Aldi's Supermarkets Coming To The Valley,Building A Warehouse on 303/Indian School Rd. (Phoenix: chapel, buying)

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by ShampooBanana

Why would they be building a distribution center in the west valley of Phoenix if it was only to serve California? Makes no sense. They clearly have plans to penetrate Phoenix and probably Vegas/Tucson eventually. FYI I love Aldi. High quality products for a low price. By the way, did you all know they are owned by the same group that owns Trader Joe's? The Albrecht Brothers, a couple German brothers who were among the wealthiest people in the world at one time (now passed so it is now part of a family trust). Trader Joe's is already all over Cali and AZ so makes sense Aldi would come here.

The two Albrecht brothers did not get along and years ago, split their businesses long ago.

One Albrecht brother established Aldi USA. The other brother PURCHASED the Trader Joe's chain.

They are NOT related companies even though some of their operational philosophies are similar.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by jimj

$20 says that'd never happen here even if it really happens as you say elsewhere <bold>. They'll chase carts just like every other store in AZ does...

Most of the local kids will return an Aldi cart for the quarters. I cannot think of any place where I have seen an Aldi cart just floating around. People are motivated by quarters.

[new2colo]

I remember Aldi from visiting my cousins in rural PA in the early-mid 1990s. It's funny to see people treat this as a much anticipated amenity. It really is a basic grocery store. I remember it being a tiny store filled with off-brand items. It definitely was a no frills place. The shopping cart thing was odd and was more of burden than amenity, especially when the carts were parked out in the rain and snow.

[wase4711]

Originally Posted by new2colo

I remember Aldi from visiting my cousins in rural PA in the early-mid 1990s. It's funny to see people treat this as a much anticipated amenity. It really is a basic grocery store. I remember it being a tiny store filled with off-brand items. It definitely was a no frills place.

Well, for some of the food basics, like cereal,bread,peanut butter, canned veggies,milk, bananas,eggs,sugar, etc, their everyday low prices, and good quality are definitely noteworthy...and, If you are on a really tight budget, your food dollar goes farther there than any other food chain I have ever seen.

[yukon]

I'd be more excited if PHX were getting a HEB Central Market.

[wit-nit]

We were recently in an Aldi store in MN. When you enter the store you put a quarter in a small cart coin machine to use while shopping. The store was very small about the size of a drugstore, the products are all private label and the prices are just a hair lower than the big chains name brands. The produce was priced exactly as the big stores and of the same quality. It's self bagging, they did take credit cards, debit or cash. When you leave and load your vehicle you take the cart back to the store and push it into the cart corral and a coin machine kicks out a quarter for you.
Our BIL picked up some cereal and a few other items to try out. Later he said they were bland tasting and not as good as the bigger chains national brands. He gave us some items to try. We were not impressed with Aldi's and chalked it off as another unneeded experience.

[asufan]

Originally Posted by wit-nit

We were recently in an Aldi store in MN. When you enter the store you put a quarter in a small cart coin machine to use while shopping. The store was very small about the size of a drugstore, the products are all private label and the prices are just a hair lower than the big chains name brands. The produce was priced exactly as the big stores and of the same quality. It's self bagging, they did take credit cards, debit or cash. When you leave and load your vehicle you take the cart back to the store and push it into the cart corral and a coin machine kicks out a quarter for you.
Our BIL picked up some cereal and a few other items to try out. Later he said they were bland tasting and not as good as the bigger chains national brands. He gave us some items to try. We were not impressed with Aldi's and chalked it off as another unneeded experience.

They're probably scouting some fresh and easy locations that are still vacant. I don't like the idea of returning the cart. If my wife has kids with her she has to haul them back in the store to return the cart, then back to the car. Seems like nonsense, I'll pay a little more for better selection, quality and service. I'm sure we'd stick to Sprouts and Fry's.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by asufan

They're probably scouting some fresh and easy locations that are still vacant. I don't like the idea of returning the cart. If my wife has kids with her she has to haul them back in the store to return the cart, then back to the car. Seems like nonsense, I'll pay a little more for better selection, quality and service. I'm sure we'd stick to Sprouts and Fry's.

Someone who needs a cart is likely to hand you a quarter before you even start to walk back to return it!

[retiree2011]

Originally Posted by wase4711

interesting news; Aldi's is a "no frills", no name brand kind of store, high quality products, about 30-50% LESS EXPENSIVE than name brands, but still AA quality everything..very few employees at the store, so dont expect any service..

you bring your own bags, cash/debit card only, bag your own stuff so once you find that you like their brands of things you normally buy, you will be pleasantly surprised at how much you save shopping there..a few odds and ends with name brands, but mostly brands you don't recognize..

you even have to put a quarter in the "shopping cart corral" to get a shopping cart!

I have had Aldi's in my area for years. Used to drive 15 miles to one, now 3 miles to nearest one. Great produce and prices (example 39 cents for red grapefruit, versus 1.25, or $1 on sale at name brand supermarket. Cukes 3/$1, versus 89 cents for 1, milk always at least $1 less, and pretty good yogurt at 39 cents each. The candy, cookies and chips/pretzels are very good also. And they have good bread at a good price and gluten-free items for people who use those items.

I say, give Aldi's a chance - you might like it a lot!

I am re-locating soon and won't have an Aldi's but hope they expand to my new area.

[lukas1973]

Originally Posted by LBTRS

Where does it say "Aldi's Supermarkets coming to the valley"?

There is a distribution center coming to serve California. I don't see anything that says supermarkets are coming to the valley.

Aldi already has a huge distribution center in Moreno Valley in Southern California. It's by far Aldis largest distribution center and able to serve up to 200 stores (normally Aldi distribution centers only serve up to 100 stores). They don't need a second distribution center to serve Southern California. In addition to this, it would make absolutely no sense to build a distribution center near Phoenix to serve Southern California with groceries.
The construction of this distribution center means that Aldi will build at least 50 stores in Arizona. That's for sure.