[lqet]

That's interesting, because the customers at Aldi here in Germany are basically a cross-section of the population, but tend to be middle/higher middle class. Especially after the update to most of their shops during the last 7-8 years [0], most Aldis look really nice inside. This combined with the huge advantage that shopping at Aldi is really efficient (the stores are not large, for most items, you have only a single option to select from which usually has an excellent quality, and the cashiers are arguably the fastest in the industry) makes Aldi very attractive for people who could easily afford shopping at a non-discounter. Sure, I enjoy the occasional hour-long visit to a large supermarket with the family on a weekend, but after work? I want my shopping done in 10 minutes max without selecting from 30 brands of pasta and go home.

At least in larger cities, the average Lidl often looks a bit run-down and grimy, and the customers tend to be lower class (that's not the case in rural areas, however). I always found that interesting, because prices / quality are basically equivalent (although I tend to prefer Aldi products). I live near the border to France, and the situation there appears to be similar.

At least a few years ago, however, Aldis in Switzerland also looked very run-down (though not as run-down as Denner) with distinctly lower-class customers and a much larger focus on selling alcohol than in Germany.

[0] https://www.augsburger-allgemeine.de/wirtschaft/Bilderstreck...

[brnt]

Dutch here, worked a few years in Germany. I can attest to the difference in esteem of the Aldi/Lidl in de and nl. But you already agree: German shops just look run down as a matter of course. Rewe and Edeka the least probably?

However (I've lived some years in FR and PL too), nothing beats Dutch supermarkets in terms of shopping-speed. Nowhere. If you think (German) Aldi is fast, you should try a Dutch shop (preferably in the city around rush hour so you can see it shines under pressure). As a low anchor, you can try the same in France (any brand, but Lidl too) ;) This includes stock: Dutch supermarkets are rarely out of something, but in Germany this is par for the course (or I am extremely unlucky?)

Also, and this is actually quite true for the Netherlands as well, there is a quality problem. It can be good, but it rarely is great. The French (and Belgians) really have that beat, at the cost of speed. Only fresh veg and bread is where Lidl shines, and I love them for it.

[LargoLasskhyfv]

Bread?! Lidl?! Aharrharrhaarrgh. (cough, spit...)

[brnt]

From a Dutch perspective :) You should see what foam they consider bread. One of the things I miss from France :) Lidl has a batard that is really quite good, unsurpassed by any Dutch bread.

[LargoLasskhyfv]

Can't have anything from them which is (re)baked in store. Makes my nose run, and throat slimy, sometimes even constricting.

I've given up on them. And almost anything else too. Because that is a function of modern bakery supply chains in general, not one specific 'outlet'.

[brnt]

You haven't had bad bread if you've never had Dutch bread. That includes virtually any 'bakery' (those are mostly chains who also rebake). Dutch bread is barely baked, and barely bread. Really, moulding shite and baking it is superior.

Do not get in a bad-bread-pissing contest: Dutch will win it every time.

[markus92]

Try having some stuff in the US that passes for bread. You'd long for the Aldi back home!

[LargoLasskhyfv]

I disagree to both to the single option to select from, and the excellent quality. For Aldi-North that is. Sampling for about 2 to 3 times a year there, since about 2014. Before that I lived there.