Aldi is a discount grocery store chain that originated in Germany in 1946 that now has over 1600 stores in the US alone. Aldi sells grocery items at a low cost which makes the store quite popular among poor and middle-class households.Let us know about What is Aldi doing about the coronavirus!
When the coronavirus began to spread in 2020 several shops and grocery stores were forced to shut down. During this time there was huge loss of lives and many people lost their livelihood as well. Aldi suffered great loss during coronavirus just like its competitors but the store revived itself both during and after the lockdown was lifted.
Aldi came up with strict safety measures so that its employees and customers can avoid getting infected by the virus. As a result of these initiatives, customers were able to procure their groceries at great prices but also in a safe and hygienic way.
What precautions did Aldi take during the Pandemic?
During the pandemic, Aldi undertook several measures to ensure that its customers enjoyed a safe and hygienic experience. Some of these initiatives are listed below:
- Protective barriers were installed at each checkout station.
- Hand sanitizing stations were set up at different locations within the stores.
- Self-service cart wipe stations were set up to help shoppers sanitize their carts before using them.
- Intense cleanings were conducted at the stores regularly.
- Contactless shopping options like grocery delivery and curbside grocery pickup were made available for shoppers.
During the Pandemic, Aldi constantly updated its store safety measures according to the CDC safety protocols.
What did Aldi’s competitors do about the pandemic?
Aldi’s competitors also followed the CDC guidelines but they came up with their own unique initiatives to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Walmart – The Company partnered with Sam’s pharmacies to run a campaign through which it administered the Covid-19 vaccine to customers at its stores across the US; Walmart and Walmart foundation further donated $25 million supporting workers who were involved in fighting against the virus.
- Target – The Company installed Plexiglass shields at each of its checkout lanes, increased cleanliness, and disinfected carts and baskets regularly.
- Kroger – The Company placed plastic partitions at its checkout lanes to promote physical distancing, added additional hand sanitizers at cashier stations and food service counters, provided customers with free disinfectant wipes for sanitization, etc. Kroger also encouraged contact-free payments and no-contact delivery during the pandemic.
What makes Aldi stand out from its competitors?
Aldi is quite popular among middle-class households because its products are available at low prices when compared to other grocery stores. To make this possible the company follows certain unique rules:
- It minimized store size to reduce rent, electricity, and other maintenance costs.
- It pays more attention to employee efficiency and thus lowers labor costs.
- It limits store hours and promotes a cart rental system for its customers.
- Most of its grocery products carry a private label rather than a well-known brand name.
- The store sells only about 1300 of the fast-moving grocery items while its competitors sell up to 30,000 grocery items.
Aldi does its best to maintain the quality of its grocery products. Some of its efforts on this front are listed below:
- Since 2016, Aldi has been working on removing added MSG, artificial dyes, and hydrogenated oils from its food. It has successfully replaced synthetic colors with natural coloring agents like turmeric, beet juice, etc.
- Aldi restocks its products with fresh items every Wednesday.
- The company deals with only the best local suppliers and thus ensures the quality of its products.
What other services does Aldi offer?
Aldi is known for its low-cost grocery products but it also sells other products at its stores such as:
- Sports gear
- Camping gear
- BBQ equipment
- DIY projects
- Exercise equipment
- Kitchen mats
- Hiking boots
- Toys
- Household essentials
Customers can thus purchase their groceries and also explore these exclusive items at Aldi.
Conclusion
Aldi is thus an affordable grocery store that greatly benefits middle-class households in particular. It constantly strives to serve its customers through its innovative and affordable services. The Covid-19 pandemic had incurred great loss to the company but Aldi managed to revive itself by taking precautionary measures to ensure the safety of its customers. Aldi thus proved to be a customer-oriented organization with great resilience.
FAQs
- Is it mandatory to wear a mask at Aldi? At Aldi, both employees and customers are not forced to wear masks as it is optional. But it may be required if the state enforces it.
- Can I purchase groceries online from Aldi?
Yes. Customers can visit the Aldi online website and order the required groceries. Note that certain products may be available at stores only while some may be purchased online.
- Have the store hours changed at Aldi after the Pandemic?
Customers can always visit the Store locator tab available on the Aldi website to check the timings of a particular Aldi store.
4. Which is cheaper, Aldi or Trader Joe’s?
Aldi has lower prices when compared to Trader Joe’s.
