6 Things Aldi Won’t Sell Anymore
Updated: Sep. 01, 2023
Aldi's shelves are filled with great finds at a bargain price, but there are a few things you'll never see in their stores again.
Aldi is always making changes and adjustments to their stores to keep prices low, customers satisfied with the food options, and provide a good shopping experience. Because of that, things are often changing—but mostly for the better. Customer favorites tend to stick around, but there are a few things that you won’t find anymore when you walk into an Aldi. To clear up any other confusion you had about this top-notch grocery store, here’s the truth behind 10 popular Aldi rumors.
Artificial ingredients
Aldi made headlines in 2015 for pledging to remove artificial ingredients from all products in their stores. They got rid of certified synthetic colors, partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), and added MSG from all of their exclusive brand food products. They were able to take this smart step because 90 percent of the products they sell are under Aldi exclusive brands, so it’s easier for them to change the ingredients to be healthier.
Junk food in checkout lanes
Sometimes, the unhealthiest decisions are made in the checkout lane at the grocery store. Aldi made changes to help people pick healthier options when waiting for their groceries to be rung up. By the end of 2016, Aldi got rid of all impulse buys that they had in the checkout lanes and replaced them with healthier options such as single-serve of nut packs, trail mixes, dried fruits, and granola bars. These are the things you should always buy at Aldi.
Plastic lids
Aldi is constantly striving to reduce the amount of plastic they use in their packaging. In 2020, they removed all plastic lids from their own-label fresh cream and ready-to-drink coffee products in over 780 stores across England and Wales. “We are committed to cutting the amount of plastic that Aldi and our customers use, particularly unnecessary, single-use plastic like secondary lids,” Fritz Walleczek, Managing Director of Corporate Responsibility at Aldi said. “Every step like this brings us closer to our target of reducing the amount of plastic we use in packaging by 25 percent.”
Aldi is on track to have all of its own-label packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2022 so expect to see changes to the way your favorite products look.
Newspapers and magazines
Towards the end of 2019, Aldi stopped selling newspapers and magazines in all of their United Kingdom stores. The sales for newsstands in the stores were consistently low and they had to better optimize the space. Since their stores aren’t as big as your typical grocery store, they have to make sure all the space in the store is taken up by products that sell.
Aldi Special Buys or Aldi Finds
Aldis sells more than just food and if you’ve ever browsed their aisles, you’ve probably scored at least one of their Special Buys. It could be anything from a rug, to lawn furniture, to a desk, to a winter coat. But, the trick with these Special Buys is that once they sell out, they’re gone. So, if you’re on the fence about something, it’s best to bite the bullet and buy it. New items are constantly coming in and if you want to get ahead of the game, you can check their website for upcoming Aldi Finds.
Disposable barbecues
Though only in the U.K., Aldi has stopped selling disposable barbecues in an effort to protect forests and wildlife. The ban started in March 2022 and applies to all 950 stores in the United Kingdom, including one located right next to the Peak District National Park.
Originally Published: April 29, 2020
