I'll never forget when Aldi opened in my hometown. My mom loved everything about the grocery store chain, from the shopping cart rental system to the low prices the store is known for.
Aldi is actually a German chain that operates in 20 countries and owned by brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht, who also own Trader Joe's. If you haven't experienced the joy of shopping at Aldi's, you best know when the time to go is. So, what are Aldi's hours, and what's the best day to shop at this fan-favorite grocery market?
Aldi's Mission
iStock/Getty Images
Aldi's mission is to provide high-quality groceries without high prices. You can easily find fresh produce and organic foods at Aldi's at much lower prices than those found at other grocery stores. Because of its low prices and quality ingredients, Aldi is wildly popular throughout the U.S., with over 2,100 U.S. stores. In fact, Aldi is on track to become America's third-largest supermarket chain behind Walmart and Kroger.
When Theo Albrecht opened the first Aldi in Germany in 1976, his primary aim was to design a supermarket that had affordable fresh food options. This mission has definitely hit the mark, since Aldi now has more than 10,000 stores worldwide and generates more than $17 billion a year in revenue.
How is Aldi Able To Sell Such Cheap Groceries?
For those wondering how high-quality food could be so cheap, there are a few reasons. For one, Aldi doesn't have national brands, so they have less to store in warehouses and display in the store. This allows them to have smaller stores than most other grocery retailers, which allows for cheaper rent prices. Aldi also uses energy-efficient lighting and avoids using huge brand names, two money-saving strategies that go a long way.
Some brands that you can find in the store include Friendly Farms, Happy Farms, Goldhen, Countryside Creamery, Kirkwood, Mama Cozzi's, and Simply Nature.
This no-frills grocery chain is committed to the environment, encouraging customers to bring their own bags. To use a store bag, you must pay a small fee. Because of its convenience and prices, it's not uncommon for hundreds of people to show up for the grand opening of a new store. Whether you're there for lunch meat at the Deli or some fresh veggies for your casserole, Aldi's got it.
Aldi's Locations
SOPA Images
Aldi stores are mostly concentrated on the East coast with a few locations in Arizona. Use the store locator on the Aldi website to find the closest location, and enjoy your cheap but high-quality groceries! There you can find information on hours, parking if they participate in curbside pickup, and you can view the weekly ad. It can also tell you if your local store is open on Thursdays during the first hour of business for vulnerable shoppers.
Aldi's Hours
picture alliance
If you're sold on taking a trip to Aldi, the hours of operation for the majority of Aldi stores are 9 am to 9 pm. However, some locations of Aldi open at 8 am or 8:30 am on certain days, and some Aldi locations close at 8 pm. If you don't feel like checking the store hours of the Aldi near you, just show up between 9 am and 8 pm on any day and you'll be good to go—however, we always recommend checking store hours for the most up-to-date information.
Additionally, although you make think of Saturday or Sunday as a traditional shopping day, it's actually best to visit Aldi in the middle of the week. There will likely be fewer shoppers to compete with over deals on produce, and new products are released on Wednesdays. Even better? Wednesdays are when produce goes on sale. We recommend heading over first thing in the morning to make sure you get the best selection!
All Aldi locations are closed on New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Additionally, Aldi stores operate limited hours on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
READ MORE: The Aldi Return Policy is Made for Shoppers
This post was originally published on October 21, 2021.
