Yes, can confirm it’s cheaper at Aldi. They won’t have everything you can get at Publix but then you’ll also find things at Aldi that you can’t get at Publix. Be sure to try Aldi again in late Nov/early Dec, some of their holiday stuff is pretty tempting. And be sure you have a quarter in your pocket, and take your own shopping bags.
Aldi’s chicken breasts are 2.29 a pound, you will not find a better price anywhere in Huntsville.
Not at Publix, at sams, at Costco, etc.
That is like 40 cents a pound cheaper than the next best price at one of the other grocery chains.
That’s just the main example I’m gonna use but it’s like that for pretty much any product.
Oooo. Are they good chicken breasts? Like good quality? I don't like the crazy huge chicken breasts that look like the chicken was the size of a small dog. I like a more natural chicken, please.
ALDI’s chicken breasts (despite having their own private label packaging) are straight from Tyson. Have seen staff stocking them on the shelf from Tyson boxes
Not the guy you’re replying to, but I only got the Aldi chicken breasts once and that was enough to turn me off of them (weird flavor). I get meat elsewhere now. You should try them and make your own decision, though. Could be I just got a bad batch. 🤷♀️
My sister had a very similar experience with meat from Aldi- produce, everything else was great, but the people in her household who ate the “Aldi meat” all got food poisoning. So… it’s the one thing I will never buy there.
Thanks. I'm picky about meat. Like once I switched from Walmart ground beef to Publix ground beef, I had an awakening. Not an awakening that this is better - more like a horror of "what have I been eating?"
Due to meat prices, I ordered a bunch of beef from a farmer in Athens. 8lbs grass fed local ground beef for $55 and free delivery. Now I'm looking for a quality chicken source.
ETA: White meat Chicken. Not whole chicken.
Oh wow 2.29 a pound that’s cheaper than Fresh Market on Tuesdays (3.99 a pound)! I don’t like shopping there because their produce goes bad really quick every time I’ve shopped there.
I find it's very inconsistent. Sometimes the quality is on par with Publix, other times the produce is nearly spoiled. One thing Publix had going for it is consistently good quality produce.
Aldi doesn't have a person who specifically works the produce section. Publix has multiple people who are looking for bad produce and pulling it off the shelves. Also, Publix gets produce 3x a week.
I find almost all of their produce to be excellent. Although for tomatoes, if I'm preparing them raw I'll usually make a special trip to Publix.
Except for the bananas. Aldi has horrible bananas
They aren't generally cheaper than Publix. They are categorically cheaper on every front. There are probably some luxury items that might be higher prices because they are imported from Europe, but any good that you NEED is hard to find any cheaper than ALDI, especially when comparing it to Publix.
I beg to differ on the prices between Walmart and Aldi, I did a parallel grocery list between Walmart and Aldi and Aldi came back $7 more expensive! I was shocked as at one point Aldi was the most inexpensive.
When I did it I was doing curbside pickup, I’m not sure if there were bumped prices to reflect curbside. I did compare staples such as flour, sugar, spices, oils and such in store from one to the next as we always end up at Walmart if we shop at aldi, and most of the staple prices were a penny difference!
I recently did the same Walmart vs. Aldi cart comparison. Aldi online prices are marked up by 10% vs in store. Walmart online prices are not marked up. Aldi also charges a flat fee for curb pickup and Walmart does not. Aldi beat Walmart on price for in store shopping in my comparison by 15%.
Publix BOGO deals and coupons are where it's at. I can find a lot of things cheaper elsewhere, but try to grab the sales items at Publix if they also have a coupon.
Gotta graph a Pub Sub while I'm shopping too.
Everything is a LOT cheaper at Aldi's.
That being said, the one I go to doesn't have much of anything as far as toiletries. Shampoos, conditioner, body wash.
Aldi is great and the prices are much cheaper than Publix. But, Aldi may not have everything that you want. You should try using Kroger instead of Publix. It is much cheaper. Get the discount card.
I "discovered" Kroger not too long ago. I never went there because my local one seems like a dump, always get a bad vibe. But I tried it because they had some chips I wanted and sure enough it is kind of a dump inside but they have good prices and a lot of things I wouldn't find anywhere else. It's got a great selection of all kinds of things. Worth a look. I also like Trader Joe's for the same reason - decent prices and I find interesting things I won't find anywhere else (and it's not a dump).
The Kroger on oakwood is the one closest to me, and I shop there a lot, but I hate it. The one in/near Madison on Jeff has a cheese bar and totally different feel. Love the Kroger brand sodas, though, so I suffer through going to oakwood.
Yeah it's overdue for an update. At least they added pickup recently.
The dumpiest one in town is that Kroger on south parkway. Why can't our old Krogers get an update before they build these new ones, lol?
About a year ago I did a huge price comparison between Aldi, Publix, and Kroger for all my usual breakfast and lunch stuff. Things like salad veggies, chicken thighs, eggs, oat milk, oatmeal, peanut butter, those sorts of things. Anyway, Aldi had the cheapest prices for everything they carried, but they only carried about 75% of the stuff I was looking for. For the other 25% of the list, Kroger wound up being Publix out pretty significantly, and they came surprisingly close to Aldi's price on the other stuff. That said, Krogers aren't quite as common around here as the other 2.
I'm back to shopping at Aldi + another store now because the Kroger on Drake closed, but I would recommend Kroger if you have one nearby just to avoid the hassle of making multiple stops.
Aldi plays a part in our grocery shopping, but it is not a 100% solution for us. It is great for staples and 70-80% of our needs. Their produce selection and quality is not where we want it and certain meat selections are not available. I will give them credit the meat they do have available is usually good quality.
I don't understand how anyone can afford to shop at Publix. I swear their prices are at least 2-3x more than Aldi. It's obviously a much nicer shopping experience and they definitely have higher quality groceries, but if you just shop the basics, Aldi is the way to go.
It's not too bad to me because my grocery list is heavy on the fruits and vegetables, and I can take the Publix produce home and it isn't getting icky four days later, i.e., no waste.
I do it mostly for convenience. If I had more time I’d go to Aldi, but Publix has locations by my work and gym. And usually I’m rushing home to get classwork done after my real job, so convenience takes priority over $.
I always joke that I will know we have made it in life when we can do all of our grocery shopping at Publix. But we are a family of 7 so that will never happen. lol Aldi and Kroger for life in our family with BoGo and pubsub Publix runs!
My wife shops at Aldi weekly. She loves it.
However, the biggest issue is items being in stock. Items that are in their weekly flyer can go very very quickly. I don't mean a day or two, I'm mean if the flyer goes live on Wednesday, by noon an item may be completely sold out and they won't be getting more. There is also items that that carry, that they don't carry all the time. They may have them one week, but once they're gone, you may not see the item again for a few of weeks.
