Team Clark is adamant that we will never write content influenced by or paid for by an advertiser. To support our work, we do make money from some links to companies and deals on our site. Learn more about our guarantee here.
Money expert Clark Howard is a big fan of Aldi because it can save you lots of money on your groceries, but there’s new competition from another supermarket chain with German roots — Lidl!
Lidl opened its first stores in the U.S. in mid-2017 and plans to have 150 locations by the end of 2021.
Clark has visited Lidl overseas (the company has 10,000+ locations in Europe) and described the stores as “exceptional” — so I just had to hit the road to see it for myself.
Here’s what I learned on my first trip to the Lidl supermarket!
When I walked up to the store, I reached into my pocket for a quarter to grab a shopping cart. However, that isn’t necessary. Lidl’s U.S. stores don’t require shoppers to deposit a quarter to use a shopping cart.
Of course, that’s not the case at Aldi, which does make you deposit a quarter to rent a shopping cart.
The first thing I saw inside the store was the sign for the “Fresh 5” specials in the produce department, but Lidl confirmed to Clark.com that it has changed this promotion for the better.
Since my first visit, it started offering six or more “Fresh Deals” for a full week, with specials beginning on Wednesdays.
Lidl has bright orange signs throughout the store to highlight additional price reductions. This large meat lovers pizza was only $4.84 — 50% off its original price.
In addition, a Lidl spokesperson tells me that green price stickers have been added to spotlight new products.
Speaking of prices, shoppers may not know where to look at first. Unlike most stores that list prices below the item, Lidl’s price tags are directly above the item.
Even though there are some brand names mixed in, about 90% of Lidl’s products are from its own brand, which the company says matches the quality of the big national brands.
Lidl’s peanut butter is displayed directly next to Jif in packaging that’s very similar:
When you see the Preferred Selection label, you’re getting Lidl’s premium house brand. The product line is inspired by European culinary traditions and offers seasonal favorites.
Bread and pastries are baked fresh throughout the day at Lidl. The bakery is positioned at the front of the store and has a self-service machine to slice your loaf of bread.
If you like to buy organic items, look for products in green boxes with the word “organic” printed on them. Lidl displays items in cardboard boxes to reduce the time it takes associates to stock the store.
Want an even better deal? Items that are near the “best by” date will feature orange stickers with an extra discount, such as these 30%-off packages of chicken legs.
Lidl’s money-back guarantee for its private label products is similar to the one offered by Aldi. If you don’t like an item that’s marked with Lidl’s “Love It Guarantee,” you can get a refund and a replacement.
There are some exclusions to the satisfaction guarantee, including alcohol and national branded items. Learn more here.
You can find a lot more than just groceries at Lidl. The “Lidl Surprises” section in the middle aisle offers a selection of non-food products like toys, seasonal decor, kitchen appliances and clothing.
This section reminded me of Aldi’s middle aisle and the treasure hunt experience at stores like T.J. Maxx and Marshalls.
Lidl is trying to make it easier for you to pick a bottle of wine that you’ll love. It has a 100-point rating system, as well as color coding to help you find wines by taste — such as “fresh and fruity” and “ripe and rich.”
This $2.89 bottle of sweet red wine appears to be a hot seller. It has a 93 score, which is outstanding on Lidl’s scale.
To keep the line moving fast at checkout, Lidl customers need to bag their own groceries. You can save money by bringing your own bags, but they’re also available for purchase for about 10 cents each.
When I went to pay, I noticed a prompt to enter loyalty club information. That’s where the MyLidl app comes in. You can download it for exclusive coupons, plus the latest sale ads and store openings.
Details on upcoming grand openings can also be found on Lidl’s website.
Lidl’s modern and clean store made a good first impression. Each location is about 20,000 square feet and has only six aisles, so I found that it was easy to navigate as a newbie.
If you’re planning your first trip, this map of the store layout may be helpful:
Despite the fact that Lidl stores are smaller than traditional grocery stores, I think I could probably find all of the items on a typical shopping list — unless I had a recipe that called for a specific brand.
If you’ve shopped at Lidl, what’s your review? Tell us about it on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments below.
This post was last modified on September 21, 2020 8:10 am
If you're considering subscribing to Fubo, you need to be comfortable missing out on some…
Are you looking for a way to earn 2% back on every purchase you make…
You're not alone if you're running a balance on your credit cards. Collectively, Americans are…
A big part of saving money comes down to knowing how to comparison shop. But…
If you work for a big company as a full-time employee, chances are you have…
Are you a Peacock subscriber? You soon will have to pay more to watch NBCUniversal's…