In 2024, the average weekly food shop in the UK cost £97, roughly $130 USD, according to data from Nimblefins. Even with groceries being a little more expensive these days, that’s more than enough for a full haul at Aldi with its budget-friendly pricing and unique selection.
There are good reasons why Aldi is known as one of the most affordable grocery stores on both sides of the Atlantic, and to help you make the most of the great deals and unique products you’ll find there, we compiled a list of must-buy items for your first trip. But you need to be aware that navigating an Aldi store may not be as straightforward as you expect in the UK. You’re going to have to either bring a friend to help you carry some items or limit yourself to the bare essentials, especially if you’re used to filling a whole cart every shopping trip.
One thing many first-time shoppers don’t expect is the absence of full-size grocery carts at Aldi. Most locations in the UK do not offer them. Instead, you can make use of standard hand-held baskets or rolling baskets. These are still convenient for an Aldi shop, but they’ll limit how much you can carry and also how much time you’re likely to spend in the store. All of this is part of the intentional way Aldi has designed its shopping experience.
Why Aldi UK doesn’t always offer carts
In the U.S., you’ll have to pony up a quarter to gain access to a grocery cart, which is one of several ways international Aldi locations differ from stores in the U.S. But there are some good reasons that many of the UK stores don’t have carts at all.
For one, Aldi has carved a niche for itself by intentionally limiting the number of products it offers. You may not need a big cart because the selection at Aldi isn’t as large, and that’s on purpose. Low inventory means higher efficiency for the stores, which can be smaller than traditional grocers, pay lower overhead, and employ fewer people.
Aldi also wants you in and out fast. The cashiers are trained to memorize the prices, and they scan so quickly that it’s actual news if a shopper can pack their groceries faster. The need for a speedy checkout is so anxiety-inducing for some people, it has led to a phenomenon called “Aldi Panic.”
Because the stores are smaller than traditional grocery stores, they pack items in tightly. Many things aren’t stocked on shelves but are left on the pallets they arrived on. Store layouts also make using carts awkward in some situations since aisles can be narrow. On the upside, grocery carts have gotten bigger, so you’ll buy more stuff, so Aldi not offering them reduces the temptation.