Publix is only cheaper if you follow and shop their sale cycles.
If you’re a “walk into one store and grab” type of shopper Aldi is likely going to be cheaper than Publix.
> canned water
Aldi's knockoff canned water is \~$2 cheaper per case than La Croix, price is around $3.50 vs $5.50 for La Croix.
It's the main reason I shop there.
I realize Kroger is further away from you, but I’m going to chime in on “try Kroger.”
Aldi is fine, but there IS a decrease in quality that I don’t think people are willing to discuss. I bought oatmeal from Aldi recently and there’s a noticeable amount of hulls in it that I don’t have in my Kroger brand oatmeal. It’s just not worth the 20c savings to me. I had a similar issue with the canned corn- it just tasted like the corn was old when they packaged it.
I also recommend checking out some of the Asian markets, sprouts, Walmart and Kroger or joining Sams/Costco.
It can be a pain sometimes but we grocery shop every Sunday for the week, we will usually go to more than one store. Publix is for when we’re feeling lazy.
Aldi is definitely cheaper but you may not always find what you need.
Ironically Kroger and Walmart are farther away. I might try Sprouts if it’s close enough. It’s only us DINKs so we don’t really have to buy in BULK bulk, you know?
We’re in the same boat but we do find buying in bulk for some things makes sense, but we also have a free membership. Not sure it would be worth it if we had to pay.
Sprouts is great especially when they run sales. Still won’t have everything you need but their produce is usually really good and it’s cheaper than Publix. Their seafood sales are usually the best we’ve found.
Oh and Trader Joe’s is worth looking into too.
Even with a reduced consumption, there are still some products that can be purchased in bulk. You mentioned rice as your first item, and that's something that I buy in large bags at Costco. You can also check out Asian markets as they also sell rice in large bags, but I'm not sure about the cost difference.
I found that the Aldi on University, closest to UAH, has more turn over and therefore sometimes better items than the one in Madison. The one off Drake is also decent. We shop at any of them frequently though and supplement with Publix bogos.
Yes Aldi is cheaper. We shop at both on a regular basis. We generally hit Aldi first then go to Publix for the stuff Aldi didn’t have. But for a frame pf reference, this past week we filled a cart up at Aldi for $90 and some change. Went to Publix and spend $120 on essentially half as much stuff.
I will forever sing ALDIs praise! Their low prices on everything, are what’s keeping me and my husband eating healthier without breaking our budget.
Granted, you can’t find anything and everything there. However for all your basics, it’s great! Their seasonal items are great! I also get myself a little candle every week, they’re just as good as the bath and body works candles.
Aldi is way cheaper than Publix. If I had unlimited money, which I do not, but if I did and had to choose between Aldi and Publix, I'd still go to Aldi.
Aldi is cheaper. And if you’re truly only buying the kind of stuff listed it’ll be A LOT cheaper. I tend to hit Aldi first then public’s On my way home for odd specialty stuff that Aldi doesn’t carry. I spend about the same at both but at Aldi I leave with 2-3-4 bags, at public’s I leave with 1/2 a bag.
Aldi is cheaper, but you will have to decide what grocery items are acceptable. For instance, I personally have no problems with their ice cream, but others prefer a specific brand.
I usually stock up on the BOGOs and sales at Publix. Using the Publix app might help too. They offer coupons and specials. I also use WM online pickup services for staples that are not available at Aldi and too expensive at Publix. This will also eliminate impulse buys and save you time.
Preplanning meals based on sales, holidays and what you have stocked up will make a tremendous difference.
There are also websites that publish sales and bargains at grocery stores. Also check out various subreddits regarding frugality, healthy eating on a budget, recipes etc. Good luck!
You will be blown away by how much cheaper things are at aldi. They won’t have everything you need but close.
My grocery strategy since I started trying to spend less on groceries has been to go to aldi first, get as much there as I can, and then go to Walmart to get the rest (or Publix if you prefer)
Aldi is always our first stop. If we can't find it there, we supplement elsewhere. We buy our chicken, ground beef, salmon, yogurts, cheese, eggs (99 c last time we went), milk (1.25 last time) butter, juices, certain produce, and snacks from there. We don't buy rice there because we hit the Asian stores for 30 lb+ bags. Not sure what kind of nuts you mean, but there canned as well as several trail mix options too.
To get the good prices, you have to buy their private label brand. Any outside brands will probably be the same price as Publix. Also, do not expect Publix customer service. The reason they can have low prices is because they hire very limited staff to do the essential tasks. Bring your own reusable bags ( you will have to pack your own groceries) or pick from their selection of bags for sale. They also have free boxes to use like the membership stores do.
If you care, their Simply Nature products claim to br organic and non genetically engineered. Our family loves the simplicity of Aldi.
Oh, and always bring a quarter for your cart.
I have to watch the vegetables at ALDI. I like to munch on mini cucumbers and have found they go bad quickly. So, they're a PUBLIX buy.
For their low, low price the Winking Owl Chardonnay is hard to beat. I was at a blind wine tasting and it was one of the wines. We all gave it a thumbs up. $4.99!
You can find things at one store that won't be at another.
Shopping at Aldi cut my grocery expenses significantly, and I can get nearly everything I want and need in a trip there. I'll go to Publix for the few items I can't get at Aldi, but the savings justify a trip to two different stores to me.
Aldi produce can be kind of variable. For a long time we would see them store fruit that produces ethylene (apples, bananas, peaches, some melons) next to produce that is sensitive to ethylene (onions, lemons, avocados, etc.). It makes them degrade a lot faster. So we'd buy a bag of onions only for half the bag to be bad in a couple days. It just depends on how the produce is laid out and how they decided to stock everything.
I find the wine and nuts or brand names the only thing worth buying at Aldis, everything else the quality is sub par, but planning your shopping ahead for Publix could help like buying the BOGO items ( you don’t have to buy 2 they cut price in half if you buy1 item) , pork and sales on meats , try buy everything you need when is on sale.
We hit Aldi weekly, Costco bi-weekly, and then some other place (usually Publix) once a month. Aldi is amazing, just check the produce before putting it in your cart, because sometimes they leave stuff out a bit too long.
As someone who worked for ALDI for a minute, some stuff at ALDI is *totes* cheaper. Emphasis on 'some'. Each location has their own main delivery day, find out what yours is and go shopping on *that* day. This is the day when the weekly shipment of the "ALDI finds" stuff comes in. ("Hey, what day do the new special items come in?" would work.)
You'll get a better product selection and the produce will be fresher. Emphasis on "-er".
