Inside Aldi
The format of Aldi is notably different from most megastores we’re used to seeing in the United States. There’s no music; patrons have to “rent” their carts by depositing a quarter; and the store’s limited selection (their stores average about 1,800 SKUs, or individual items, versus many US-based stores that have anywhere between 15,000 and 60,000 SKUs) means that there’s much less variety. Aldi’s stripped-down approach that eschews costly build-outs and cuts out the middleman in some cases means they can offer items at deeply discounted rates.
I like Aldi quite a bit more than Julie does, though she certainly sees the utility. Given the choice between Tops (ugh) and Aldi, I’ll always start with Aldi and take care of leftovers at Tops. That said… more often than not we make the longer drive to Wegmans.