I shop in Aldi and Sainsbury’s every day, but there’s one thing I will only buy from one of the shops
Living a mere five minutes away from two major supermarkets — Aldi and Sainsbury’s — I find myself nipping into both on a daily basis. Unlike the typical weekly shop, my routine involves picking up fresh items for the following day, including milk, fruit and veg, bread, and meat and fish.
While Aldi is my preferred choice due to its affordability, there are certain products, like dishwasher tablets, that I exclusively purchase from Sainsbury’s. However, there’s one particular food item that I only ever buy from Aldi, thanks to its superior quality and lower price.
Recently, my local Aldi introduced a bakery section. Having never sampled Aldi’s baked goods before, I was intrigued by the quality on offer, especially given their bargain prices.
In the past, I’d occasionally treat myself to a croissant or pain au chocolat from Sainsbury’s for a relaxed weekend breakfast. But if I didn’t make it to the store early enough, I’d often find them dry, stale, and lacking in flavour, particularly considering their cost, reports the Express.
So, when I first picked up a croissant from Aldi, I was somewhat sceptical, expecting similar quality but at a cheaper price. However, after sampling most of Aldi’s bakery range over the past few months, I’m completely hooked and have vowed not to return to Sainsbury’s bakery section.
The key differences between Aldi’s bakery and Sainsbury’s lie in the variety of items and their presentation. My local Aldi boasts an array of treats, from Portuguese custard tarts to fresh doughnuts, pretzels, and freshly baked bread.
While my local Sainsbury’s boasts a tempting array of Danish pastries, it falls short when it comes to the variety of doughnuts, muffins, and other sweet delights.
Both Aldi and Sainsbury’s offer the usual suspects — almond croissants, pain au chocolat, chocolate twists, plain croissants, and cinnamon swirls. However, Aldi goes the extra mile by keeping their pastries warm under a heat lamp, while Sainsbury’s opts for a less sturdy plastic lid that often seems to be on the verge of falling off.
When it comes to value for money, Aldi’s bakery items are top-notch, whereas some of Sainsbury’s offerings can feel a bit steep. For instance, two All Butter Croissants from Sainsbury’s will set you back £1.75, but you can bag a pair from Aldi for just £1.38 (69p each).
Similarly, a crusty white baguette from Sainsbury’s costs £1.35, while Aldi’s version is a mere 79p.
That said, Sainsbury’s does have the upper hand when it comes to bread selection, offering unique flavours and a variety of grains. Despite this, my personal preference leans towards Aldi’s bakery items, and I won’t be switching back to Sainsbury’s for my occasional croissant fix anytime soon.
Of course, neither supermarket bakery can hold a candle to the local, independent bakeries in my area. But if you’re after a freshly baked treat that won’t break the bank, Aldi would be my go-to choice every time.
Interestingly, Zoe Chamberlain from BirminghamLive conducted a similar comparison last year, visiting Morrisons, Tesco, Lidl, Aldi, and Sainsbury’s bakeries, and found Lidl to be her favourite.
Meanwhile, my colleague Phoebe Cornish recently swapped her fresh bakery croissants from Lidl for a frozen version that she bakes at home.