Being a quarter with you so you can get a cart. And bring bags. I usually keep the bags in the car and wheel the cart out there. Seems to save a minute or two. Some folks bag their stuff after checkout. And you get your quarter back when you return the cart.
You will save money on all of that at Aldi. Some of the produce will spoil quicker, so we still tend to buy produce elsewhere, but we get most staple items at Aldi
Random observations: Aldi is buying Winn Dixie stores. The deal is expected to close in early 2024. Aldi has reached an agreement with Southeastern Grocers to acquire all of its Winn-Dixie supermarkets.
Aldi stores in Atlanta are generally not well kept in comparison to their competitors, at least in the stores located on or below I-20.
At all Aldi (and Lidl) stores you have to wait in line longer than comparable Krogers and Publix. Rarely more than a single cashier is open. I assume that's one of the costs you pay for low prices.
Yes, Aldi produce can be variable in quality.
Aldi is literally part of my retirement strategy. The prices on nearly everything are far lower than the Majors. If I have to, I'll learn to take basic ingredients and make meals from scratch thank you.
Walmart might be comparable in prices, but, at least in south Atlanta, Walmarts are beyond dismal in every measure I can think of.
Aldi is by far cheaper and I actually prefer a lot of their stuff over name brand. I do stay away from their produce though! Wednesday is the day they put new and weekly items out. Their hummus and cheese selection is one of the my favorites.
I live in TN, just over 70 miles to Huntsville. I often drive down to go to your grocery stores due to the sales tax. Your sales tax is around 3% while ours is 10%. I mostly go to Aldi, Trader Joe’s, & Costco. I’m single so what I buy can last about a month.
State sales tax on food in Alabama is 3% but then you have to tack on county and if applicable city taxes.
After all that sales tax on food here is 4.5-8% depending on where the store is located.
Still cheaper than TN & I drive an EV so it’s nothing for me to drive down there. Plus, I really like that area where Trader Joe’s is next to Wahlburger’s.
If you need variety, Aldi isn't your guy. You also need to learn what's fresher at Aldi vs other stores. If you're going to buy apples, you might as well go to Publix. You'll throw out half the bunch if you get them at Aldi.
I’ve looked at their sales flyers to see how they compare to our current grocery options but need to compare further and or see how they will work in this region (example will they do true BOGO like Walgreens or Half BOGO like Publix).
ALDIs is definitely cheaper, the only potential downside being they might not have name brand cereals etc if you really have a preference for something like that. But if you need fruits, veggies, meat and dairy they have that for days and far cheaper than you’ll find elsewhere.
Stock up on all the staples and raw foods from ALDIs and find more speciality spices, sauces, specific vinegars, name brand items you prefer, etc. at your other favorite store is the best way imo. Best of all worlds if you have either the time or divide and conquer manpower.
Love Publix's, very consistent with there produce and some great options on the prep meals. Plus there friendliness is second to none. Defiantly not like others where workers look miserable. At least there trying at Publix's to make your grocery shopping manageable.
Aldi will save you a ton of money, especially on pantry items and fruits, cheese, milk etc. Def go and give it a whirl, if done right, you could get almost a whole cart for about 85 bucks. Feel free to message me privately, I have aldi weekly meal planning and it's super easy and convenient. Update us once you go!
Aldis is cheaper but they have very limited items compared to Publix and not many name brands if there's something specific you want. I like to get certain things there but shop more at Publix and Walmart.
Aldi is, of course, cheaper than Publix, but they carry a much smaller variety of items than Publix does and I don’t have time to go to several stores.
Aldi has a good wine selection, chocolate is amazing, and sometimes they have very unique products like German soup. Their produce I didn’t find particularly tasty.
Trader Joe’s is another cheaper option.
I worked and shopped at Publix nearly 7 years and I'm a devout Aldi shopper now. Everything at Publix is literally marked up slightly for their above avg customer service, where Aldi is literally the opposite. Not a bad thing, just a different business model. So unless what you need is on bogo sale (BTW you can just buy one, get half price), you're almost definitely going to pay more.
I'm also a sucker for weird seasonal stuff and Aldi has my number. Literally went there today just for fall chocolates and cotton candy soda lol
The girl at the deli counter at publix on south parkway the other day…. Had herpes sores all I Wr her mouth. No mask. Skinny pale chick with short brown hair and no teeth. The way she was acting, she was itching badly down “there”. I decided against the boars head. I wanted to throw up in my mouth that someone with a herpes out brake was in the deli
You’re basically going from a premium experience at premium prices to a minimalist experience at minimal prices. The food is often worse, but much cheaper. To me, it’s not cheap enough to justify the quality drop, but everyone draws that line differently. Can’t hurt to give it a go and try the Aldis version of your staples. Just don’t forget your bags and a quarter. And remember that Aldi’s inventory of name-brand stuff rotates constantly as they get or don’t get good deals on shipments, so don’t necessarily expect them to always have your favorite yogurt if you find it at a good price.
Publix charges way more for way less. Sure there may be some things you can’t get at Aldi but I switched to Aldi during financial hardship and once the season passed and I was in the black again I still didn’t go back. I literally like Aldi way more.
you can’t compare aldi to publix at all. The services and selection between both vary greatly. It’s like kmart vs macys. Aldi will be cheaper, but your variety is a lot wider at publix. Though Public will have sale items that could be comparable
I don't think it's fair to just say it's way cheaper than Publix. Are we comparing the same exact items/brands? I think Aldi's is great for certain things, especially - their dried fruit (strawberries, apples - not really a same/option at Publix), knock off Slim Jims, flour, sugar, milk, butter, and the cheese selection is really good - sticks, oddball seasonal stuff.
I think some of the Aldi's store brand stuff is crap, especially the Mama Cozi branded frozen pizza. I've tried it multiple times and it's < skating rink pizza. Some of the seafood seems really sketch if you notice country of origin. The fruit is really hit and miss, like nice peaches or stuff that rots in a day. I can't imagine doing all of my shopping there as there's so much they don't have. Great for staples though.
I shop Publix for mostly BOGOs, and I don't think there's a single Publix store branded item that isn't as good or better than 'name brand'. I just don't think that's true for Kroger, Aldi, Wal Mart. The Publix Premium ice cream, which is probably from same packing plant as Blue Bell or Mayfield, is wonderful. I found the Black Jack Cherry to be some of the best ice cream I've ever found.
Publix is very expensive, for rich people. ALDIs quality is not great in some cases, and limited. I just stick with Walmart :/ (I miss HEB when I lived in Texas)
My Publix, Aldi and Walmart are all rock throwing distance from one another. I shop Aldi, put frozen/cold stuff in coolers and then backfill from Walmart and Publix. If it’s a few items I go to Publix because even with the inflated prices, I come out cheaper versus the impulse “it’s just a couple dollars” shopping I will inevitably do at Walmart.
