Lidl seem to have a certain smell which I am getting quite averse to.

I'm a great believer in "you get what you pay for". I'd rather have quality over quantity and to me, Aldi and Lidl offer lower quality products.

I'm very brand specific and I have to go to various supermarkets to get certain products, which aren't cheap.


I'm not called Mr Fussy by my friends for nothing, with what I'll eat and won't eat. I'll only eat one makers Jam, Wilkes of Tiptree Essex (Waitrose). Barry's tea (Budgens) Biscuits (M&S) . Taste the difference range (Sainsbury's) and it's got to be Andrex bog roll . .

Other normal items Sainsbury's and I have to go past Tesco to get there.

Had to pop into ASDA on Ventura Park, Tamworth this morning.
Absolute madness in there.
Everyone in headless chicken mode
Woman on till literally slinging goods off the scanner at us then scowling because we had the audacity to take our time filling our shopping bags drumming her fingers on the till top. My 83 year old mother told her her can tap away as much as she bloody well likes & any damaged goods WILL be replaced while giving her the stare.
Had to buy her a coffee to calm her down, don’t know where she gets it from lol.
Shall not be visiting there again.
It may be cheap but personally I always say you get what you pay for (ie service)

My local Asda was also mental today too, it's end of month payday weekend and as a result everywhere including the big supermarkets is incredibly busy.

Sounds like your checkout operator didn't have good customer service skills, but also importantly how to scan quick and have patience while a customer catches up! I could comment further but I'd best not

Even so, sorry to hear you had a bad experience with them.

Mojo said:

BTW, Squash back on sale in Aldi, same bottle and taste as before. No idea what that interlude was all about; they just have the same supplier as Lidl who were also having problems.

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Morrisons have also been having problems with some of their own-brand squash.

I think Waitrose trade on people who believe "you get what you pay for". They undoubtedly stock some high-end products that you can't get elsewhere, but like most supermarkets, they rely on enticing you in with their "headline" offers, and then make their profits on all the other things that you buy while you are there. And Waitrose charge significantly more for the run of the mill proprietary stuff that you can buy elsewhere. If I had a Waitrose nearby, I might use it to buy one or two quality items, but there is no way I would use it to buy the toilet roll and baked beans.

If you want high-end stuff, M&S offer better quality than Waitrose. However, M&S are a bit like Aldi and Lidl in that they only offer a limited range of products, and you are likely to need to visit one of the other supermarkets for everything you need.

I used to like Sainsbury many years back, but they seem to have lost their way a bit. At one time their produce was good quality, but now they don't really seem to know whether they are aiming for high-quality or low-price. I agree with the comments about Asda: they have very definitely sacrificed quality for cost - their own-brand stuff is very poor quality.

Tesco seemed to have gone the same way as Sainsbury, not quite sure which end of the market they are aiming at. It was quite an eye-opener going into a Tesco in Prague - it is very different to a UK Tesco. There they are very definitely aiming at quality. How many Tescos in the UK have live fish that you can choose which one you want the fishmonger to kill and prepare for you as you wait? They sell own-brand stuff, but good quality stuff - nothing like a UK-type "basics" range. It is only us British who seem to concentrate so much on cost and so little on quality.

I was initially very dubious about Aldi, but have become a convert. The range is undoubtedly limited, but what they do sell is good quality. There is no way that they would survive in their European base if it wasn't, where quality is far more important than price.

There is now a noticeable difference between Aldi and Lidl. Aldi have adapted to match the UK market: they now have a lot less continental produce, and stock a lot more UK brands and UK-sourced produce than when they first started. Lidl don't seem to have adapted, and most of their produce still seems to be continental in origin. Where I now live, there is an Aldi and Lidl side-by-side, and there is no doubt which is the more popular.

The one store that I miss is Morrisons. They are a bit like Sainsbury used to be, with an emphasis on quality. Where I used to live the Morrisons had an in-store bakery, butchers, fish-mongers and florist. There is a Morrisons a bus-ride away from where I now live, but it is quite a small one by comparison, without all the specialist departments, and suffers as a result.

PeterY said:

Taste the difference range (Sainsbury's) and it's got to be Andrex bog roll . .

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This has got to be the best quote! I'm in tatters here!!!

Karl said:

This has got to be the best quote! I'm in tatters here!!!

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There is some right rough bog rolls out there.
You can’t be too careful.
Some is like flipping sandpaper.

Andrex is my choice too. I just wish that bloody puppy would stop running off with it when I need it!

Belperpete said:

The one store that I miss is Morrisons. They are a bit like Sainsbury used to be, with an emphasis on quality. Where I used to live the Morrisons had an in-store bakery, butchers, fish-mongers and florist. There is a Morrisons a bus-ride away from where I now live, but it is quite a small one by comparison, without all the specialist departments, and suffers as a result.

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You're not missing much. We still have a Morrisons but it's dire. Their bakery is a joke - everything has use-by date of today, so you can't buy for the next 2/3 days. Fruit scones without fruit. Stale bread. Hot cross buns with a soggy undercooked centre. Before I gave up shopping there, I nearly took something back for a refund every week. Loads of manky fruit and veg - several boxes of strawberries that were mouldy and dissolving despite a sell by date 3 days away. Loads of comments/complaints about it on Facebook. I think they've given up on it and priming it for closure.

Karl said:

Andrex is my choice too. I just wish that bloody puppy would stop running off with it when I need it!

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Use the puppy. Fur is softer and s**t sticks to it.

433N said:

I think I would care, actually.

Both Aldi and Lidl seem to have a certain smell which I am getting quite averse to.

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Morrisons have a certain smell , i think its grease and cleaning chemicals from the cafe . Sainsburys locals and perhaps bigger ones have a smell too.

Karl said:

Andrex is my choice too. I just wish that bloody puppy would stop running off with it when I need it!

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Velvet is by far the best T roll and from Costco, a 45 roll pack costs £11.38. Similarly, Velvet kitchen rolls are £11.98 for 20.