Everyone loves finding bargains at the grocery store and especially when you can save while still buying high-quality items.
Low-cost supermarkets such as Lidl and Aldi usually carry the same brands of name as more expensive shops, but for a lesser cost.
There is no one who would like to spend more money for the exact same item, which may be the reason Lidl continues to hold the title as the UK’s fastest-growing retailer.
There are over 690 Lidl stores across the UK and, in 2022, it was named the seventh largest supermarket according to market share, beating Waitrose.
The company recently announced that it was planning to open Lidl stores within Cambridge, Ely, St Ives, Newmarket and other cities and towns within the area.
Find out 17 reasons we love Lidl and how to get the most from your money-saving shopping.
Click here for Lidl opening times.
1.) The size of stores is small.
Many of the biggest supermarkets have huge superstores, where you can be sure you’ll require an enormous cart as you wander through the aisles in search of what you’re looking for and then being enticed by items that you don’t require.
However, they are it’s not Lidl. Their stores are tiny in size – between 14,000 to 26,500 sq ft . Tesco has hundreds of stores with more than 80,000 sq feet.
It’s a way of reducing the amount of amount of time you are spending in the room and also the amount you pay for.
Who would like to commit hours to an extensive trip to the supermarket? On the flip side smaller stores often result in smaller parking spaces however, we’ve never heard complaints about parking issues.
2.) Every store has an on-site bakery
On January 1, 2012 Lidl introduced bakeries in store in its stores across Europe. The breads and pastries are displayed in the front, in baskets waiting for you to grab (use tongs!) and place in bags.
The move of Lidl offers a refreshing departure from the commonly held idea that stores with low prices are just warehouses that ship packed with cheap goods.
We saw croissants at 35p, rolls for just 15p Apple turnovers at 59p as well as scones at 29p. white bloomer loaves that were sold on £1.
3) They no longer make hand-held baskets any longer
Many supermarkets have you the choice of purchasing a large trolley for your daily shopping or a basket for when you’re looking to do a quick top-up shopping.
Lidl has trolleys that are regular however the only option is now large trolley baskets that include handles and wheels, to allow you to trundle through the aisles like you do using a suitcase at the airport.
It certainly stops your arms hurting from carrying the full basket. However, these baskets are big and deep, so it appears like a clever strategy to get the customer to spend more. Keep your shopping list in mind.
4.) The prices can turn out to be extremely inexpensive
90% of the products sold at Lidl are private label brands specially designed for the company.
This means Lidl can manage manufacturing costs and reduce cost of supplies, which means it will charge less, but still earn more than the big name brands.
For instance, we spotted W5 dishwasher tablets for sale at £2.95 for a box of 60. They were reduced to £1.99 during a recently held discount event on the weekend. This is in contrast to £7 to buy 60 tablet under Tesco’s own brand as well as £7 with 60 tablets manufactured by Finish.
You will discover some well-known brands in the stores and Lidl has seen the most rapid rise in sales of these brand products – due in part to discounts like the first Big 99p sale, which saw big brands like Walkers, Cadbury, Uncle Bens, Heinz and HP available for sale at this price.
It seems like Lidl has shifted its attention to appear more upscale, while remaining true to its original mission to be a discount shop.
5) The brands that own their own labels have been recognized with prizes
The annual taste test awards presented through The Grocer compare big makes with their own-brand items from Lidl and other supermarkets.
The 2017 Awards for Lidl brands included products as pulled pork, slow-cooked lamb, piri-piri chicken, cheesesand fishcakes truffles, cookies smoke salmon, apple juice, and popcorn.
So , food labels with names you’ve never heard about doesn’t necessarily mean that food items are unpalatable and destined for the garbage bin.
The awards also went to items that are from The Co-op, Aldi, M&S, Morrisons, Asda, Iceland and Tesco and it’s evident that all supermarkets are stepping up their game with their own brand products that are no longer just subpar imitations.
If the flavor is delicious and the price is lower then it must be worth trying.
6) The products are presented in original boxes
The majority of items sold that are sold at Lidl are displayed in the containers they were delivered in. This means it’s much more convenient to replenish and doesn’t require the same amount of staff to move things onto shelving.
The downside is that this can make the stores appear basic and somewhat like a warehouse. It depends on whether you’d like your shopping trip to be a stunning visual or if you are content to pick up what you need and move onto another item your list.
7) But beware of the labelling
Similar to Aldi Similar to Aldi, Lidl cost labels can be found displayed on the shelves above, not directly underneath the product like in many supermarkets.
Don’t be caught off guard. It’s often not clear which price applies to what product, particularly in an area where the same type of product is shown.
In the image above the bread that is wholemeal isn’t priced at 45p, despite the price label that is next to it. It’s actually 79p. The label is positioned high above.
8) It’s the best for flowers that are fresh
Lidl was awarded Lidl was named Fresh Flower Retailer of the Year at the Retail Industry Awards 2017.
