Aldi vs. Lidl vs. Walmart: Full Comparison (History, Quality, Price & Membership)

• Aldi 

History

In 1961, the Albrecht Family founded the world’s first discount grocery store in Germany. 16 years later in 1976, they opened our first ALDI store in Iowa. Today, with their ALDI headquarters in Batavia, Illinois, they have grown to more than 2,000 stores across 36 states with over 25,000 employees. For over 40 years, they have stuck to the same guiding principle: great quality should come with everyday low prices.

They hand-select and curate high-quality products for you and your family that meet or exceed the national brands in taste, quality and, of course, price. They also partner with a wide variety of local farmers to offer an array of fresh, in-season produce including organic fruits and vegetables. From USDA Choice meats to gluten-free and organic foods, ALDI are committed to bringing you the highest quality products at considerably lower prices than other grocery stores.

Quality and Safety

At ALDI, their teams carefully select the best products to meet all of your requests. From healthier choices, gluten-free items, along with other dietary needs and preferences, more than 90% of the products in their stores are under their exclusive brand.

Their Quality Assurance team has also developed strict guidelines in order to meet your high standards,so you can feel good about the food you buy at ALDI. It’s no wonder that every month, over 49 million peopleshop at ALDI for simply smarter living and to buy healthier, quality foods they’re proud to feed their family.

While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers certified synthetic colors safe for use, ALDI have opted to source plant-based color ingredients, such as beet juice, paprika and turmeric. Added MSG is an artificial flavor enhancer commonly found in savory foods. While it’s considered safe by the FDA and is naturally found in foods like tomato and cheese, ALDI have elected to remove any added MSG based on our customers’ preferences.

ALDI also proudly offer a variety of organic products within their Simply Nature line and produce department. Since 2014, ALDI have added 12 organic produce items and show no signs of stopping. All their organic food must be produced according to USDA Organic guidelines, which include, but are not limited to avoiding synthetic pesticides, artificial fertilizers, GMOs, antibiotics, growth hormones and irradiation. 

If you're looking to avoid genetically-engineered foods or ingredients, they offer a variety of items. Just look for their products, like their Simply Nature line, that bear the USDA Organic or Non-GMO Project Verified Seals.

Bisphenol-A, commonly known as BPA, is a chemical that may be found in food packaging and non-food products. If you want to avoid BPA, you can confidently shop their Simply Nature and Little Journey brands. 

Price

ALDI considers many factors when setting product prices, including production and operating costs, market conditions, local regulations, consumer demand and the competitive landscape. This may cause their prices to fluctuate from city to city, but they strive to offer the lowest prices in town.

For nine years running, ALDI has held the esteemed title of Value Leader among U.S. grocery stores by Market Force Information, and ALDI has been No. 1 for price according to the dunnhumby Retailer Preference Index Report for three years running. ALDI always maintain their significant competitive price advantage, with ALDI shoppers saving up to 50 percent compared to traditional grocers.

If a price adjustment was made on ALDI Find items within 14 days of your purchase. Please take your receipt to the store from where you purchased the product, and the store manager will make the adjustment. Seasonal and items that are available on a regular basis do not qualify for price adjustments.

Membership

You do not need a membership to shop at ALDI. ALDI's fresh foods and high quality products are available to everyone at the same low prices.

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• Lidl 

History

In 1970s, Lidl's first Lidl store opens in Germany 1973, employing three people and stocking around 500 product lines. By 1979 they open 6 more, taking their total to 30 stores. In 1980s, Lidl open 300 stores across Germany. On average each store employing seven people and stocking around 900 product lines. In 1990s, Lidl begin opening stores outside Germany, starting in France, and in 1994 they open our first UK store. In 2000s, Lidl firmly establish ourselves as a leading retailer in the UK. 

In 2017, Lidl brought their unique approach to the U.S. and opened their first stores in Virginia and the Carolinas. In less than three years, Lidl has won more than 500 awards for their unique products and shopping experience and has been recognized as a Top 3 U.S. supermarket by Food & Wine Magazine.Their U.S. footprint has grown over that same period to more than 150 stores across 9 East Coast states, with more than 5,000 U.S. team members supporting their growth.

Quality and Safety

Lidl know the importance of keeping your families safe and healthy, so at Lidl, they have an unwavering commitment to food safety. They have established strict, science-based safety and quality standards to ensure the well-being of their customers. They work very closely with their suppliers to uphold these principles and drive continuous improvement through the use of facility audits and product testing, as well as other innovative methods of quality assurance. 

Around 80% of Lidl’s products are private label—all of which undergo rigorous taste, quality and sensory testing. The farmers’ market isn’t the only place to find fresh, delicious produce. Peak Harvest brings locally sourced fruits and veggies right to you! From juicy apples to crisp lettuces, enjoy the pick of the crop every day in our produce section.

Traceable grass-fed beef. Organic certified humane chicken. They  have set the bar high with fresh and frozen meats that exceed your standards (but never your budget). Their everyday assortment of fresh and frozen seafood is sourced from sustainable fisheries and responsible farms.

Good meals start with great ingredients. From produce to poultry to pantry products, you’ll spot a wide range of organic fare throughout your aisles. The quality speaks for itself, but that won’t stop their from devoting an entire webpage to this assortment! 

