In this thread, we log the prices of items in our respective markets.

Mangoes: 2 for 99 cents @ Fiesta Mart
Boneless NY Strip: $3.77/lb. @ HEB
18 Oz Box of Bluberries: 97 cents each @ HEB (This is insane)
Whole Grain Bread: $1.19 @ Aldi

One dozen eggs - .79 Aldi

These aren't brown eggs, are they?

I respect those of you with the mental fortitude and/or low standards to stomach entering an Aldi.

Though the Aldi in West Philly is substantially less panic-inducing in layout and atmosphere than the one near us so maybe it's just our branch.

Ours are clean and have aisles like any other grocery store

$6.49 for a dozen of organic, free-range eggs - Whole Foods
$1.99 for a bunch of red kale - Whole Foods
$6.99 for a gallon of organic milk - Whole Foods
$14.99 per pound for arctic char - Whole Foods
$12.99 per pound of deli house oven-baked turkey - Whole Foods

That's a weird Aldi take, Mickey. Ever since I tried the one near me, I've found it to be one of the most efficient and practical ways to shop. We go to Aldi for pantry staples twice a month (on my payday) and we go to Fiesta/local farm stand/HEB for more specific trips when meal planning, as needed.

Which reminds me:

Fresh okra: $4 a quart @ Finca Tres Robles urban farm stand
Arugula: Same

This is clearly a joke. A good one, but still.

Wait. It's probably not a joke. It's been a while since I've been to Whole Foods.

The Aldi in our part of Philadelphia does not, strictly speaking, have aisles.

I need to see this Aldi.

Imagine a very small Walmart that was in the middle of a complete re-stocking when it was also struck by a mid-size earthquake.

Just show me the Yelps, my man. I wanna see the Yelps.

Party ice = Two 10lb bags for $5

Can someone tell me why the Honduran single origin coffee marked "Fair Trade" and "organic" at Aldi is $4.59 for a bag of whole beans when something from the same region would be $18 a bag from my preferred local roaster?

I'm wondering if this has more to do with Aldi's business model and ability to cut prices or said local roaster's markup?

It's entirely economy of scale. Aldi can buy mixed pallets of finished coffee for its 3200 national stores (over 100 in TX), while your local roaster is buying a tiny amount of beans and roasting on-site. And "the last mile" for Aldi is a completely different (and more affordable) animal than for your local roaster.

I regularly paid $500 to have a pallet of ice cream shipped from Seattle to MT. It cost me $400 to get it from Seattle to Bozeman, then $100 for the final 35 miles. That's the last mile in action.

Ah. That makes sense. So, the quality in product comes down to where and how it’s roasted, I guess? Assuming both roasts are negligibly different, choosing the more expensive option is more a matter of whether or not I can afford to support a local business, then?

Something not being accounted for here is that those pasture raised Whole Foods eggs, which btw are on sale this week, taste significantly better than Aldi eggs.