As a longtime retail and consumer analyst, I‘ve had my eye on Aldi‘s astronomical rise for years. This German discount grocery chain has taken the U.S. by storm, with over 2,000 stores across 36 states and counting. One of the key drivers of Aldi‘s success is their "Aldi Savers" program, which offers deeply discounted prices on a rotating selection of products each week.
Having studied Aldi‘s strategy in-depth and as a self-proclaimed "picky shopper" myself, I‘ve learned a thing or two about how to make the most of Aldi Savers. In this ultimate guide, I‘ll take you under the hood of this savings program, sharing all the tips, tricks and hacks you need to know. Get ready to earn your black belt in Aldi shopping!
Aldi‘s Unstoppable Growth and the Role of Savers
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of Aldi Savers, let‘s set the stage with some context on Aldi‘s business. Aldi has consistently been one of the fastest-growing retailers in the U.S., with sales increases far outpacing the industry average. Take a look at these staggering stats:
| Year | Aldi Annual Sales Growth | Industry Average Sales Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 8.9% | 1.9% |
| 2017 | 11.4% | 1.6% |
| 2018 | 7.5% | 2.1% |
| 2019 | 8.3% | 1.8% |
Source: Coresight Research
Aldi‘s market share has also skyrocketed, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Numerator, Aldi‘s share of the U.S. grocery market stood at 2.4% in 2021, up from 1.8% in 2019. While this may seem small, it represents a staggering 33% increase in just two years.
So what‘s Aldi‘s secret sauce? A ruthless focus on efficiency and cost-cutting. Some of their key tactics include:
- Stocking primarily private-label products, which are cheaper to source than name brands
- Displaying products in their shipping boxes to reduce stocking labor
- Requiring customers to bag their own groceries and pay for bags
- Keeping store footprints small and layouts simple
- Offering a curated selection of only the most essential products
These measures allow Aldi to shave off costs at every turn – savings which they then pass on to the customer in the form of jaw-droppingly low prices. And Aldi Savers are the crown jewel of this savings royalty.
Anatomy of an Aldi Saver
So what exactly is an Aldi Saver? In short, it‘s Aldi‘s term for their weekly deals and discounts. Each Wednesday, a new set of Savers goes live, featuring markdowns on a variety of products across the store. These prices are valid for one week, until the following Tuesday, when remaining stock reverts to the regular price.
Aldi Savers typically offer savings of 20-50% off Aldi‘s already low everyday prices. The specific products featured vary week to week, but usually include a mix of fresh produce, meat and dairy, pantry staples, snacks, frozen foods, and even non-grocery items like housewares or gardening supplies.
One crucial thing to understand about Aldi Savers is that they are not the same as "Aldi Finds." Aldi Finds are limited-time specialty products that Aldi brings in for just a week or two in smaller quantities. In contrast, Aldi Savers are mostly core-range products that Aldi stocks regularly. When an item becomes a Saver, Aldi increases its inventory in anticipation of higher demand.
To illustrate, here‘s a snapshot of some actual Aldi Savers deals from a recent weekly ad:
- Strawberries, 1 lb – $1.49 (regular price $2.49)
- 80% lean ground beef, per lb – $2.99 (regular price $3.99)
- Clancy‘s kettle chips, 8.5 oz – $1.29 (regular price $1.99)
- Simply Nature organic milk, half gallon – $2.89 (regular price $3.59)
- Crofton 30-piece food storage set – $6.99 (regular price $9.99)
As you can see, the savings are significant, often $1 or more per item. When you multiply that across a whole grocery trip, it really adds up.
Why Aldi Savers are Savvy Strategy
Offering steep discounts on a rotating assortment of products each week may seem counterintuitive – how does Aldi make money by selling stuff at rock-bottom prices? Believe it or not, Aldi Savers are actually a brilliant business strategy on multiple fronts.
Firstly, Savers give customers a reason to shop at Aldi every single week. By constantly refreshing the deals, Aldi ensures there‘s always something new and exciting to check out. This drives foot traffic and keeps Aldi top-of-mind.
Savers are also a way for Aldi to introduce shoppers to products they might not normally buy. If a customer tries something new while it‘s a Saver and ends up loving it, boom – Aldi has won a loyal buyer of that product, even at the regular price.
Additionally, by selling more volume of a product during a Saver week, Aldi can often secure a better price from their supplier, which helps offset the lower margins. Not to mention, Savers create a "treasure hunt" atmosphere that spurs impulse purchases.
