Are Aldi and Lidl really cheaper?

Well, not entirely. I spent several years as a produce buyer for two UK food retailers at either end of the market. When there’s movement in supply chains or farmers disengage from a collective they sell to, Supermarkets will frequently purchase bulk produce at auction, where produce is pre-inspected and given a classification regarding quality. These are ‘Extra Class,’ ‘Class I,’ ‘Class II’ and ‘Class III.’ Extra is superior, high end quality that is typically the type of produce you’ll pick up in farm shops, Fortnum and Mason, Harrods etc. Booths in the North of England stock some extra class. On occasion, you might find M&S and Waitrose stocking this level. No one else. Class I is very good with at worst, minor visual defects. M&S will not purchase below this level. Most of Waitrose and a lot of Tesco and Sainsbury’s produce will be at this position. Class II is potentially defective in terms of colouration, perhaps some bruising, poorly stored, not developed correctly etc. It also allows for some minor damages to the produce so that as long as it classes as ‘in tact,’ it can be sold. Aldi and Lidl primarily stock this level. The cheap stuff they can pick up and move on quickly, that other retailers have passed on due to quality concerns. It’s often in storage longer than Extra or Class II. Class III is heavily defective or damaged produce. This is usually sold to be turned into animal feed, or composting purposes. When your pet’s food says that it contains portions of veg, this is it; the rapidly degrading, often inedible produce that is not considered fit for sale or human consumption. So there is a link to price equalling quality. Those donut pears you paid £6 for a pack of 4 in Booths are because they were grown to exacting standards, transported with utmost care, packaged safely and sensibly, and are free from any form of visual or taste defects, whilst being free of most common pesticides.