Aldi Vs Whole Foods
Surely you know that there are multiple places at which to buy your groceries, but also, that many factors are affecting your choice every week. Sometimes is due to closeness or accessibility, however, there is never enough information to help you make the right choice. So here is everything you need to know to answer: Aldi Vs Whole Foods- which is better?
Aldi and Whole Foods have competed in the United States for many years, at least in the supermarket spectrum. The former is known for its low prices while the latter, for its higher quality and prices. Nevertheless, things have changed over the last years, and both stores have figured out the way to attract more and more customers: Aldi has started to spruce up its stores and Whole Foods has trimmed its prices on many staples. As consequence, the public has not yet agreed on which one is the victorious supermarket.
Aldi And Whole Foods Across History
Aldi was born in 1946 as a German discount supermarket chain, which used to cut costs by neither advertising nor selling fresh produce. In 1960, it was split into two separate groups (Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd), each of them operating in different regions outsides Germany, except for the United States, where both businesses operated. Since 2018, the two branches decided to merge again by 2022 in an attempt to raise efficacy.
On the other side, Whole Foods was founded in 1978 as a result of the merger of two different markets (SaferWay and Clarksville) to provide products free from hydrogenated fats, artificial colors, and preservatives. Since 2017, the company was acquired by Amazon, adding multiple of its physical stores to the e-commerce assets of the latter.
The Presence of Both Companies
In the present, Aldi counts with more than 2,000 stores in the United States, after it was initially introduced in 1976. Internationally, however, the company sells its products in 19 countries. Meanwhile, Whole Foods has more than 500 stores in North America and the United Kingdom, which makes it the world’s leader store in natural and organic foods.
Aldi and Whole Foods’ Missions
Since Whole Foods opened its first store, the company has focused on bringing vegan, vegetarian, and organic products to its customers, but its true mission is contributing to a healthier planet by making things differently. The store focuses on doing earth-friendly efforts like recycling packages, collecting batteries, and offering reusable grocery bags. Similarly, its workers are trained on food waste efficacy to avoid products going to waste.
The mission of Aldi, which also works as its slogan, is providing a way to “Shop differently” (with an “i” instead of a “y”). This means that the company offers an easier, faster, and smarter way to shop high-quality groceries for a low price.
Aldi’s Approach Evolution
Although pursued since the beginning, Aldi’s approach to reducing costs and offering very low prices was not very attractive for customers in North America, who were not used to buying unrefrigerated products like vegetables and fruits. However, the store began gaining acceptance as its display practices improved with time. Nowadays, Aldi has focused on making its stores more appealing, with wider and brighter aisles.
What They Offer
Both Aldi and Whole Foods offer a wide range of products such as:
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Canned goods
• Fresh fish and meats
• Dairy and eggs
• Beverages
• Frozen food
• Snacks
• Household essentials
• Pet care suppliers
• Baby items
• Flowers
The two stores offer weekly deals and specials, but Whole Foods’ distinguishable charm is that Amazon Prime members get exclusive discounts. Also, both companies have implemented a “recipes” section in their web pages, in which different and seasonal recipes can be found to encourage the public to buy some of their specific products.
Prices Comparison
One of the most crucial points when choosing where to shop is price. Multiple comparisons between Aldi and Whole Foods’ prices come to conclude that the former’s prices are more accessible than the latter’s. Although in some cases the difference in their prices is pennies, in others it can raise to dollars, which makes Aldi the best choice to shop if low prices are what you are looking for.
The Victorious Supermarket
In the end, which one is the best place to shop remains an open debate since the two companies have different approaches and each of them can be more or less appealing to customers with different needs and interests. You might be an Amazon Prime member, which makes Whole Foods a great choice for you. Or you might want to save as much as possible when shopping, which means that Aldi is the right suit for you. Perhaps one or the other is right around the corner, infinite factors are influencing our choices every day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Aldi also sell organic food?
It not only sells several brands of organic food, but also, since 2015, removed certified synthetic colors as well as added MSG, and partially hydrogenated oils from exclusive brands.
What percentage of Whole Food’s customers are also Amazon Prime members?
The estimation provided by a strategy and research company is that, after Whole Foods’ acquisition by Amazon, 75% to 80% of its customers are also Amazon Prime members.
