I Checked ALDI’s Meat to Find Out Why It’s So Suspiciously Cheap – Here’s What I Found

If you’re one of the growing number of shoppers switching to Aldi for groceries, you already know the European chain’s prices can’t be beat. People trying to save a few bucks happily grab cheap snacks, dairy, produce, booze, and canned goods, but many get suspicious when the meat prices look too good to be true. The common belief is that only low-quality meat sells for low prices. That couldn’t be further from the truth at Aldi.

Aldi stores differ from other grocery chains in more ways than rock-bottom prices. You’ve probably noticed the locations are small, few associates are around, and the whole place is no-frills. Don’t expect giant, ornate product displays or retirees handing out free samples. That’s precisely how everything, including the meat selection, stays priced so low.

It really comes down to three things: Aldi mainly sells its own house brands, its stores run on skeleton crews, and it sources meat locally. That’s why meat is so cheap at Aldi.

You won’t find a butcher’s counter in any American Aldi store. How could one possibly fit into such a small space? Skipping the butcher isn’t unusual, though, since quite a few larger supermarkets have also done away with in-house meat cutting. Because Aldi sells only pre-packaged meats, it needs less space and fewer staff, which lowers overhead and adds to the overall affordability.

Aldi also doesn’t rely on a single meat supplier. It works with a variety of providers in countries including Australia, Canada, Mexico, and New Zealand, as well as the U.S. The more Aldi spreads its business around, the better it can take advantage of whichever supplier offers the best deal at any given time.

Aldi often passes those savings down to shoppers through weekly specials, since any given week is likely to feature one or more excellent deals on chicken, pork, or beef. (Lamb shows up sometimes too, although it isn’t always in stock.) If you really want to save big, look for the packages of meat with the big red stickers marked “50% off.” The meat may be nearing its sell-by date, but if you cook it the same day you bring it home or stick it straight in the freezer, it’s perfectly safe and just as tasty as if you’d paid full price.

Naturally, Aldi carries the meats you’d expect to find at a grocery store, like excellent-quality ground beef, steaks, pork chops, different cuts of chicken, and fish. You’ll also come across some unique cuts at any given time, along with seasonal specials.

Again, selections vary by store and by where each store sources its meats, but customers can find things like lamb in various forms, thinly sliced beef that’s perfect for street tacos, pre-marinated chicken, baby back ribs, corned beef around St. Patrick’s Day, prime rib during the holidays, and ham during the Easter shopping season.

Most of these sit in the store’s fresh meat section, but don’t forget to scan the frozen aisle too, where you’ll find more excellent meats, like a vast array of turkeys around Thanksgiving. If you’re still not convinced that good meat can be found at low prices, start slow, since Aldi sells individually packed steaks. If you’re curious about buying meat at Aldi, we have recommendations for the best Aldi meats.

You’ll spot a few brand names in Aldi stores, but for the most part, the labels will likely look completely unfamiliar to first-time shoppers. These house brands save customers money because they go straight from the manufacturer to the customer, without the expense of marketing a big brand name.

Whenever possible, Aldi uses local sources for its meats. If it can procure steaks and pork chops from nearby farms, it does. That keeps transportation costs much lower than at other grocery chains, which ship in meat from across the country.

Aldi also keeps its stores minimally staffed, often with as few as three employees on a shift. That means paying less for labor and trimming costs for the customer. Still, the associates on duty do it all: they stock shelves, work the registers, and organize products.

The chain is also known for making customers bag their own groceries and pay a quarter (which you get back) to retrieve a shopping cart. Because of this, Aldi doesn’t have to hire extra people to bag groceries or gather carts, which again saves money for the customer.

Olivia Bennett is a contributing writer for the Meigs Independent Press, where she covers community stories, local government, and features that highlight the people of Meigs County. With a passion for storytelling and a keen eye for detail, she enjoys bringing untold stories to light in a way that connects with readers. When she’s not reporting, Olivia can often be found exploring the Ohio River Valley, volunteering at local events, or working on her next creative project.

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