Lidl Roulette

[JohnWatson]

The simple answer is not to bother shopping there - but am continuously amazed at the tremendous variance in quality at the Lidl stores.

It really is a Casino type scenario. I bought some Lamb Crowns (rack of lamb) the other day and got stuck good for dinner today.

I broiled them to a medium rare - TOUGH as you can imagine.

I then put them back and basically ruined them to well-done - still quite a CHAW.

I should have been suspicious when the package read packed Dec 2006 - (NZ) - use before Dec 2008. Where the hell have they been for 11 months?

The cutlets were the size of young lambs so it wasn't a case of getting mutton. I really do wonder about these German buyers for Lidl - do they sit around waiting for someone to offer lousy stuff at cheap prices? Don't they have any quality standards they would like their brand to represent?

There are some products that are just fine - tomato pastes and sauces, sauerkraut, yoghurt, olive oil, orange juice, most beer, fair amount of fresh vgetables. But a lot of stuff is crud.

I just don't see consistency in quality standards. If someone knows the type of companies that are Trader Joe's (interestingly enough owned by German Aldi) and Whole Foods one knows what I mean by consistent quality. The same goes mostly for Sainsbury and Tesco - and here in Finland there is Stockmann but at a definite price premium.

Lidl just strikes me as a bunch of dull-heads in Germany throwing things at a wall to see what will stick. (btw - Their non-food products are almost universally JUNK IMHO)

[Rosamunda]

Q: Why would anyone buy lamb that has been flown half-way round the world, frozen and then stored for months on end ?

A: Because it is cheap.

You get what you pay for.

Fresh Finnish lamb is expensive sure, but right now it is peak season for Finnish lamb and it is delicious. Look for fresh Åland lamb chops, the best.

I would honestly think twice (at least) before buying any meat from Lidl.

[karen]

You're right that it's a gamble. I only buy specific things from Lidl. If I ever try anything new, I'm always amazed if it's actually good.

I tried some risotto mix from Lidl and laughed when I saw that I was to add salt. Sure enough, there was no salt in the mix. If there's anything I would never expect to add to a Lidl product, it's salt.

And Penelope is right. You get what you pay for. Lidl on halpa.

[Rosamunda]

Actually I thought the risotto mix was OK. I don't usually buy stuff like that but we have been eating lots of risotto lately so I tried the mushroom one and a herby (???) one during their Italian week. Can't remember too well but they were OK, it was proper arborio rice. And no added salt OTOH the amaretti biscuits were awful (but OK for crushing up and using in a pie base).

[Hank W.]

Where the hell have they been for 11 months?

Toughening up?

[karen]

Actually I thought the risotto mix was OK. I don't usually buy stuff like that but we have been eating lots of risotto lately so I tried the mushroom one and a herby (???) one during their Italian week. Can't remember too well but they were OK, it was proper arborio rice. And no added salt OTOH the amaretti biscuits were awful (but OK for crushing up and using in a pie base).

ITA about the risotto. It was okay. It was just surprising that something from Lidl wasn't already overly salted.

[enk]

(btw - Their non-food products are almost universally JUNK IMHO)

Don't include kids' clothes in that. My kids put their clothes through
the wringer every time they're on and they last a heck of a lot longer
than the stuff they sell in CM (I'm not buying hyper boys anything
that is costly ).

-enk

[littlefrank]

I think the best thing I can say about Lydl, is that I can read most of the labels

[JohnWatson]

Q: Why would anyone buy lamb that has been flown half-way round the world, frozen and then stored for months on end ?

A: Because it is cheap.

Have to say 'exactly' - I was tempted and I tried it - but sure wonder how Lidl can find the way to buy crappy lamb - 'expert' buyers!

You get what you pay for.

True in this case - but unfortunately that is a cliché that is more and more meaningless as the shops are so much loaded with overpriced crap, too - it's really a question of trusting the 'merchant' - a practice we should get more and more back to.

And I sure DO NOT trust Lidl - I will keep trying as chances seem to be 1 in 4 - but will realize the 'sampling' process costs time and money. (They used to have a return policy on food - but obviously found it wouldn't work when they found some Finns could actually detect rotten products.)

[JohnWatson]

Meant to mention that have visited Lidl in Italy, Slovenia and Croatia - and found the shops there to seem to be much more attentive to having some semblance of quality - and more sophisticated variety - as well as MUCH cheaper prices on EXACTLY the same products sold in Finland.

The Finnish Lidl people - and/or their German bosses - seem to hold the Finns in contempt - I have gotten that feeling every time I have spoken to their so-called 'customer service.'

They were really horrible when confronted with their latest fluke of offering carcinogenic tortilla chips - they basically told me it was not their job to test product quality but leave it to the authorities to catch them with bad stuff.

[Karhunkoski]

I really do wonder about these German buyers for Lidl - do they sit around waiting for someone to offer lousy stuff at cheap prices?

Yes, of course. You paid €12.99/Kg for rack of lamb, what do you expect for that price? That's under £9/Kg!

Whenever will people learn, margins in the food industry are so damn tight that there really aren't any bargains out there. Buy cheap and it very likely is crud.

[Karhunkoski]

Meant to mention that have visited Lidl in Italy, Slovenia and Croatia - and found the shops there to seem to be much more attentive to having some semblance of quality - and more sophisticated variety - as well as MUCH cheaper prices on EXACTLY the same products sold in Finland.

Which is partially explained by the fact that salaries are also much lower in these countries than in Finland (for distribution and shop workers in this case). Business taxes lower, construction costs lower, not to mention VAT......

[tampereblue]

Cheap lamb = cheap taste.

I'm vegetarian but I used to be a big meat eater, and if I ever return to the dark side I certainly won't be eating the crap that you get at most (if not all) supermarkets. Meat SHOULD be expensive and a treat. Cheap meat is one reason most farmers have gone to the wall. That and the dairy companies paying them cost-price for milk.

[JohnWatson]

That should be a high enough price for lamb if someone wanted to offer quality product - just how do you get TOUGH young lamb????

Have a look at the way Trader Joe does business in the US - one CAN get quality at decent prices - one can get GREAT 'paistijauhelihapihvi' at Stockmann's for 7.99

Italian costs are certainly not THAT low to make the difference with Lidl prices - and costs above the actual product are only a fraction of the extra cost Lidl tries to pile on - I am referring to EXACTLY the same can, package, brand, size, etc.

And as far as that goes Lidl take much higher prices in Slovenia than they do in Italy - so your comments about salaries, rents, etc. don't seem to jive at all - because all thiose costs are much lower in Slovenia than Italy!

[JohnWatson]

just how do you get TOUGH young lamb????

Buy it at Lidl!!