Lidl is one of the most successful grocery chains in all of Europe. Successful? How about over…read more10,000 stores? Lidl is a German surname, which is used instead of Schwarz, the corporate name . They really couldn't call it Schwarz, because that word means 'black' in German, and 'black market' broadcasts all sorts of criminal connotations. So Lidl it is, 10,000+ stores later. There is a Lidl in Wildeshausen, Germany, where I did some grocery shopping today. First impressions are that this store is neat, clean, spotless, and antiseptic. The shelves are beautifully faced up, and I noticed busy employees efficiently working to keep things that way. It has the look of a Food4Less, but none of the problems usually noticed in that store. Along the first aisle from the entry, there is a floor-to-ceiling wall of plexiglas drawers containing dozens and dozens of baked goods, from cookies to full loaves of fresh baked bread. A customer can manipulate his choice sideways to a slide using a plastic handle, and it zooms right down into your store-supplied plastic bag. Amazing. The merchandise selection is not necessarily comprehensive at Lidl. For example, instead of 4 or 5 brands of butter, there are just 2. And yet there is a full aisle of soft drinks, and the selection of wine is mind-boggling. Beer, too. (You can tell where I spent some quality time.) Prices and selection for staple foods like coffee are really good. Lidl's business model is incredibly successful, no question. But why over-describe it? Lidl has announced it will land on our shores in 2018. The Germans are coming ! Actually, Aldi has already arrived in Vista, and Chula Vista is opening soon. The grocery store wars are going nuclear, and the customer will reap the beneficial fallout.

This particular Aldi is located contiguous with a Zimmerman, which is a low-end discount store. Not…read morethe best of company, by any means, but the low rent district allows for lower pricing. The store is not impressive. It's a bit drab in decor, but very clean and neat nonetheless. My wife and I did some shopping here, and I found the prices to be quite good. The Specials are terrific. For example, I bought a six-pack of half-liter Maternus pilsner beer for 1.69 Euros. Each Euro is worth $1.09 today, so that is an exceptional bargain. Prices on everyday items are quite good here, as well. The freezer cases were not super well stocked, but I suppose the store manager knows best what sells and what doesn't. The shelves were fairly bursting with inventory, and quite well faced up. Many Trader Joe's branded items were present on the shelves (TJ being a corporate sibling). Plenty of wine, but no Two-Buck Chuck. My main interest was to see this store in advance of seeing the Aldi which is opening in Chula Vista. It will be nice to compare and contrast.

We needed to stock up a sizeable fridge upon arriving in Wildeshausen. My wife, the German…read moresuggested Edeka Center on Westring Strasse. Wisely, I deferred to her wisdom. Whoa, this is a serious supermarket ! Although the trend is downsizing, illustrated by smaller Trader Joe's and Aldi stores in the USA, and Walmart's Neighborhood Markets, this Edeka is enormous, probably over 50,000 square feet. A Trader Joe's would fit in a corner, literally. In addition to size, Edeka has focus: You will not find aisle after aisle of greeting cards or cosmetics here, just food and household products. The variety of food overwhelmed this San Diegan, who is used to perusing the staid inventories of Vons and Ralph's. Examples come to mind: Wines and beers from literally every country in Europe, as well as many from the States, Australia/NZ and elsewhere, and the mind-boggling diversity of meats, cold cuts, and cheeses. You can even taste cream cheeses, since the selection is far beyond normal expectations. And breads? The decisions are agonizing, made even more difficult by the existence of the onsite bakery. Food prices are rather low in Germany, and I'm sure a competent economist could explain why. I certainly can't. I'm not complaining ! I noticed that the shopping carts were neatly arranged in their kiosk, rather than scattered all around the parking lot. Come to find out, they are all chained together, but a deposit of a One Euro coin will unlock one cart. Returning it to the kiosk and locking it releases the coin. Smart, these Germans. My wife mentioned that one of the things she misses most is shopping at Edeka. I get it now.