Buzz
Aldi stores are well-known for their affordability across Europe, Australia, and the United States. During a typical weekly visit to grab pasta sauce or bakery treats, you may find yourself wondering—How does Aldi manage to keep prices so low? And what sets Aldi apart from other grocery stores?
There are several reasons behind these questions, so here are 10 quirky facts about Aldi to think about during your next shopping trip.
10. The Layout Is Almost Identical Across Locations
When navigating an Aldi store, customers often know exactly where to find what they need, even in unfamiliar locations. That’s because most Aldi stores share a consistent layout, making it easy for shoppers to get in and out quickly.
This contrasts sharply with most grocery stores, which often rearrange their shelves to encourage customers to wander longer and potentially make impulse purchases. While searching for apples, you might stumble upon cookies and leave with something you didn’t originally intend to buy.
9. The Founders Were Extremely Frugal
Theo and Karl Albrecht founded Aldi based on a strong belief: things should be more affordable.
Aldi’s ability to maintain low prices is well-known, thanks to its “no frills” approach, like keeping items in shipping containers and using the quarter cart system to save on labor costs. What’s surprising is that the Albrecht brothers, who were billionaires, chose not to raise prices even when they had the opportunity to do so.
Theo, in particular, was known for his thriftiness, often wearing ill-fitting, inexpensive suits. His family described him as fixated on frugality, even going so far as to collect pencil stubs to avoid buying new ones. He also preferred simple, unadorned meals.
One of the most well-known anecdotes about Theo’s extreme frugality involves him being shown a new store design. While he acknowledged the design was good, he remarked that the paper it was printed on was too thick. “If we use thinner paper, we’ll save money,” he said.
8. It Initially Didn’t Sell Produce
Today, Aldi is famous for offering amazing deals on fresh produce. But when Theo and Karl Albrecht took over their parents’ small store in 1946, they had some unconventional ideas.
Rather than preserving the charm of the family’s original corner store, Theo and Karl focused on maximizing profits by avoiding fresh produce altogether, fearing it would spoil and become unsellable. By selling only non-perishable goods and quickly clearing out unpopular items, they grew their business to nearly 300 stores in Germany by 1960.
7. Employees Are Required to Wear Steel-Toed Shoes
Most grocery stores and restaurants require their staff to wear non-slip shoes to reduce the risk of accidents while working.
At Aldi, the rules go even further. Every employee is required to wear steel-toed shoes. Unlike many other stores, Aldi employees don’t stick to just one task—if you're a cashier one day, you could be stacking boxes or operating machinery the next. Given the potential risks, Aldi enforces a dress code that includes steel-toed shoes for protection.
So, if you’re feeling frustrated with your Aldi cashier, feel free to stomp your foot in frustration. It won’t bother them! But it might get you in trouble.
6. They Carry an Average of Only 1400 Products
While most grocery stores offer thousands of items, customers often have a variety of brands to choose from—premium, budget, organic, and so on.
Aldi doesn’t follow the norm. On average, each store carries only about 1,400 items. While this may sound like a decent number, it’s a stark contrast to the 40,000 items you’d find in a typical grocery store and the 100,000 items at Walmart.
Having fewer products means customers can shop faster and more efficiently. For example, if you need milk, there’s only one brand available. Aldi’s significantly lower prices are also a major draw for many customers.
However, Aldi’s limited stock means they’re more likely to run out of everyday items compared to other stores. Once an item is gone, there’s no stock “in the back,” and you’ll have to wait for the next delivery.
5. The Pronunciation Might Surprise You
If you're from Europe or Australia, this is probably nothing new. But for Canadians and Americans, brace yourself: You’ve likely been pronouncing “Aldi” incorrectly.
North Americans often pronounce “Aldi” as “all-Dee,” similar to saying “All discounts.” Meanwhile, Europeans and others use a hard “a” sound, much like the name “Albert.”
So, which pronunciation is accurate? Given that Aldi originates from Germany, it’s likely the Europeans Europeans have it right. The company’s name comes from Karl and Theo Albrecht, the two brothers who founded the business. Since their last name is pronounced with a hard “a,” the shortened form of “Albrecht Discounts” should follow the same sound.
4. Aldi Owns Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s, the iconic tiki-themed grocery store, has become a major part of many Americans’ shopping habits. Known for unique items like Everything But the Bagel seasoning and Hold the Cone! Ice Cream, it’s a place where you can find something for almost every meal.
Despite their contrasting atmospheres, Aldi actually owns Trader Joe’s—sort of. Aldi Nord, the branch of Aldi that doesn’t operate in the U.S., bought Trader Joe’s from founder Joe Coulombe in 1979. While one segment of Aldi owns Trader Joe’s, the two companies remain entirely separate, with no direct connection to the Aldi known in the U.S.
It’s a bit confusing, but when you consider the similarities between the two chains, it makes sense. Both offer low prices, a limited selection, and foster healthy work environments.
3. One of the Owners Got a Discount on His Own Ransom
Theo Albrecht was infamous for his extreme frugality. Despite his immense wealth from the family business, he was known for dressing poorly and rarely spending money. In fact, his attire was so unremarkable that when he was kidnapped for ransom in 1971, the kidnappers had to check his ID to ensure they had grabbed the right man. His ill-fitting suit gave no indication that he was the multimillionaire they sought.
When the ransom of seven million German marks was finally paid and Theo was safely returned, he revealed that the original demand was much higher. He convinced the criminals that his family wouldn’t pay such a large sum, successfully negotiating the price down.
Not only did he manage to negotiate a discount on his own ransom, but later that year, he even claimed the money as a tax deduction. Now that’s a true businessman.
2. They Have an 'Aisle of Shame'
Aldi is mainly recognized as a discount grocery store, but occasionally, it surprises shoppers with unexpected finds.
These hidden gems can be discovered in Aldi’s ‘Aisle of Shame.’ No, this isn’t where you go to grab a pint of ice cream for an impromptu binge session. Located at the heart of most Aldi stores, the aisle—officially known as the 'Aldi Finds Aisle'—is stocked with an assortment of random items, including housewares and bedding, that you didn’t intend to buy but might be tempted to due to irresistible markdowns or the convenience of finding everything you need in one stop.
Given how affordable the rest of Aldi's stock is, the ‘Aisle of Shame’ proves to be quite profitable, accounting for nearly 20% of the store's annual revenue.
1. The Stores Are Split Because of Cigarettes
Many people are aware that Aldi is actually composed of two distinct entities: Aldi Sud and Aldi Nord (south and north in German). And if you didn’t already know this, now you do!
When Karl and Theo Albrecht took charge of their family’s grocery business in 1946, everything was going smoothly. However, in 1960, the brothers clashed over whether or not to sell cigarettes. Theo was in favor, thinking that offering cigarettes would attract smokers who would also buy all their groceries at Aldi. Karl, on the other hand, felt that cigarettes would bring in shoplifters and damage the stores' reputation.
The only solution to their disagreement was to split Germany into two, with Karl taking Aldi Nord in the north and Theo managing Aldi Sud in the south. As their stores gained popularity, they expanded beyond Germany but maintained the separation of the two companies.
Today, Aldi Sud and Aldi Nord still operate independently, though they are nearly identical in every way, except for their logos. If you’re wondering which one is in your area, Aldi Sud operates in the U.S. and most of southern Europe, while Aldi Nord can be found in France, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain.
