South Floridians now have more options for grocery shopping and at lower prices, too.
That’s the message German discount grocery chain ALDI hopes to spread as it prepares to open its first South Florida stores in Deerfield Beach and Lauderdale Lakes on Thursday.
“We have about 95 percent of [grocery] items that people buy most often and we have the best prices on them,” said David Behm, vice president for ALDI USA’s Florida division, based in Haines City.
In a tough economy, that’s good news for cost-conscious South Floridians and others living on limited budgets.
At Tuesday’s preview of ALDI’s Deerfield Beach store at 3825 W. Hillsboro Blvd. in the Deerfield Town Square shopping center, three shopping carts illustrated the savings shoppers can expect.
Each one was filled separately with about 48 grocery items from ALDI and competing stores for comparison. According to the receipts displayed, ALDI’s had the lowest total cost — $85.34 — compared to $118.16 and $104.34.
“The prices will get them [shoppers] in the door, but the quality will keep them coming back,” said Bob Schmalz, director of operations for ALDI, with responsibility for South Florida.
Smart shoppers, regardless of income level, are Aldi’s target audience, Schmalz said.
More than 160 South Floridians — many of them retirees and senior citizens — got the chance to sample many of the select brands ALDI stores carry that aren’t sold in other supermarkets.
Participating in the ALDI 101 experience was Coconut Creek resident Cecilia Whalen, 61, who’d already shopped at ALDI stores out-of-state.
“You can’t beat the prices and you don’t have to buy items in bulk,” Whalen said. “I like that.”
Robin Visnov of Deerfield Beach had shopped at an ALDI in Pennsylvania before and had found better prices on certain items than at other local grocers. “I like having the option of coming here,” she said.
On Tuesday she was eyeing a pack of grape tomatoes priced at 99 cents.
ALDI stores sell about 1,400 of the most commonly purchased grocery and household items, Schmalz said. They also sell limited run “special buys” that change weekly.
Schmalz said ALDI’s brands’ are as good as or better than national brands. Name brands include Millville, Carlini, Dakota’s, Sweet Harvest and Baker’s Corner.
ALDI stores differentiate themselves from other local grocery chains in several ways.
Stores are smaller (about 17,000-square-feet to 18,000-square-feet) than a typical Publix or Winn-Dixie store and are laid out in four to five short aisles. Non-perishable grocery items are stocked in self-displaying carton boxes and bulkier items on pallets.
The stores also don’t have pharmacies, bakeries or butcher shops like some supermarkets do. Stores also don’t accept credit cards, but take cash, debit cards and food stamps/EBT cards.
“We know it’s [ALDI] not for everyone, but most people who try us, love us,” Schmalz said.
ALDI officials say this no-frills approach helps to keep operating costs and prices low.
Shoppers new to ALDI will also discover they’ll need a quarter to rent a shopping cart, and shopping bags will cost 6 cents to $1.99 each depending on type, if they don’t bring their own.
Another Pembroke Pines store is set to open Dec. 9 at 11330 Pines Blvd., in space formerly occupied by Sound Advice. The Lauderdale Lakes store is located at 3301 N. State Road 7.
Since opening its first American store in Iowa in 1976, ALDI has expanded its brand of “honest to goodness savings” to more than 1,100 stores in 31 states. In Florida the grocer has opened 43 stores since it debuted in 2008, and will have 47 by year end, officials said Tuesday.
“There are definitely bargains there,” Ellie Mero, an avid Aldi fan from Boca Raton said recently about news of ALDI’s new South Florida stores.
Mero, who couldn’t make the opening this week, said she’s traveled to Palm Bay to get her ALDI fix.
“I was absolutely delirious when I heard they were coming”, she said. “I’m sure they’ll do really, really well here.”
Arlene Satchell can be reached at or 954-356-4209. Follow her on Twitter.com @TheSatchreport.