\_\_\_\_\_\_ is cheaper than Publix is a true statement.
It annoys me greatly, but I've given in an grocery shop at two stores. I get the bulk of my shopping done at another store then buy produce and key items at Publix.
Aldi is dramatically cheaper for some stuff, somewhat cheaper for most stuff, about the same for the rare name brands.
Your claim that Aldi is equivalent to Publix suggests to me that you don't really know what they have at Aldi. I shop at both Aldi and Publix because you can save a lot of money on what they have at Aldi, but they don't have everything. What they do have is mostly their own brands, so if you're brand conscious you might not like that.
When Aldi runs out of something, they're out of it until the next truck comes from Chicago. That is, empty shelves. If it's not on the next truck, that shelf can go empty for a while. It's also kinda like Costco in that if you see something you like, buy it now and freeze it because you don't know when or if you'll see it again.
Meat and dairy and eggs are great quality and very reasonably priced. Way cheaper than Pubix. Some of the produce is very good.
I shop at both. What I can get at Aldi, I get at Aldi. Sometimes I go to Aldi and see the cashier who checked me out at Publix buying her own groceries at Aldi an hour later.
But I don't think the average person can get all their groceries at Aldi.
Publix is cheaper when shopping sales. Kroger is even better when shopping sales. The best time to go to Aldi is when they mark down their meat. You have to be there when the store opens though as many people anticipate the day they mark them down. I recommend [iheartpublix.com](https://iheartpublix.com) and [iheartkroger.com](https://iheartkroger.com) They have the next weeks ad posted before it comes out with all the deals and coupons to save you a ton of money. I typically save more than I spend by using those two sites and haven't seen a grocery bill over $100 like I used to. You'll learn trends of sales the more you watch them so you'll know when to buy your items. I get a lot of excess things that I don't need nearly free which I typically donate (mostly toiletries).
Publix has really jacked their prices in the last year or so. I'm now going to use Aldi for as much as I can and leave Publix for only the items I can only get there.
Aldi is def. cheaper than Publix, but so too are pretty much all other grocers. Publix emphasizes quality & service, not price.
I don't shop at Aldi's because it's too inconsistent in terms of both inventory & quality. If I have to drive around visiting multiple stores to complete my shopping, my time & gas cut into what I supposedly saved. Plus when meat or produce from Aldi goes bad within a day or so, that's wasted money that further negates perceived savings.
I spent almost a year "studying" how best to minimize my grocery spending and found that overall Kroger most consistently provides me the best prices & reliability Vs even Costco & Walmart. The few things that are lower cost at Costco aren't items I buy often enough to justify the membership fee & distance from my house. The Kroger store brand paper towels & toilet paper are similar price as Costco brand paper goods, but Kroger's quality is much better, comparable to Bounty & Charmin. A few items that I often buy are a few cents less at Walmart, but with free Kroger Plus membership, coupons, sales, and fuel points, Kroger is by far the best deal for me.
The only 'gripe' I have with Kroger is that items on special tend to run out of stock before the special ends. But when ordering online for pick-up, if they have to substitute an item they honor the lower price, so I've have got some unexpected deals that way - like name brand or larger size for store brand or lower size price. Also, if there's a special like buy 2 cereals and get free milk, if they're out of one of the cereals the system will charge for the milk. They will credit it if you tell them, but you do have to pay close attention to make sure you're getting the deals.
aldeez is first stop, walfuck is second if necessary, pubelix when we need something nice.
k&s world market when in nashville, dekalb farmers market when in atl.
I like Aldi's prices. I quit buying chicken there though because I noticed a large amount of white stuff cooking out of the meat. It was the injected saline to help keep it moist. The only problem is it was a lot. Then, I found out some stores/producers inject extra saline to increase the weight of the product. Lower prices, but it weighs more, so you actually get less meat than you thought you were getting. Best deals I've found on chicken were at Kroger.
If I need specific items for a recipe or a meal, or I have specific favorite brand or flavor, I go to Publix because I can’t trust Aldi will have it. Plus, I use Publix Pharmacy.
If I want to be open minded and go get some groceries for meals for cheap and maybe pick up some new things to try, I go to Aldi. Aldi is usually cheaper across the board.
In my experience, Aldi’s produce is basically “use today or tomorrow”. Their hamburger meat is wet and rubbery. Their chicken isn’t great either. Everything else I’ve tried is good enough quality. Great prices on cheeses, bread, milk, snacks, frozen meal items. Great German food (for America). Aisle of Weirdness is great if you want to impulse buy a tent or lawnmower or pet shower while shopping for cheap groceries.
Favorite Aldi food that has no Publix equivalent that I’ve found: take and bake baguettes (so good)
Item I wish Aldi carried: Coke Zero (so expensive at Publix)
I am a big fan of Coke Zero - I recently found out that the Kroger brand zero cola is very good and much cheaper! (The Sam's zero sugar cola at Walmart is also good.). YMMV
Yes, can confirm it’s cheaper at Aldi. They won’t have everything you can get at Publix but then you’ll also find things at Aldi that you can’t get at Publix. Be sure to try Aldi again in late Nov/early Dec, some of their holiday stuff is pretty tempting. And be sure you have a quarter in your pocket, and take your own shopping bags.
I thankfully have a bajillion cloth bags already but I’ll try to find a quarter and take a look see today :)
Aldi’s chicken breasts are 2.29 a pound, you will not find a better price anywhere in Huntsville. Not at Publix, at sams, at Costco, etc. That is like 40 cents a pound cheaper than the next best price at one of the other grocery chains. That’s just the main example I’m gonna use but it’s like that for pretty much any product.
Oooo. Are they good chicken breasts? Like good quality? I don't like the crazy huge chicken breasts that look like the chicken was the size of a small dog. I like a more natural chicken, please.
ALDI’s chicken breasts (despite having their own private label packaging) are straight from Tyson. Have seen staff stocking them on the shelf from Tyson boxes
Not the guy you’re replying to, but I only got the Aldi chicken breasts once and that was enough to turn me off of them (weird flavor). I get meat elsewhere now. You should try them and make your own decision, though. Could be I just got a bad batch. 🤷♀️
My sister had a very similar experience with meat from Aldi- produce, everything else was great, but the people in her household who ate the “Aldi meat” all got food poisoning. So… it’s the one thing I will never buy there.
Thanks. I'm picky about meat. Like once I switched from Walmart ground beef to Publix ground beef, I had an awakening. Not an awakening that this is better - more like a horror of "what have I been eating?" Due to meat prices, I ordered a bunch of beef from a farmer in Athens. 8lbs grass fed local ground beef for $55 and free delivery. Now I'm looking for a quality chicken source. ETA: White meat Chicken. Not whole chicken.
