An Aldi insider has shared her five tip tops for saving money at the supermarket - and why shoppers should avoid BOGOF (buy one get one free) deals. With the soaring cost of living, consumers are looking for ways to save cash and small changes could make a huge difference.
Figures from analysts Kantar show that grocery price inflation jumped to 8.3% over the four weeks to June 12. It is the highest level since April 2009.
Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi, has revealed 5 ways to keep more money in your pocket next time you visit the supermarket - including her own employer, the Mirror reports. Read on to find out more:
1. Look out for red stickers
Instead of yellow stickers, Aldi uses red stickers to highlight its reduced food. It marks down perishable products such as bread, meat and produce by 75% on their last day of life. Other supermarket chains may have their own colour system for stickers.
Items such as rice, pasta, cereal and tinned food may also be marked down by 30% if the packaging has been damaged. Julie said: “The times that items are reduced vary by store and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis,” explained Julie. So be sure to keep an eye out for red stickers next time you’re in Aldi to avoid missing out."
2. Don’t ignore own-brands
You might be missing out on products that are a fraction of the price if you only shop for branded goods. Julie said: "Most of the products at Aldi are own-brand - and we’ve won hundreds of awards for them this year alone,” said Julia.
“Recent research by Britsuperstore saw Aldi voted the most popular supermarket for affordable own-brand products for UK parents. Aldi also scooped Supermarket of the Year at the 2022 Loved By Parents Awards."
3. Don't miss out on regular deals
Aldi might not offer BOGOF deals, but you can still sometimes spot Specialbuy discounts on anything from electricals to garden furniture. Specialbuys are released every Thursday and Sunday.
Keep up to date with current and upcoming Specialbuys by signing up to Aldi’s newsletter here. Julie said: “We also have our fortnightly Super 6 deals on seasonal fruit and veg - as well as meat - which are promoted in our leaflets in-store so you can always know what’s coming ahead of time."
4. Switch your supermarket
It doesn’t always pay to be loyal. If you’ve only ever done your shop at one supermarket, you might not realise how much money you could be saving elsewhere.
Make sure you always compare prices online by using comparison websites. They include Trolley.co.uk, MySupermarketCompare.co.uk, MySupermarkets.uk, and Priceable.
5. Beware of BOGOF deals
Finally, Aldi does not offer buy one get one free promotions, but Julia believes shoppers should be aware of what they are actually getting for their money in other supermarket deals.
She says you should always check how much you are saving by comparing prices elsewhere - and make sure you’re only buying what you need. She said: “Weigh up first whether the deal is actually worth it, or if you actually need more than one of the product you’re buying. Aldi has no plans to introduce any BOGOF deals."
