Aldi... what do you recommend?

They changed their mango chutney, don't like the new one at all!

if you like Kefir, try a polish shop. They do a lovely one and it’s 1.89 for a litre. Way nicer than the Aldi one.

If anyone was a fan of McDonalds spicy chicken nuggets, these are a decent copy, and are airfryer friendly. €2.19.

I didn't try the dips.

What I don't recommend are the new shopping baskets! They're a pain in the neck when you just want to run around and grab a small few items. They're don't steer well, and the need to lift them out of the stack to start and the expectation that you will lift them back into a stack at the end makes them not very user friendly if you have any difficulties with your arms or strength. It's also much more difficult to unload shopping as you have to bend down at the till. I hate them so much they turn me off going to Aldi at all.

Lidl have introduced mini trolleys for kids now with a little flag on them. It's like being Pacman going around the shop now.

At least you can technically carry the lidl ones as well as wheel them and they are a little lighter I find, but still.

never thought about your own basket, wonder if they do fold up net ones or sth?

It has put me off going there if I only need a few things which is most of the time, and definitely less incentive to pick up impulse things to try if you are trying to manage holding your shopping in your hands to avoid using a wheely trolley

I always bring a shopping bag with me (I have about 100 in the car) and just fill that. Empty it at the till, and fill it again quick-smart. I will never use one of those wheel-along baskets, ever.

Or else just grab one of the shallow actual trollies, if I have more than I can throw into a bag, or delicate stuff like bottles or eggs that can't be fired back into it.

In other news, I've been on a campaign to find out what ever happened to the dried mango and tropical trail mix - got hold of them on Twitter, and they keep insisting that they're part of their core stock and should be on the shelves. I keep telling them they're not, haven't been for months, and any staff I've ever asked say the same. They've now promised to follow up and find out what's going on.

Both are among my favourite producsts from Aldi, so I hope they find wherever they've hidden them all and put them back on sale!!

I use four or five different stores, and almost always use my own bag, have never had a word said to me. I must have an honest look about me!

My local Aldi and Lidl have had those baskets for ages, and Lidl has had the kids trolleys too.

It's very undignified cocking your arse up in the air to unload the basket after knocking a few kids charging about with their trolleys out of their standing.

I can't believe this is even a thing😲 Never noticed any signs saying i can't use my own bag, doesn't mean they're not there of course. No one's ever stopped me from walking around with my bag either.

I wouldn't use my own bag, I've worked in retail.

It's just not worth the side-eye, or if the shop has it's own security, the following around and monitoring! (i obviously look shady af 😁)

Would rather something like these folding baskets than a net/string bag (see through), as they can be really awkward for bulkier or heavier items

Those plastic ones fold flat, but they'd only be suitable if you already bring a backpack or similar with you to work maybe? lightweight-ish, depending on how sturdy you want them

A mesh bag is probably good for a lot of people, if you're doing small shops without extra heavy items?

I'd just not use them because a bottle of laundry detergent or something else heavy would put pressure on it. Last thing I need is to have everything fall out of the bottom of the bag!

100% think we should all register our displeasure!

I haven’t used a basket or trolley since covid, always use my own Dunnes Canvas bag/bags, when empty at the till I fold them flat & leave on top of my shopping so that they know that they are empty & when I open them back up I always pop them up on the counter so they can easily see that they are empty…

I shop daily or every second day for what’s needed so no food waste in our home (only 3 of us) …

I use my own bags in Dunnes, SuperValu, Lidl & Aldi and no one has ever said anything about it, maybe if shopping in a Dublin store or a large city it might be different.

Speaking of ice cream, has anybody tried (either on purpose or by accident) their doggy ice cream?

It is actually ice cream for dogs but it's placed in the freezer right in the middle of the normal stuff between their faux Cornettos and something else. I'm sure some people must buy them by mistake and wonder why their tub tastes like peas 😂.

The salted caramel fake magnums are really good - if you can get them. I hate Aldi's multi variety merchandising - like having to take a load of pizzas or ice creams out of the freezer to find the variety you want.

I have to do it with ready meals, pizzas, dog food etc. I complained to Aldi & got a long reply thanking me, saying how much they care etc & then one sentence saying that they won't be changing their policy !