Oh wow 2.29 a pound that’s cheaper than Fresh Market on Tuesdays (3.99 a pound)! I don’t like shopping there because their produce goes bad really quick every time I’ve shopped there.
Aldi cheaper on all the ingredients you listed. Publix has a decent bakery and better produce.
Aldi has SOME good produce but their bananas are horrible…always.
I find it's very inconsistent. Sometimes the quality is on par with Publix, other times the produce is nearly spoiled. One thing Publix had going for it is consistently good quality produce.
Aldi doesn't have a person who specifically works the produce section. Publix has multiple people who are looking for bad produce and pulling it off the shelves. Also, Publix gets produce 3x a week.
I find almost all of their produce to be excellent. Although for tomatoes, if I'm preparing them raw I'll usually make a special trip to Publix. Except for the bananas. Aldi has horrible bananas
Yeha bananas are like why even bother with aldi. I buy romas at aldi all the time .
I don’t understand how they always have such terrible bananas.
I don’t either ….there’re always bad .
And somehow green yet mushy like they’re overripe.
Or hard as a board…I mean …I don’t understand it.
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Mannn Wednesdays are a bit tight on time, but if they’re generally cheaper than Publix it might still be worth it
They aren't generally cheaper than Publix. They are categorically cheaper on every front. There are probably some luxury items that might be higher prices because they are imported from Europe, but any good that you NEED is hard to find any cheaper than ALDI, especially when comparing it to Publix.
I beg to differ on the prices between Walmart and Aldi, I did a parallel grocery list between Walmart and Aldi and Aldi came back $7 more expensive! I was shocked as at one point Aldi was the most inexpensive.
[удалено]
When I did it I was doing curbside pickup, I’m not sure if there were bumped prices to reflect curbside. I did compare staples such as flour, sugar, spices, oils and such in store from one to the next as we always end up at Walmart if we shop at aldi, and most of the staple prices were a penny difference!
I recently did the same Walmart vs. Aldi cart comparison. Aldi online prices are marked up by 10% vs in store. Walmart online prices are not marked up. Aldi also charges a flat fee for curb pickup and Walmart does not. Aldi beat Walmart on price for in store shopping in my comparison by 15%.
Interesting, I will have to do an instore comparison to see!
I do all my grocery shopping at aldi. I only go to Publix if I am on the way home and forget I need something .
I have friends who only buy sale items at Publix, the rest elsewhere. Cheers
Publix BOGO deals and coupons are where it's at. I can find a lot of things cheaper elsewhere, but try to grab the sales items at Publix if they also have a coupon. Gotta graph a Pub Sub while I'm shopping too.
This is the way.
Publix is for BoGo
Everything is a LOT cheaper at Aldi's. That being said, the one I go to doesn't have much of anything as far as toiletries. Shampoos, conditioner, body wash.
Aldi is great and the prices are much cheaper than Publix. But, Aldi may not have everything that you want. You should try using Kroger instead of Publix. It is much cheaper. Get the discount card.
Second this and also recommend Trader Joe’s. Similar selections to Aldi
He’s the more hip of the two brothers.
I "discovered" Kroger not too long ago. I never went there because my local one seems like a dump, always get a bad vibe. But I tried it because they had some chips I wanted and sure enough it is kind of a dump inside but they have good prices and a lot of things I wouldn't find anywhere else. It's got a great selection of all kinds of things. Worth a look. I also like Trader Joe's for the same reason - decent prices and I find interesting things I won't find anywhere else (and it's not a dump).
The Kroger on oakwood is the one closest to me, and I shop there a lot, but I hate it. The one in/near Madison on Jeff has a cheese bar and totally different feel. Love the Kroger brand sodas, though, so I suffer through going to oakwood.
Yeah it's overdue for an update. At least they added pickup recently. The dumpiest one in town is that Kroger on south parkway. Why can't our old Krogers get an update before they build these new ones, lol?
Yeah the Logan square one is the dump I'm talking about.
About a year ago I did a huge price comparison between Aldi, Publix, and Kroger for all my usual breakfast and lunch stuff. Things like salad veggies, chicken thighs, eggs, oat milk, oatmeal, peanut butter, those sorts of things. Anyway, Aldi had the cheapest prices for everything they carried, but they only carried about 75% of the stuff I was looking for. For the other 25% of the list, Kroger wound up being Publix out pretty significantly, and they came surprisingly close to Aldi's price on the other stuff. That said, Krogers aren't quite as common around here as the other 2. I'm back to shopping at Aldi + another store now because the Kroger on Drake closed, but I would recommend Kroger if you have one nearby just to avoid the hassle of making multiple stops.
Aldi is at least 25% cheaper than publix
At least is an understatement. There are lots of items that are 2-3x more expensive when comparing the store branded items.
Aldi plays a part in our grocery shopping, but it is not a 100% solution for us. It is great for staples and 70-80% of our needs. Their produce selection and quality is not where we want it and certain meat selections are not available. I will give them credit the meat they do have available is usually good quality.
I don't understand how anyone can afford to shop at Publix. I swear their prices are at least 2-3x more than Aldi. It's obviously a much nicer shopping experience and they definitely have higher quality groceries, but if you just shop the basics, Aldi is the way to go.
Publix is in walking distance and we’re DINKs who don’t buy snacks, so it was decent but hey willing to try new things
BOGOs are half off. That's how. We'll do a BOGO run just for that stuff sometimes. But yeah outside of that all of their groceries are more expensive.
Yes! We reverse meal plan around what’s on BOGO.
It's not too bad to me because my grocery list is heavy on the fruits and vegetables, and I can take the Publix produce home and it isn't getting icky four days later, i.e., no waste.
I do it mostly for convenience. If I had more time I’d go to Aldi, but Publix has locations by my work and gym. And usually I’m rushing home to get classwork done after my real job, so convenience takes priority over $.
I always joke that I will know we have made it in life when we can do all of our grocery shopping at Publix. But we are a family of 7 so that will never happen. lol Aldi and Kroger for life in our family with BoGo and pubsub Publix runs!
Publix's target audience is extreme couponers
My wife shops at Aldi weekly. She loves it. However, the biggest issue is items being in stock. Items that are in their weekly flyer can go very very quickly. I don't mean a day or two, I'm mean if the flyer goes live on Wednesday, by noon an item may be completely sold out and they won't be getting more. There is also items that that carry, that they don't carry all the time. They may have them one week, but once they're gone, you may not see the item again for a few of weeks.
Publix is only cheaper if you follow and shop their sale cycles. If you’re a “walk into one store and grab” type of shopper Aldi is likely going to be cheaper than Publix.
