Lidl- IDesprate times call for desprate measures!!! (Lidl)

Member Name: mummy2twogirls

Product:	Lidl
Date:	19/11/08 (156 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: being such good quality and low prices

Disadvantages: i don't trust the fresh meat

Since Lidl opened it's first store in the UK back in 1994, it now has, up to date nearly 400 stores nationwide. Lidl was first established as a supermarket back 1973 in Germany, and every year grew and grew to become a huge success all over Germany. Thats why the founders decided to take there company further afield hoping for the same reaction in other countries, and it worked.

My local Lidl store has been open for around 6 years now,the building in which it is, used to be that of 'somerfield'. When the store first opened i think locals where a little skeptical with using the shop as it was foreign ran. But as more and more people slowly braving to go inside, within months it became a hit with the town, and as well as netto is the place to go for cheap food.

~My local shop~

Is very big, compared to some other lidl's i have been in, the car park is quite big and is only available to use for Lidl customers. They also have designated disabled bays, but not parent and child.
As you first walk in there is a big trolley bay, in which you have to pay £1.00 to get your trolley, so remember this before going as it's quite difficult to get to the tills, and there is no customer service desk.
Walking down the first aisle i am greeted by a big selection of bunched flowers, and potted plants, all of which are beautifully laid out and very reasonable priced may i add.
Down that same aisle is drinks ( soft) things like orange juice, bottled cola, lemonade etc. There is also tinned food, packeted foods, from both German and English brands.

At the bottom of the store is a large chilled food area, offering things like cooked meats, sausages, cheese's, dips etc. Again giving you the chance yo have either English or German brands. In the chilled food section i particularly like there large selection of German sausages, which are already cooked. There packed meets like salami, and Chorizo are also very tasty.

You then move on to there Fruit and Veg, aisle, which is very well laid out, and the staff are always checking to make sure that only the best products are available. Not once i have been to my local store to find that there fruit and veg is looking a little off color. The price of fruit and veg is also very competitive, and they have various offers on different products each week.

In the middle of the store they do none food items, and the stock is always changing, they do things like clothing, work wear, tools, children's games and toy's. Kitchen accessories. Every two or so weeks these change or if they have been snapped up, it's very unlikely that they will get anymore stock in, so be sure to be quick!!.

They have a large frozen food section, offering things like delicious frozen desserts like big yummy gateau's, Pavlova's, cheesecakes, these come in big portions and are very cheap, but also very nice to eat.

At the side of the store there is a large alcohol aisle, they offers many different wines, spirits, ales, from across the world. Aagin all at low prices.

~Checkouts~ At out store there are about 7 checkout till altogether, each one being quite big, allowing plenty of room for each customer. With lidl you have to buy your carry bags, which some people may think it's a rip of at 3p each. But i actually think it's a good way of trying to get people to start recycling there old carrier bags.

~Overall thought~

I throughly enjoy shopping at Lidl, and think they have some great products, for really low prices, the majority of things are of really good quality, and do taste nice. However some things i don't trust from there are things like fresh meat and fish. I haven't had any bad experiences with them, but maybe thats because i haven't brought any meat from there. But i just don't like the thought of it being a foreign supermarket and not really knowing where the meat comes from if it's not cooked. Also in the past looking at the meat it does seem a little funny.

Apart from that i cannot fault the store, the staff are always friendly and there to help, and the store isn't cramped neither allowing plenty of space for customers to shop, and not barge in to each other.

~My rating~ 8/10

Summary: I love to bag a bargain or two!