The selection of flowers will be contingent upon the dimensions of the shop There are some great value flowers available. For example, the Valentine’s Day roses are a great illustration. There are a lot of potted plants too.
As with the bakery that is in the store it is yet another sign of Lidl offering something more expensive to compete with the products of the major grocery chains.
9.) There are a lot of special discounts
Aldi is famous for its appealing Special Buys aisles, and at Lidl there are many comparable sections labeled With Stocks Until Last, often using an orange label.
You can find shoes, clothing and kitchen gadgets fitness equipment, and a lot more, with a limited availability , and in many ways, it’s similar to Aldi products.
The Vileda robotic duster (£19.99) was a hit with us and could be a good choice for people who like to sit on their couch as a machine moves across the room to do the chores.
10) They also offer deals on food items too.
Aldi’s Special Purchases do contain some food items, and we’ve seen a few containers of cooking sauces but the bulk of it is clothes and household items.
Lidl however, offers plenty of food items available within the While Stocks Last sections, including cheese, gammon smoking salmon, juice from fruit pasta, and sausages when we last visited.
These deals are generally located towards the side of the store, but it could be worthwhile looking at the aisles first to determine if something that you want to buy is available at a bargain price.
For instance, we bought a few cleaning products from the normal displays, but were surprised to see even more affordable versions in the special offers sections, and we needed to take the rest back.
11.) It is stored kept in special glass cabinets.
You won’t need to do any hunting in the chilled areas around the edges of the shop.
The majority portions of meat are displayed inside glass free-standing cabinets. The meat is displayed with red on one side, and white meat to the side.
It’s very attractive and makes it simpler to find the items you’re looking for than other stores.
12.) You can purchase more expensive products
If you’d like to feel as if you’re at M&S or Waitrose for a minute and include some fancy food to your cart, indulge yourself with something from the Deluxe range , such as wild mushroom, chicken, and tartargon pie.
The normal chicken pies are just as delicious and it’s interesting to find out the difference in how the Deluxe items actually tasted. It’s a good bet that it’s not just fancy packaging that you’re paying for. Have you compared? If so, please let us know.
13) There are also health foods , too.
There are a few alternative health foods available in Lidl stores, but they’re not widely available or easily accessible. There is no dedicated “Free From’ section, so you’ll need to look around while you shop.
We found a tiny display of soya drinks. The cartons cost 59p which is the same price as the drink sold by Aldi (who also sell almond drinks as well).
At one point, the budget-priced soya milks could be watery and disgusting, but now they’re perfect and Tesco offers an Everyday Value Soya at the same price of 59p.
For those who are vegetarians, there’s a vegetarian range that is meat-free, including cauliflower burgers.
We also found a few smoothie kits that are in the freezers, stuffed with superfoods, like gojiberries and flax seeds, which will boost your energy levels and increase your vitality.
14.) Breakfast is affordable too.
The fast-paced life of today often requires grabbing a quick breakfast or at the very least one that is quickly prepared.
Porridge pots are a great option . Just put in hot water, and then you’re ready to go. Aldi offers Harvest Morn pots for just 35p for the golden and original syrup, while at Lidl we discovered the Oatlicious brand for 39p. Both have the same flavors. There’s also an apple and blueberry version that cost a little more at 45p.
For a better price purchase boxes that include Oats packets in convenient portions for meals (89p for Lidl’s 8-sachet box with blueberry and apple flavours in comparison to the Tesco box with 10 sachets to £1). You’ll also require milk and microwave.
The best value (but not as practical as containers or sachets) is an oats bag that is loose that cost £1.49 for 500g. It’s all you have to do is make your own measurements every day. To give you an example the oat Sachets from Lidl weighs 288g.
Whatever you choose the best price, it’s a great value for money. It’s Quaker’s Oat So Simple porridge pots at other supermarkets cost around £1.
15) Toiletries may seem a bit to be a bit limited
Another thing that is similar with Aldi is the tiny section of toiletries situated at the end of one side of the aisle. Don’t expect much here.
It’s a good choice for daily needs, including toothbrushes, toothpaste deodorant, shower gel, and other bathroom needs.
16) There are some fantastic bargains to be had
We did find some great deals in the bathroom aisle. Blades to replace your razor are expensive, however we found packs from Cien (a Lidl own-brand) with razors and 25 blades for £3.69.
Supplements are also quite affordable If you’re an avid vitamin user. Produced by Minavit The majority of them cost 99p, but some were 75p. There are also a few (omega 3 chewable vitamin C chewable) priced at £1.29 and glucosamine for £1.99.
Aldi offers a similar range that is produced by Activ-Max. They can be a lower cost option than the dedicated health stores.
17) There’s also an online photo service.
Lidl did not simply expand to have its own bakery. It also launched Lidl Movies in 2009 and it was the most affordable online DVD rental company, however tragically, it was liquidated two years after.
Another option is Lidl Photos, an online photo service which was launched in August of 2013. Lidl Photos offers prints, photo albums and the ability to display your images on cushions, mugs, shower curtains, and T-shirts.