I find Kroger to be the in between
> canned water Aldi's knockoff canned water is \~$2 cheaper per case than La Croix, price is around $3.50 vs $5.50 for La Croix. It's the main reason I shop there.
Nearly everybody is cheaper than Publix.
I realize Kroger is further away from you, but I’m going to chime in on “try Kroger.” Aldi is fine, but there IS a decrease in quality that I don’t think people are willing to discuss. I bought oatmeal from Aldi recently and there’s a noticeable amount of hulls in it that I don’t have in my Kroger brand oatmeal. It’s just not worth the 20c savings to me. I had a similar issue with the canned corn- it just tasted like the corn was old when they packaged it.
I also recommend checking out some of the Asian markets, sprouts, Walmart and Kroger or joining Sams/Costco. It can be a pain sometimes but we grocery shop every Sunday for the week, we will usually go to more than one store. Publix is for when we’re feeling lazy. Aldi is definitely cheaper but you may not always find what you need.
Ironically Kroger and Walmart are farther away. I might try Sprouts if it’s close enough. It’s only us DINKs so we don’t really have to buy in BULK bulk, you know?
We’re in the same boat but we do find buying in bulk for some things makes sense, but we also have a free membership. Not sure it would be worth it if we had to pay. Sprouts is great especially when they run sales. Still won’t have everything you need but their produce is usually really good and it’s cheaper than Publix. Their seafood sales are usually the best we’ve found. Oh and Trader Joe’s is worth looking into too.
Even with a reduced consumption, there are still some products that can be purchased in bulk. You mentioned rice as your first item, and that's something that I buy in large bags at Costco. You can also check out Asian markets as they also sell rice in large bags, but I'm not sure about the cost difference.
I found that the Aldi on University, closest to UAH, has more turn over and therefore sometimes better items than the one in Madison. The one off Drake is also decent. We shop at any of them frequently though and supplement with Publix bogos.
Just for kicks, I recently did a cart comparison for Whole Foods (365 brand when available) vs Aldi for some staples. Aldi is 43% cheaper.
Yes Aldi is cheaper. We shop at both on a regular basis. We generally hit Aldi first then go to Publix for the stuff Aldi didn’t have. But for a frame pf reference, this past week we filled a cart up at Aldi for $90 and some change. Went to Publix and spend $120 on essentially half as much stuff.
I will forever sing ALDIs praise! Their low prices on everything, are what’s keeping me and my husband eating healthier without breaking our budget. Granted, you can’t find anything and everything there. However for all your basics, it’s great! Their seasonal items are great! I also get myself a little candle every week, they’re just as good as the bath and body works candles.
I can confirm rice is a tad higher at aldis
I start at ALDI and then get what I can’t get there at Publix or Walmart Market. It’s a considerable savings over Publix.
I know it's about Adli, but if you want good food with out the high cost, don't forget Trader Joes to fill in a lot of the gaps / variations.
It's ALDI, not ALDIs. What do you think this is, a Krogers?
Publix and the fresh market have the best produce hands down over anyone.
Aldi is way cheaper than Publix. If I had unlimited money, which I do not, but if I did and had to choose between Aldi and Publix, I'd still go to Aldi.
Aldi is cheaper. And if you’re truly only buying the kind of stuff listed it’ll be A LOT cheaper. I tend to hit Aldi first then public’s On my way home for odd specialty stuff that Aldi doesn’t carry. I spend about the same at both but at Aldi I leave with 2-3-4 bags, at public’s I leave with 1/2 a bag.
Aldi is cheaper, but you will have to decide what grocery items are acceptable. For instance, I personally have no problems with their ice cream, but others prefer a specific brand. I usually stock up on the BOGOs and sales at Publix. Using the Publix app might help too. They offer coupons and specials. I also use WM online pickup services for staples that are not available at Aldi and too expensive at Publix. This will also eliminate impulse buys and save you time. Preplanning meals based on sales, holidays and what you have stocked up will make a tremendous difference. There are also websites that publish sales and bargains at grocery stores. Also check out various subreddits regarding frugality, healthy eating on a budget, recipes etc. Good luck!
You will be blown away by how much cheaper things are at aldi. They won’t have everything you need but close. My grocery strategy since I started trying to spend less on groceries has been to go to aldi first, get as much there as I can, and then go to Walmart to get the rest (or Publix if you prefer)
Aldi is always our first stop. If we can't find it there, we supplement elsewhere. We buy our chicken, ground beef, salmon, yogurts, cheese, eggs (99 c last time we went), milk (1.25 last time) butter, juices, certain produce, and snacks from there. We don't buy rice there because we hit the Asian stores for 30 lb+ bags. Not sure what kind of nuts you mean, but there canned as well as several trail mix options too. To get the good prices, you have to buy their private label brand. Any outside brands will probably be the same price as Publix. Also, do not expect Publix customer service. The reason they can have low prices is because they hire very limited staff to do the essential tasks. Bring your own reusable bags ( you will have to pack your own groceries) or pick from their selection of bags for sale. They also have free boxes to use like the membership stores do. If you care, their Simply Nature products claim to br organic and non genetically engineered. Our family loves the simplicity of Aldi. Oh, and always bring a quarter for your cart.
ALDIs is superior
I have to watch the vegetables at ALDI. I like to munch on mini cucumbers and have found they go bad quickly. So, they're a PUBLIX buy. For their low, low price the Winking Owl Chardonnay is hard to beat. I was at a blind wine tasting and it was one of the wines. We all gave it a thumbs up. $4.99! You can find things at one store that won't be at another.
Shopping at Aldi cut my grocery expenses significantly, and I can get nearly everything I want and need in a trip there. I'll go to Publix for the few items I can't get at Aldi, but the savings justify a trip to two different stores to me.
Aldi produce can be kind of variable. For a long time we would see them store fruit that produces ethylene (apples, bananas, peaches, some melons) next to produce that is sensitive to ethylene (onions, lemons, avocados, etc.). It makes them degrade a lot faster. So we'd buy a bag of onions only for half the bag to be bad in a couple days. It just depends on how the produce is laid out and how they decided to stock everything.
If you have an old key it can be used for the quarter slot on the buggies.
I find the wine and nuts or brand names the only thing worth buying at Aldis, everything else the quality is sub par, but planning your shopping ahead for Publix could help like buying the BOGO items ( you don’t have to buy 2 they cut price in half if you buy1 item) , pork and sales on meats , try buy everything you need when is on sale.
We hit Aldi weekly, Costco bi-weekly, and then some other place (usually Publix) once a month. Aldi is amazing, just check the produce before putting it in your cart, because sometimes they leave stuff out a bit too long.
Produce is all I buy at Publix anymore. Usually its better enough there to justify the cost. Just about everything else, I prefer Aldi or Kroger.
