ALDI Grand Opening in Lakeland Florida, Shopping Groceries - German Style
Driving north on Highway 98, located next to the restaurant Golden Corral I'm sure you noticed- there is a new kid in town.
ALDI - Are you wondering where the name originated? AL=Albrecht DI=Discount.
Here is a little history of the retail store ALDI for you. Brothers Theodore and Karl Albrecht took over their mother's modest store at the end of WWII, creating ALDI what is thought to be the original discount store in Germany. Since 1975, ALDI South expanded to the United States with over 800 stores currently open and now we have the pleasure to welcome ALDI to Lakeland, Florida on September 25, 2008.
A typical ALDI store in northern part of Germany
Are you ready to shop German Style?
I remember when I grew up in Germany, my mom send me off with my grocery bag to the store to get items like sugar, milk, jam, and coffee at the local discount store. My parents never bought brand name items, always buying the store's own name brands because there was considerable savings compared to other traditional stores and the quality of the products were just as equal. Grocery shopping in Germany is very different. German folks go grocery shopping almost on a daily basis by taking along shopping bags saving every cent there is to save by these straightforward grocery chains.
The store embraces a no-frills attitude here in Lakeland. There will be nobody bagging your groceries at check out, shopping carts are rentals and can only be accessed and operated when you deposit a Quarter (25-cent) in the cart's lock. Most of ALDI's products about 95% are made up of their own private label brands, which is why they are called a discount store with prices at its lowest - "Shop Smart Florida". Products are presented efficiently on self-displaying cases on pallets or shipping crates keeping labor costs down. ALDI's products have multiple UPC bar codes scanning dependable from every direction, so the cashier does not have to search for the code, which speeds up the process at check out.
Here is my recommendation. Before leaving your home, put a plastic or heavy duty box with handle in the trunk of the car. After you complete your shopping, all you have to do is put your groceries in the box you took with and bring them right into your house to put away. Saving on plastic bags, money, and helping the environment.
ALDI is located at 4745 US 98 Hwy N. - The store hours are Mon-Sat 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Sundays 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
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ALDI Grand Opening in Lakeland Florida, Shopping Groceries - German Style
Petra Norris - Realtor®
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker
CDV TransAtlantic, Inc.
P.O. Box 92050 - Lakeland, FL 33804-2050
Telephone (863) 618-6919
Managing Broker - CDV TransAtlantic, Inc.
(863) 619-6918
Petra- this looks like a nice store. I remember grocery shopping in Germany, a little town called Bad Tolz (spelling might be wrong) and you are so correct as to it being different. I was embarrassed trying to buy fruit as you had to weigh the fruit, put the sticker onit, then take it to the cashier.....a little different than here :)
In todays economy this store should do very well as you are so right about the name brands. Another thing I learned living overseas was to buy food that I had no idea the label, or anything but amazing I survived quite nicely for almost 4 years :)
Kathy - Did you enjoy your time in Bad Toelz? It will be interesting to see if ALDI will make an impact here in Lakeland, especially since WalMart did not fare well in Germany.
Ahhh, the photo of the aisle brings back lots of memories! Shopping in Radolfzell in the early 80's at Aldi.
Uta - Actually the pictures were taken recently in Kiel, Germany. The photo of the aisle is exactly the one here in Lakeland when I visited at the Grand Opening. Thanks for your comment.
Petra,
Wouldn't it be nice if the ALDIs here in the States actually carried the same merchandise as in Germany?
Sandy
Sandy - That would be great. Thanks for commenting!
Very informative article. My Grandma, or should I say Oma, enjoys shopping at ALDI all the time. It is a very nice store.
I am German,who came to Lake Wales 8 years ago and missed Aldi much.Hope they come to Winterhaven/Lake Wales too.
Hey Petra, you think they would have some good old Germany Christmas candy and cookies? You know what I mean, Lebkuchenherzen and Marzipankartoffeln...
I'm a professional motorcycle drag racer looking for a sponsor.I think Aldi would be a great one for me. I think I could carry there logo and advertise for them in a very professional manner If you could please let me no who I could contact at their corp office I would greatly appreciate it.