Why Reddit Is Furious About Aldi's Major Produce Change
Aldi has successfully billed itself as a place for people who are into saving money while still being able to buy quality fruits and vegetables and house-brand items that can compete with the name-brand versions (via CNN). The affordable brand has even surpassed Walmart on customer satisfaction surveys. Aldi can even achieve lower prices than Walmart due to its small product assortment and in-store protocol that contributes to its cost-effectiveness such as paying a refundable quarter for grocery carts, and employees' fast efficiency at the checkout lanes.
Social media at large and Reddit, in particular, has been a platform for Aldi shoppers to pay compliments, complain, or comment when it comes to certain food products or in-store experiences. Whether it's Aldi shoppers claiming a person's grocery haul is nothing to boast about due to the cost or users coming together to swoon over a popular Aldi item, Reddit does not shy away from posts centered on the buzzworthy grocer.
All the talk around Aldi might make even more sense these days, given the company's recommitment to its customers to always have the cheapest available prices even amidst record-high inflation (per Supermarket News). Still, despite this guarantee, some social media users are finding more than one reason to complain about Aldi produce.
More and more produce wrapped in plastic
A few weeks ago, one Redditor posted a picture of shucked corn wrapped in multiple layers of plastic in the r/aldi subreddit, divulging their concern for unnecessary packaging. While the most upvoted comment was from one user stating husked corn needs plastic to keep it from drying out, others took the opportunity to air out other frustrations with Aldi's fruits and vegetables, such as not being able to buy single produce items anymore.
Aldi customers have been concerned about the packaging system for a while now and while you may be familiar with the Aldi anxiety that comes with checkout, those extra layers of plastic add fuel to the fire of fast transactions. In 2018, Aldi admitted to news.com.au that the extra plastic is a way for the checkout experience to remain swift and effective.
While the wrapping protocol remains an issue for some shoppers, Aldi is taking note and has been making some effective changes. Not only has the affordable grocer removed foam plates from its repertoire, but on the Aldi website, the company lists some lofty goals, including a shift to Aldi-exclusive product packaging that's recyclable, biodegradable, or reusable by 2025.
It may feel like the plastic-covered produce is here to stay, but Redditors will have to wait and see how Aldi's sustainability efforts unfold in the next few years.