Aldi... what do you recommend?

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 !

I personally dislike salted caramel as a flavour (in general) but the caramel millionaire version are not bad.

My preference would be almond, then milk chocolate, and my daughter loves the white chocolate variety. We haven't tried the mint.

The "exotic fruit" tropicos (soleros) are my favourite, but the berry version is good too.

But like that, sometimes you have to dig through a big pile of berry flavour to find the exotic fruit flavour.

Finding their regular sparkling orange is the worst. It, the sugar free and rock shandy are all just piled in together as an orange mess with similar labels on the top shelf. It's about six deep as well. I'm over six ft tall but still have difficulty.

Good point!

The boxes of the specially selected sauces - butter chicken, korma, jalfrezi etc are all mixed up together too!

They're glass jars, and I've actually seen them get smashed on the ground when people were trying to find the one they wanted.

I have knocked the occasional one over.

Even worse there are hot dishes mixed with mild in similar packaging.

The frozen pizzas are so mixed up. The producers sensibly put the variety on the side of the box. Aldi display them so have to physically remove the ones you don't want in the hope of finding the ones you want.

For example the new sour dough pizzas only have the plain cheese variety in stock because the others are popular & get snapped up.

I don't believe that simple proper merchandising would increase costs.

The Aldi is very close to meridian (possibly made by them). Find the Lidl a bit more flavoursome - but also a manilife and pip & nut convert. Worth the extra if you really like PB imo.

Perfectly good for normal people though! 😁

Worst thing about the way they do stock or the one that annoys me the most and has done for years now is the chocolate peanuts/raisins. They come in the same box, the peanuts sell out on day one but the box of raisins hangs around for weeks because nobody wants them but they wont restock until its gone, this has been going on for years now.

First world problems I know.

@Discodog

I can confirm stock of salted caramel fake magnums in Aldi, Belgard Road, this evening. ;)

Sriracha is sriracha. I’ve had some of their speciality varieties and they’re nice. Think I had their regular one previously. I thought it was fine. Truth be told I haven’t come across any so far I thought were meh.

The new Angus 6oz low fat burgers (currently on special - super 6) are nice. very good size unlike the normal low fat options

They have the wheat muffins back in stock in a 6 pk, 3 in each side. Fakeaway McMuffins are back on the menu!