They also  have an in-house Master of Wine™, Adam Lapierre which handpicks impressive wines from famed regions around the world. Sounds expensive, but they make sure he keeps it affordable.

Price

Lidl believe high quality shouldn’t have to come at a premium price. Throughout  their stores, you’ll find local produce, fresh meats and seafood, imported cheeses, European pastries, weekly surprises and more at unbelievably low prices.

Membership

Lidl offers free myLidl membership to help you save more time and money! The membership give you the following benifits:

1. Play exclusive myLidl rewards game & win rewards for your regular grocery runs;

2. Set “my store” to view product list, stock availability, prices and hours;

3. Receive 3% off every Lidl Home Delivery order placed through shopLidl or Shipt;

4. Enjoy a FREE treat on your birthday;

5. Get a $5 off $30 reward for signing in to the app as a myLidl member for the first time;

6. Create personalized shopping lists you can share with friends & family;

7. Enable app notifications to receive updates on coupons and specials;

8. Select ingredients from Lidl's recipes to conveniently add to your shopping list;

9. All eligible discounts will be automatically added to your account & applied to your purchase.

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• Walmart 

History

On July 2, 1962, Sam Walton opens the first Walmart store in Rogers, Arkansas. In the 1970's, a decade of incredible growth, "Mr. Sam" begins to take Walmart national, providing his vision's widespread appeal. In the 1980s, the first Sam's Club opens, serving small businesses and individuals, and the first Walmart Supercenter opens, combining a supermarket with general merchandise. By 1990, Walmart is the nation's No. 1 retailer. As the Walmart Supercenter redefines convenience and one-stop shopping, Everyday Low Prices goes international.Walmart enters the new millennium dedicated to offering customers a seamless shopping experience, whether they are online, in a store or on a mobile device. Now Walmart has stores i n 50 states and Puerto Rico offering low prices on the broadest assortment of products through a variety of formats including the Supercenter, Discount Store and Neighborhood Market.

Walmart Supercenters offer a one-stop shopping experience by combining a grocery store with fresh produce, bakery, deli and dairy products with electronics, apparel, toys and home furnishings. Most Supercenters are open 24 hours, and may also include specialty shops such as banks, hair and nail salons, restaurants, or vision centers. Walmart Discount Store is smaller than Walmart Supercenter. They offer electronics, apparel, toys, home furnishings, health and beauty aids, hardware and more in about 106,000 square feet of open, brightly lit space.Walmart Neighborhood Markets as a smaller-footprint option for communities in need of a pharmacy, affordable groceries and merchandise. Each one is approximately 38,000 square feet and employs up to 95 associates. Walmart Neighborhood Markets offer fresh produce, meat and dairy products, bakery and deli items, household supplies, health and beauty aids and a pharmacy.

Quality and Safety

Walmart aims to improve the lives of millions of people around the world by providing access to safer, healthier, more affordable food and products; educating and engaging people on food safety, nutrition and product safety; and facilitating industry innovation to promote access to safer, healthier options for food and other products (for example, sustainable chemistry).

but in the 2021 American Consumer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) study, Walmart finished last in retail, drugstores, supermarkets and online retailers, according to TheStreet. It had the lowest score of any retailer in the supermarkets category and finished well below average in every category.

Price

Walmart stores are known for their massive size and their vast selection, but if there is one thing that defines the company, it is low prices. Walmart is unabashedly proud of its low-cost merchandise, stating on its website that "Every Day Low Price (EDLP) is the cornerstone of their strategy, and their price focus has never been stronger."  What's more, it has codified in its Every Day Low Price guarantee. 

Membership

Walmart+ is a new kind of Walmart membership that can help you save over $1,300 each year. You can enjoy free 30-day trial, thenafter it cost $12.95/month or $98/year.As a Walmart+ member, you’ll enjoy benefits including:

1. Enjoy over 40,000 episodes, hit movies, live sports & more with a Paramount+ subscription included with your W+ membership!

2. Get fresh groceries & more with $0 delivery fees, all at the same low in-store prices (that means no item markups!). $35 order minimum. 

3. Even small orders ship for free! Choose from a huge assortment of eligible items and never pay shipping fees.

4. Save up to 10¢ per gallon at 14,000+ locations nationwide including Exxon, Mobil, Walmart & Murphy stations.

5. Earn rewards on eligible items online & in-store to use on future Walmart purchases.

6. Use your phone to scan items as you shop in-store & check out contact-free. Fast. Easy. Done!

7. Members enjoy special prices, product releases, online Black Friday deals & more.

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Bottom Line

1. Aldi vs. Lidl vs. Walmart: which supermarket will save you the most money?

Accroding research, Aldi was the cheapest supermarket among the three, with Lidl a close second. Aldi is 3% cheaper than Lidl, while Lidl was about 9% cheaper than Walmart, the largest grocer in the US. 

2. Aldi vs. Lidl vs. Walmart: which supermarket have the best product quality?

Money is not the only factor that matters. You also want your products to be of sufficient quality. For food items, this would include taste and freshness. Taste is a subjective matter so l do not want to make a decision for you. In regards to freshness, l could not find a difference between Aldi vs Lidl. Both of the two are very good that beats Walmart’s hands-down. But Lidl's produce section was much larger (the store, in general, was bigger too) and had a bigger selection of fresh fruits and veggies.

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