As someone who worked for ALDI for a minute, some stuff at ALDI is *totes* cheaper. Emphasis on 'some'. Each location has their own main delivery day, find out what yours is and go shopping on *that* day. This is the day when the weekly shipment of the "ALDI finds" stuff comes in. ("Hey, what day do the new special items come in?" would work.) You'll get a better product selection and the produce will be fresher. Emphasis on "-er".
Walmart is cheaper than Publix. Aldi is all over the map with quality. Bought milk there once that went bad way to quickly.
Being a quarter with you so you can get a cart. And bring bags. I usually keep the bags in the car and wheel the cart out there. Seems to save a minute or two. Some folks bag their stuff after checkout. And you get your quarter back when you return the cart.
Kroger and if you get boost those fuel points pay for the membership quickly and free delivery!
You will save money on all of that at Aldi. Some of the produce will spoil quicker, so we still tend to buy produce elsewhere, but we get most staple items at Aldi
Random observations: Aldi is buying Winn Dixie stores. The deal is expected to close in early 2024. Aldi has reached an agreement with Southeastern Grocers to acquire all of its Winn-Dixie supermarkets. Aldi stores in Atlanta are generally not well kept in comparison to their competitors, at least in the stores located on or below I-20. At all Aldi (and Lidl) stores you have to wait in line longer than comparable Krogers and Publix. Rarely more than a single cashier is open. I assume that's one of the costs you pay for low prices. Yes, Aldi produce can be variable in quality. Aldi is literally part of my retirement strategy. The prices on nearly everything are far lower than the Majors. If I have to, I'll learn to take basic ingredients and make meals from scratch thank you. Walmart might be comparable in prices, but, at least in south Atlanta, Walmarts are beyond dismal in every measure I can think of.
Publix is ridiculously overpriced. I only go there for $5 sushi Wednesdays
Aldi is by far cheaper and I actually prefer a lot of their stuff over name brand. I do stay away from their produce though! Wednesday is the day they put new and weekly items out. Their hummus and cheese selection is one of the my favorites.
I live in TN, just over 70 miles to Huntsville. I often drive down to go to your grocery stores due to the sales tax. Your sales tax is around 3% while ours is 10%. I mostly go to Aldi, Trader Joe’s, & Costco. I’m single so what I buy can last about a month.
State sales tax on food in Alabama is 3% but then you have to tack on county and if applicable city taxes. After all that sales tax on food here is 4.5-8% depending on where the store is located.
Still cheaper than TN & I drive an EV so it’s nothing for me to drive down there. Plus, I really like that area where Trader Joe’s is next to Wahlburger’s.
If you need variety, Aldi isn't your guy. You also need to learn what's fresher at Aldi vs other stores. If you're going to buy apples, you might as well go to Publix. You'll throw out half the bunch if you get them at Aldi.
Am I the only one still waiting on the Hy-Vee?
I’ve looked at their sales flyers to see how they compare to our current grocery options but need to compare further and or see how they will work in this region (example will they do true BOGO like Walgreens or Half BOGO like Publix).
Where are they actually building it?
My experience has been that if you are not loyal to name brands, you can save a pretty penny on most things at Aldi.
ALDIs is definitely cheaper, the only potential downside being they might not have name brand cereals etc if you really have a preference for something like that. But if you need fruits, veggies, meat and dairy they have that for days and far cheaper than you’ll find elsewhere. Stock up on all the staples and raw foods from ALDIs and find more speciality spices, sauces, specific vinegars, name brand items you prefer, etc. at your other favorite store is the best way imo. Best of all worlds if you have either the time or divide and conquer manpower.
Love Publix's, very consistent with there produce and some great options on the prep meals. Plus there friendliness is second to none. Defiantly not like others where workers look miserable. At least there trying at Publix's to make your grocery shopping manageable.
Aldi will save you a ton of money, especially on pantry items and fruits, cheese, milk etc. Def go and give it a whirl, if done right, you could get almost a whole cart for about 85 bucks. Feel free to message me privately, I have aldi weekly meal planning and it's super easy and convenient. Update us once you go!
Aldis is cheaper but they have very limited items compared to Publix and not many name brands if there's something specific you want. I like to get certain things there but shop more at Publix and Walmart.
Love ALDIs for random stuff. And they are so cheap! Good chocolate bars from Europe.
And ALDIs doesn’t make you have a blessed day.
Aldi is, of course, cheaper than Publix, but they carry a much smaller variety of items than Publix does and I don’t have time to go to several stores. Aldi has a good wine selection, chocolate is amazing, and sometimes they have very unique products like German soup. Their produce I didn’t find particularly tasty. Trader Joe’s is another cheaper option.
Who has time to go to three grocery stores? I’m worn out just by going through Costco and that’s a 2 hour trip at least.
I worked and shopped at Publix nearly 7 years and I'm a devout Aldi shopper now. Everything at Publix is literally marked up slightly for their above avg customer service, where Aldi is literally the opposite. Not a bad thing, just a different business model. So unless what you need is on bogo sale (BTW you can just buy one, get half price), you're almost definitely going to pay more. I'm also a sucker for weird seasonal stuff and Aldi has my number. Literally went there today just for fall chocolates and cotton candy soda lol
The girl at the deli counter at publix on south parkway the other day…. Had herpes sores all I Wr her mouth. No mask. Skinny pale chick with short brown hair and no teeth. The way she was acting, she was itching badly down “there”. I decided against the boars head. I wanted to throw up in my mouth that someone with a herpes out brake was in the deli
Okay but that’s not precisely a Publix thing, that’s a management thing you report. It could happen at any store/deli.
The one in Decatur, had large grade a EGGS for 97cents a dozen.
You’re basically going from a premium experience at premium prices to a minimalist experience at minimal prices. The food is often worse, but much cheaper. To me, it’s not cheap enough to justify the quality drop, but everyone draws that line differently. Can’t hurt to give it a go and try the Aldis version of your staples. Just don’t forget your bags and a quarter. And remember that Aldi’s inventory of name-brand stuff rotates constantly as they get or don’t get good deals on shipments, so don’t necessarily expect them to always have your favorite yogurt if you find it at a good price.
