Budget supermarket Aldi is known for its affordable everyday essentials and range of Specialbuys, but there’s plenty you might not know about the UK’s fourth-largest supermarket. In most Aldi stores, the chilled aisle is the first you’ll walk down, and according to store experts it’s where you can find some of the most popular grocery items, including meat and dairy.
From the best deals and energy-saving tactics, to new launches and the latest trends, Aldi’s Managing Director of Buying, Julie Ashfield, has revealed five surprising things shoppers might not know about one of its most popular aisles. Here’s what they say all shoppers need to know:
There are weekly special offers on chilled products
Julie says: “Our Super 6 fruit and veg deals are incredibly popular with shoppers, but did you know we also have weekly offers on some of our meat and chilled products? With new deals every week, our Super Weekly Offers allow our shoppers to try something new at an even lower price.
“For example, this week shoppers can bag a 10 pack of pork and apple sausages for £3.49, two pork burgers for £1.79, smoked salmon for £2.49 and four pork lion steaks for just £2.19. And if you’re on the hunt for an even bigger bargain, all of our UK stores mark down perishable products by 75% on their last day of shelf life, including our chilled products such as meat and dairy.”
Products on sale constantly reviewed
Julie says: “One of the ways we keep prices low is through our carefully selected core range of products, but that doesn’t mean our shelves are lacking in exciting new lines. We’re constantly reviewing the market, our own sales data and up and coming trends to decide on what makes the cut, so every product in our chillers has really earned its place.
“Our premium Specially Selected chilled range is more popular than ever, while the fresh fish and seafood category is one of the fastest growing across the store, with our Scottish Smoked Salmon proving to be a real customer favourite. Most recently, we’ve elevated the beloved toastie with the launch of our ‘Mega Toasties’ and introduced lots of new and exciting cheese flavours, including a Truffle Gouda.”
Seasonal moments planned a year in advance
The manager says: “It might surprise some shoppers to learn that we start planning for key seasonal moments a full 12 months in advance! This means by the time you are tucking into your turkey this Christmas, our team are already planning what will fill our chillers for the 2025 festive season.
“Planning so far in advance means we can bring the best quality new and exciting seasonal ranges to shoppers – and this Christmas alone we’ve introduced more than 100 new lines to our chiller aisle. That includes everything from 15 new British beef and lamb launches, 34 pork lines, 21 new cheeses and even a festive sandwich, designed by an Aldi colleague.”
Chiller aisles designed to conserve energy
“You might have noticed the fridge doors when you have shopped our chilled aisle, but perhaps you haven’t considered the impact of this simple change,” says Julie. “The addition of fridge doors reduces each store’s energy consumption by approximately 20%, equivalent to a carbon emissions saving of up to 20 tonnes per store each year. That’s around eight return flights from London to New York.
“This is just one way we aim to offer customers a more sustainable shopping experience alongside our commitment to reducing plastic packaging. Most recently, we have removed plastic windows and trays from several of our savoury goods lines such as our Specially Selected pies and Crestwood twin slices.”
Long-standing supplier relationships allow innovation
Julie explains: “Another way we keep prices low and continue to innovate throughout the store is through our long-standing supplier relationships. Our three-year partnership with Greencore not only allows us to keep our sandwich chiller freshly stocked everyday but has also led to the creation of many popular new launches such as Mega Toasties and Specially Selected Sushi.
“Warrendale Wagyu has been supplying us with top-quality British Wagyu beef since 2020 and was recently recognised for its innovation by the King’s Award for Enterprise. And we also work with the oldest surviving cheddar-makers in the world – Somerset-based, Barber’s Farmhouse Cheesemakers – who are the supplier behind our incredibly popular festive cheese truckles.”