After 40 years serving shoppers across its German roots and throughout Europe, grocer Lidl (pronounced “Leedel”) is making its move into the United States.
The chain launched more than 20 locations in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina in the summer of 2017 and intends to open another 100 stores over the following year. Ohio, Texas and Georgia top Lidl’s list for further expansion.
Lidl aims to combine quality with efficiency to keep prices affordable. If you’ve ever shopped at Aldi — grabbing produce from the boxes it arrived in or bagging your own groceries — you’ll likely feel at home in a Lidl store.
The cost savings alone may be reason enough to visit: One analysis of Lidl pricing discovered the store is roughly 14% less expensive than Kroger, about 10% lower than Walmart Neighborhood Market, 5.7% below Walmart Supercenters, and roughly on par with Aldi. In another price comparison, Lidl was 3% cheaper than Aldi.
6 Ways to Save at Lidl
Here’s what to know before your first visit to Lidl.
1. Every Store Follows the Same Layout
According to Jessica Haggard, public relations specialist for Lidl, shoppers can accomplish about 80% of a typical weekly shop within the store’s first aisle. Beyond the bakery and produce areas at the front, the first aisle includes coffee, tea, meat, cheese, eggs, milk and other dairy items.If you’re aiming for a quick trip, you can likely stick to that initial aisle. But you may want to explore further — more on that in a moment.
Perk: Lidl’s bread is baked continuously throughout the day, and the bakery’s location makes it convenient for a quick snack run. Lidl’s French butter croissants cost 49 cents apiece and contain 24% butter. Butter!
2. Look for the Preferred Selection
Lidl takes pride in its private-label offerings. “If you’re hunting for ketchup, you won’t find 50 different brands. You’ll find two or three,” Haggard said.
The retailer tests its in-house brands to make sure shoppers like them as much as the national brands offered alongside them, she noted.
About 80% of items in Lidl U.S. stores are sourced domestically, although you’ll still encounter European favorites like specialty pastas, chocolates and cheeses.
Curious about a product’s origin? Look for the flag icon on the packaging or in the weekly flyer.
3. No Need to Clip Manufacturer Coupons
Lidl does not accept manufacturer coupons, but there are other ways to save on top of the store’s already low prices.
Check the weekly leaflet, available in stores and online, for occasional coupons.
Download the Lidl app for iOS or Android and join the store’s loyalty program to access more coupons.
Want extra savings? Sign up to receive coupons by email. Each week you’ll get one set of coupons that mirror what’s in the app plus a second set exclusive to email subscribers.
4. Keep an Eye on the Leaflet
Lidl releases deals twice weekly, on Mondays and Thursdays.
Some promotions in the weekly leaflet are valid for only part of the week, so you’ll need to act quickly to snag them. Check the top of each leaflet page to see the valid dates for each offer.
Haggard notes that not every special is shown in the leaflet, so stay alert while shopping.
5. Browse the “Surprises” Section
European Lidl stores are famous for household items, apparel and other nonfood finds. That practice is coming to the U.S. as well.
The surprises area features a weekly rotation of themed items at promotional prices. These goods are available in stores only while supplies last, but you can preview the next week’s surprises by viewing the “Nonfood Weekly” leaflet online.
Top surprise items during the U.S. grand opening included a full-size kettle charcoal grill for $19.99 and a pressure washer for $99.You’ll also discover kitchen tools, workout apparel, power tools, diaper bags, fishing rods — practically anything!
6. Not Satisfied? Return It!
Take advantage of Lidl’s “Love It Guarantee.” If a private-label product you buy at Lidl doesn’t meet your expectations, bring it back for a refund and a replacement.