But perhaps most importantly, Aldi Savers spur positive word-of-mouth. Shoppers love telling their friends and family about the amazing deals they scored at Aldi. According to a 2017 Forrester study, 50% of Aldi shoppers recommended the store to friends or family in the past 12 months, compared to just 38% of Kroger shoppers and 25% of Safeway shoppers. In the era of social media, this kind of organic buzz is priceless.
5 Expert Tips to Max Out Your Aldi Savers
Now that you‘re an Aldi Savers scholar, let‘s get tactical. Here are my top tips as a shopping expert to wring the most value out of this program:
1. Know When to Pounce
The early bird gets the deal when it comes to Aldi Savers. New Savers go live each Wednesday and remain on sale until the following Tuesday, or until stock runs out. For the best selection, plan your Aldi run for Wednesday or Thursday. Unsurprisingly, the most popular Savers items often sell out before the end of the week.
2. Stock Up and Save
When staples your family uses consistently like rice, beans, oats, canned veggies, and frozen fruit go on sale as Savers, buy as many as you can reasonably store and use before they expire. Purchasing nonperishable or freezer-friendly items in bulk when they‘re Savers can drastically cut your grocery spending over time.
Let‘s say pasta sauce is a Saver at $0.99 per jar. Maybe you‘d normally buy one jar at the regular price of $1.89. But with the Saver price, you buy six jars for $5.94 instead of one for $1.89 – that‘s more than 50% in savings! Of course, only stock up on products you know your household will definitely use to avoid waste.
3. Get Strategic with Coupons and Promos
The only thing better than an Aldi Saver is an Aldi Saver stacked with a coupon or other promotion. While Aldi doesn‘t accept manufacturer coupons, they do occasionally offer their own store coupons, like $5 off a $30 purchase. Hold onto these gems until a week when your go-to Savers are running to compound the discount.
Also look out for Super Savers, which are basically Aldi‘s version of a digital coupon. You‘ll find these sprinkled throughout the weekly ad, offering bonus savings on specific items. To redeem, select the offer in the Aldi app and then scan the QR code at checkout.
4. Savor New Flavors
One of my favorite Aldi pro tips is to leverage Savers as an opportunity to try out new products on the cheap. Have you been curious about Aldi‘s Greek yogurt, but hesitant to stray from your usual brand? Wait until it goes on Saver and give it a whirl. Ditto for more "out there" items like Aldi‘s vegan hot dogs or frozen sushi rolls. Savers are an awesome excuse to taste-test without buyer‘s remorse.
5. Compare Prices Like a Champ
Just because something is labeled an Aldi Saver doesn‘t necessarily mean it‘s cheaper than you can find elsewhere. With shelf-stable products especially, it always pays to do some quick comparison shopping. Whip out your phone and pull up a competitor‘s app or website. How does the Aldi Saver price stack up to what Walmart or Kroger is charging for a similar item, either regular-priced or on sale? Sometimes you might be surprised to find a better deal down the road. But more often than not, Aldi Savers do offer the lowest price per unit – you just always want to double-check.
Aldi Savers Aren‘t Foolproof
As phenomenal as Aldi Savers are, they do have some limitations worth noting. Most significantly, Savers change weekly and popular items sell out, so you can‘t count on them always being available when you need something. If you‘re someone who likes consistency in their grocery shopping, having to check the ad each week for Savers might get tedious.
There‘s also no guarantee that the Savers in a given week will align with what‘s on your grocery list. You might luck out and find several Savers you need, or you might strike out entirely. Savers are ultimately best treated as supplementary to your core shopping, not the main event.
Finally, Savers can sometimes spur overbuying if you‘re not careful. Sure, those fancy crackers might be a killer deal, but will you really eat all 5 boxes before they go stale? Tossing food negates any savings, so be judicious.
Aldi Savers: The Bottom Line
When wielded wisely, Aldi Savers are an unbeatable weapon in any budget shopper‘s arsenal. By monitoring the weekly ad, stocking up strategically, taste-testing new products, and stacking savings when possible, you can seriously supercharge your grocery savings.
That said, Savers are not a magic bullet. Stay cognizant of prices, don‘t overbuy, and treat them as a complement to your core grocery needs rather than the whole enchilada.
Still, with Aldi Savers at your disposal, grocery shopping feels like a whole new ball game – one where you‘re perpetually the MVP. So go forth and conquer those aisles, savvy shoppers. May the Savers be ever in your favor!
