If there's not an Aldi grocery store near you yet, there likely will be soon. The budget-friendly grocery chain is adding 700 new stores to its U.S. roster between now and 2022. In the meantime, they've invested billions — with a B — of dollars in a major remodel, improving every single one of their 1,800 stores across the country. Delish got a tour of one of the recently remodeled lotions in St. Charles, Illinois — here's what to expect.
More Fresh Food
A big reason for Aldi's remodel was the need for more refrigeration space. When you walk into a remodeled store, you'll see a much bigger produce and refrigerated section than you may be used to. Along with more organic produce, Aldi added a ton of new ready-to-eat items, like zoodles and pre-sliced fruits, pre-made salads, single-serve guacamole and hummus packs, and party sides (like dips and pasta salads). There are more refrigerated drinks, like kombucha and kefir, and a larger line of non-dairy milks, including almond, coconut, and soy.
Between Aldi Finds and permanent additions, Aldi can add between 40 and 50 new products to stores per week. One of their cost saving strategies is adding seasonal items to stores at the right time, like dorm supplies and lunchboxes in August. Aldi Finds rarely last long, so if you see something under the red sign you like, grab it while you can.
More On-The-Go Foods
If you need lunch on the run, Aldi has you covered. They've added more pre-made salads and trendy grain bowls to stores, plus easy-to-make dinner starters, like take and bake pizzas. They've also expanded their Earth Grown vegetarian line, adding kale and quinoa crunch burgers and chickenless tenders to their inventory.
Same Super Cheap Wine
Don't worry, Aldi's famously budget-friendly wine hasn't gone anywhere. Alongside $3 bottles of Pinot Grigio and Cabernet Sauvignon (watch out, Two Buck Chuck), there's Aldi U.K.'s best export: the award-winning La Rue Côtes de Provence Rosé, newly added to U.S. stores for a cool $7.19 per bottle. You can find other cult favorites like bottled mimosas and 1.5 L Lambrusco bottles, too.
Easy to Navigate Aisles
While Aldi's new stores are made to look more modern, they're staying about the same size. Aldi purposely keeps their locations much smaller than your average grocery store, for a pretty simple reason: it makes shopping less stressful. When an entire grocery store has five aisles rather than 20, forgetting something at the end of your shopping run is less of a headache.
It also allows the aisles to be wide and spacious, with fewer options to debate. For example, Aldi carries four to five varieties of olive oil rather than the 20 you may find at another grocery store. (If you're easily overwhelmed by too many choices, this is v. helpful.) Pro tip: If you're looking for a specialty item, head to the Aldi Finds Section. That's where you're more likely to find things like flavored olive oils.
PRE-ORDER NOW Delish Cookbook, indiebound.org