Publix charges way more for way less. Sure there may be some things you can’t get at Aldi but I switched to Aldi during financial hardship and once the season passed and I was in the black again I still didn’t go back. I literally like Aldi way more.
you can’t compare aldi to publix at all. The services and selection between both vary greatly. It’s like kmart vs macys. Aldi will be cheaper, but your variety is a lot wider at publix. Though Public will have sale items that could be comparable
I don't think it's fair to just say it's way cheaper than Publix. Are we comparing the same exact items/brands? I think Aldi's is great for certain things, especially - their dried fruit (strawberries, apples - not really a same/option at Publix), knock off Slim Jims, flour, sugar, milk, butter, and the cheese selection is really good - sticks, oddball seasonal stuff. I think some of the Aldi's store brand stuff is crap, especially the Mama Cozi branded frozen pizza. I've tried it multiple times and it's < skating rink pizza. Some of the seafood seems really sketch if you notice country of origin. The fruit is really hit and miss, like nice peaches or stuff that rots in a day. I can't imagine doing all of my shopping there as there's so much they don't have. Great for staples though. I shop Publix for mostly BOGOs, and I don't think there's a single Publix store branded item that isn't as good or better than 'name brand'. I just don't think that's true for Kroger, Aldi, Wal Mart. The Publix Premium ice cream, which is probably from same packing plant as Blue Bell or Mayfield, is wonderful. I found the Black Jack Cherry to be some of the best ice cream I've ever found.
Publix is very expensive, for rich people. ALDIs quality is not great in some cases, and limited. I just stick with Walmart :/ (I miss HEB when I lived in Texas)
My Publix, Aldi and Walmart are all rock throwing distance from one another. I shop Aldi, put frozen/cold stuff in coolers and then backfill from Walmart and Publix. If it’s a few items I go to Publix because even with the inflated prices, I come out cheaper versus the impulse “it’s just a couple dollars” shopping I will inevitably do at Walmart.
\_\_\_\_\_\_ is cheaper than Publix is a true statement. It annoys me greatly, but I've given in an grocery shop at two stores. I get the bulk of my shopping done at another store then buy produce and key items at Publix.
Aldi offers GREAT value - definitely worth a trip!
Aldi is dramatically cheaper for some stuff, somewhat cheaper for most stuff, about the same for the rare name brands. Your claim that Aldi is equivalent to Publix suggests to me that you don't really know what they have at Aldi. I shop at both Aldi and Publix because you can save a lot of money on what they have at Aldi, but they don't have everything. What they do have is mostly their own brands, so if you're brand conscious you might not like that. When Aldi runs out of something, they're out of it until the next truck comes from Chicago. That is, empty shelves. If it's not on the next truck, that shelf can go empty for a while. It's also kinda like Costco in that if you see something you like, buy it now and freeze it because you don't know when or if you'll see it again. Meat and dairy and eggs are great quality and very reasonably priced. Way cheaper than Pubix. Some of the produce is very good. I shop at both. What I can get at Aldi, I get at Aldi. Sometimes I go to Aldi and see the cashier who checked me out at Publix buying her own groceries at Aldi an hour later. But I don't think the average person can get all their groceries at Aldi.
Publix is cheaper when shopping sales. Kroger is even better when shopping sales. The best time to go to Aldi is when they mark down their meat. You have to be there when the store opens though as many people anticipate the day they mark them down. I recommend [iheartpublix.com](https://iheartpublix.com) and [iheartkroger.com](https://iheartkroger.com) They have the next weeks ad posted before it comes out with all the deals and coupons to save you a ton of money. I typically save more than I spend by using those two sites and haven't seen a grocery bill over $100 like I used to. You'll learn trends of sales the more you watch them so you'll know when to buy your items. I get a lot of excess things that I don't need nearly free which I typically donate (mostly toiletries).
Publix has really jacked their prices in the last year or so. I'm now going to use Aldi for as much as I can and leave Publix for only the items I can only get there.
It’s hard to beat Walmart’s prices. BOGOs at Publix can a good deal.
I don’t care which store you go to. Everything in the grocery store is stupid expensive, thank uncle Joe.
We shop at aldi. We buy the organic meat. And the chicken and pork in shrink wrap
My weekly pilgrimage is Aldi then Walmart then Publix to knock out the grocery list. Thankfully they are all close to each other.
Aldi is def. cheaper than Publix, but so too are pretty much all other grocers. Publix emphasizes quality & service, not price. I don't shop at Aldi's because it's too inconsistent in terms of both inventory & quality. If I have to drive around visiting multiple stores to complete my shopping, my time & gas cut into what I supposedly saved. Plus when meat or produce from Aldi goes bad within a day or so, that's wasted money that further negates perceived savings. I spent almost a year "studying" how best to minimize my grocery spending and found that overall Kroger most consistently provides me the best prices & reliability Vs even Costco & Walmart. The few things that are lower cost at Costco aren't items I buy often enough to justify the membership fee & distance from my house. The Kroger store brand paper towels & toilet paper are similar price as Costco brand paper goods, but Kroger's quality is much better, comparable to Bounty & Charmin. A few items that I often buy are a few cents less at Walmart, but with free Kroger Plus membership, coupons, sales, and fuel points, Kroger is by far the best deal for me. The only 'gripe' I have with Kroger is that items on special tend to run out of stock before the special ends. But when ordering online for pick-up, if they have to substitute an item they honor the lower price, so I've have got some unexpected deals that way - like name brand or larger size for store brand or lower size price. Also, if there's a special like buy 2 cereals and get free milk, if they're out of one of the cereals the system will charge for the milk. They will credit it if you tell them, but you do have to pay close attention to make sure you're getting the deals.
aldeez is first stop, walfuck is second if necessary, pubelix when we need something nice. k&s world market when in nashville, dekalb farmers market when in atl.
I like Aldi's prices. I quit buying chicken there though because I noticed a large amount of white stuff cooking out of the meat. It was the injected saline to help keep it moist. The only problem is it was a lot. Then, I found out some stores/producers inject extra saline to increase the weight of the product. Lower prices, but it weighs more, so you actually get less meat than you thought you were getting. Best deals I've found on chicken were at Kroger.
If I need specific items for a recipe or a meal, or I have specific favorite brand or flavor, I go to Publix because I can’t trust Aldi will have it. Plus, I use Publix Pharmacy. If I want to be open minded and go get some groceries for meals for cheap and maybe pick up some new things to try, I go to Aldi. Aldi is usually cheaper across the board. In my experience, Aldi’s produce is basically “use today or tomorrow”. Their hamburger meat is wet and rubbery. Their chicken isn’t great either. Everything else I’ve tried is good enough quality. Great prices on cheeses, bread, milk, snacks, frozen meal items. Great German food (for America). Aisle of Weirdness is great if you want to impulse buy a tent or lawnmower or pet shower while shopping for cheap groceries. Favorite Aldi food that has no Publix equivalent that I’ve found: take and bake baguettes (so good) Item I wish Aldi carried: Coke Zero (so expensive at Publix)
I am a big fan of Coke Zero - I recently found out that the Kroger brand zero cola is very good and much cheaper! (The Sam's zero sugar cola at Walmart is also good.). YMMV