Conor’s Review Blog

Both Aldi and Lidl are now well embedded into the Irish supermarket scene and are appearing in smaller and smaller towns. The one I know best is the Aldi in Ballincollig and I’ve gone there many times over the past few years. It is one of those shops that has stuff to avoid at all costs and other fantastic bits. Obviously many of us go for the Thursday special offers and they also suffer from this. Offers which work - most low cost electrical or electronics stuff. The two most reliable USB hubs I have were bought there several years ago. Offers which don’t - anything for the garden that isn’t disposable - the quality of things like their mini-greenhouses etc is rubbish. Other items like the Tevion/Medion wireless keyboard and mouse are rubbish too.

I got a bunch of camping gear there yesterday and have yet to try it out. The sleeping bags look good, less sure about the tent.

Core generic staples are fine - salt, sugar, back sacks, bleach etc. Less successful are things like canned beans and tomatoes. The frozen meat is a horror but the sliced meats are amazing. No other supermarket in Ireland carries that range of salamis and other cured meats.

Beer and wine are great, pizzas are not bad at all. Most sweet goods taste cheap as do their crisps etc. We always stock up on their fruit juices. Got pomegranate juice there yesterday, lovely!

So a mixed bag that works well for the smart selective shopper.