Have an Aldi in your neighborhood yet? With over 2,600 stores throughout the United States, the European grocery chain has become a familiar household name, known for great food and even better prices.
If you have a large household like I do, grocery shopping can be a weekly challenge to find food that everyone likes and that doesn’t break the bank. And these days, many shoppers with smaller households are struggling to keep up with grocery prices.
Aldi has quite a few store-brand items that are better than some nationally recognized brands we all know and love — or that are as good as national brands but with a better price.
Following are just a few of my favorite groceries from Aldi brands.
What are Aldi’s store brands?
More than 90% of products sold at Aldi are from its store brands, also referred to as private labels. “Our priority is saving you money on the food and products you want the most,” Aldi says on its website.
The Aldi brands covered in this article include:
- Elevation, a line of protein bars and powders
- Benton’s, a line of snack foods
- Savoritz, a line of crackers
- Simms, a line of meat products
- Priano, a line of sauces
- L’oven Fresh, a line of baked goods
What if you don’t like Aldi’s store brands?
You need not worry about not liking a new food from an Aldi brand. With the retailer’s Twice as Nice return policy, you can try out Aldi-brand food products and get both a replacement and a refund if you don’t enjoy them. So trying out these products is completely risk-free.
If you don’t know where to start, check out the following Aldi products. I have found them to be at least as good as brand-name equivalents — if not also cheaper.
1. Elevation Only bars
If you’re looking for a great snack or a quick energy bar, you’ve got to try the Elevation Only bars. Similar to Kind bars, these nut-based bars are available in three different flavors, all with dark chocolate.
They’re gluten-free and have low sodium, no trans fat and 4 to 8 grams of protein per bar.
2. Benton’s Cookie Thins
Got a sweet tooth but no time to bake? Try Benton’s Cookie Thins. The Key lime variety is a favorite of my household.
Similar to the Thinsters brand of cookie thins, Benton’s Cookie Thins are made without artificial flavors, high-fructose corn syrup or hydrogenated oils.
Benton’s crunchy cookies are packed with flavor. They’re available in other flavors, too. Just be careful; you might eat the whole bag — no judgment!
3. Savoritz Saltine Crackers
Who doesn’t love a good saltine cracker? The Savoritz brand of saltines is a perfect complement to your favorite soup or as a quick snack with peanut butter or a slice of cheese. With a touch of salt like the nationally recognized Nabisco brand, these crackers are crunchy and light.
4. Benton’s Mini Bear Grahams
Teddy bear-shaped graham crackers like Nabisco’s Teddy Grahams are a favorite among preschoolers and teenagers alike. Whether you like the chocolate or honey variety, Aldi’s version — Benton’s Mini Bear Grahams — is well priced. And you get 12 snack packs in each box, with 8 grams of whole grain per serving.
You can also pack these in the kids’ lunches without worrying about nut allergies or high-fructose corn syrup.
5. Simms Teriyaki Beef Jerky
With two teenage sons at home, keeping snacks on hand is no small feat for me. Although beef jerky does have a high salt content, it’s a high-protein food. Aldi sells multiple flavors under its Simms brand. In my area, they’re slightly cheaper than national brands like Jack Link’s.
The Simms teriyaki-flavored jerky does have 8 grams of total sugar per serving but provides 10 grams of protein per serving.
6. Priano Genovese Pesto sauce
Who doesn’t like pasta with a good red sauce? However, if pesto is your favorite, then try the Priano Genovese Pesto sauce. It easily costs less than Barilla and Classico equivalents in my area.
Made with pine nuts and cashews, this pesto does have quite a bit of sodium, but it’s comparable to the amount of sodium in the other brands’ products. Try some with your favorite pasta or loaf of French bread.
7. L’oven Fresh Honey Wheat Bread
If you love bread as much as my kids do, you’ll love the options available at Aldi. Be sure to try the Honey Wheat Bread from Aldi’s L’oven Fresh brand, which appears to be modeled after the Nature’s Own brand’s Honey Wheat product. Made without high-fructose corn syrup, it’s priced significantly lower.
If you are allergic to wheat, this might not be the best option for you. However, Aldi bread brands offer gluten-free as well as keto-friendly options to satisfy every bread craving in your household.
8. L’oven Fresh Swirl breads
If you like cinnamon and raisins, you’ll want to try the Swirl breads from L’oven Fresh, which are similar to the Pepperidge Farm version. Try toasting a slice and topping with your favorite butter or cream cheese spread.
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