Discount-grocer Aldi to set up shop in Florida with 25 stores

Discount grocery shopping is entering a new era in Central Florida. Aldi, a no-frills grocery-store chain from Germany, said Thursday it plans to build a distribution center in Polk County to serve 25 new ...

[Steve]

It'll be nice when they open here in St. Cloud. They're a great discount store.

[mlle]

Sounds like a great concept..I love uber European discount stores

[Ann]

I can't wait! I shopped at one with my sister in Ohio, and you can't believe it, the cart is filled with groceries and it comes to $20. And these are regular groceries, the kind you usually buy.

[Chere]

Hopefully this discount retailer has obtained their building and leases without asking the taxpayers to pay their way?

Have they gotten tax breaks?

Do they get to keep the sales tax they collect?

>>I hope Hark Chediak will dig out this story to see what taxes are being diverted from schools and libraries and police budgets to fund this new retailer.

These and other outrageous "breaks" have become the "norm" (?!) when new stores plan their openings*.

Check into your local Walmarts and Targets and other national chains - their business plan REQUIRES that they get the tax dollars before opening a store.

Why? Our mom and pop retailers don't get any tax breaks. No wonder they give up and close shop when the cards are stacked so high against them.

Once they close, the county is left with big businesses that do NOT add to the tax revenue. And services spiral downward due to lack of funds...?

*I just finished reading "Free Lunch: How the Wealthiest Americans Enrich Themselves at Government Expense (and Stick You With the Bill)"
By David Cay Johnston.

I am angry and ashamed of how blinded we are to the tax rules that allow these big businesses to funnel OUR tax dollars into their pockets.

[aldi is a dump]

ever been in one? They sell stuff like Chef Tastee Brand Korn Nuggets and Radiation King Black and White Televisions and Canned Salad.

Cheap and gross. Luckily they can't afford to open stores anywhere nice.

[Joe]

King Whitey wrote:

Oh god please dont open in Winter Park
This place sounds perfect for pine hills, kissimmee and poinciana.
They should just open across the street from a bravo store that will save them time in location research!

Yet I'm sure you gladly would welcome an Ikea or shop there. Same concept.

[Laurie]

They have these in New York State and for a discount grocer, they are suprisingly nice. They were not just located in down-trodden neighborhoods, either. Many of them were in pretty nice areas. In this economy, who can't use a break on their grocery bill?

[ray]

I dont shop there I like real food. A friend of mine worked in one of their stores. She said the hourly pay was 10 dollars an hour but they worked the help to death.

[ray]

and their are no full time positions only part time .

[Chigger]

What's with the $0.25 to use a shopping cart? Sounds like more of a hassle to adminster than it would be worth.

[shirley]

i read with interest your article on ALDIi discount grocers in the Orlando, Ocoee Florida area, HOWEVER, it is unclear if that is a potential area, or if there are already existing stores, AS, I have gone on line and checked out the Orlando/ Orange county phone book and there are NO LISTINGS OR LOCATION for that grocery store. Just wondering how I can get more information about these stores. Unable to contact Mark at [e-mail], no such address appears when i type it in.

[Starburst]

Chigger wrote:

What's with the $0.25 to use a shopping cart? Sounds like more of a hassle to adminster than it would be worth.

It's not a hassle; it's all done by the consumer. There's a little lock on the handle bar that you put a quarter in, push a latch closed (locking the quarter until you return it) and then the cart is released from the one in front of it. After you're done using the cart, you simply go to the carts and attach it to another cart to retrieve your quarter. It's so people will take them back where they belong instead of leaving them all over. This way, they don't have to pay someone to go out and round up all of the carts, they are always right near the door and they never run out. Plus, no one's car get hit with a stray cart. Stores lose so much money on cart damage and loss.

I have been to an Aldi's in Pittsburgh and they have the right idea when it comes to cutting costs.

[Carolyn Johnson]

Looking forward to having Aldi come to Lady Lake. We often shop for their great values both in groceries and other merchandise in the IL/WI stores.

[aldi blows]

Nate Higgers wrote:

We had an ALDI Z in New York where I moved from. Despite the company's plans to locate in low-rent type neighborhoods, their selection is very good and reasonable. I liken them to a "Trader Joes" type store. Hopefully its success will convince Trader Joes execs to locate a store here. I welcome a little competition to Publix, WD, Albertsons etc.
BTW - the shopping cart "rental" is ridiculous -- I never saw that practice in the NY store. If they're trying to discourage cart theft, they need only put up those barricades around the store.

lol Aldi is like Trader Joe's? You're comparing Trader Joe's imported cheeses from Italy to "Cheeze Product in a Can" at Aldi?

Your posting name says it all.

[lator gator]

I'm anxious to see one. Hope it works out well.

[Old Curmudgeon]

ray wrote:

and their are no full time positions only part time .

And I'm sure no health benefits either. However, liberals, progressives and other leftist typeswill welcome this food chain (because it is European and all things in europe are superior to American things) as wonderfull competition for the hated Wal-Mart.

[In my area]

They are opening new Aldi stores all over the Chicagoland area.The stores carry their own store brand as well as various name brands of product. The stores are clean with friendly helpful staff.In my area they start at 17 an hour for parttime Cashiers. The product is merchandised in the case boxes they arrive in from the truck.Customers in my area, are middle to uppermiddle class( from the looks of their vehicles as well as their appearance in the store.)
I think many posters might be pleasantly surprised at the prices and the looks of the new stores.

[Buffalo snowbird]

We loved the Aldi stores in western NY. They have great products and great service. The .25c they charged was for the cart when returned to store you got the $ back as soon as you pushed cart into line and returned key. It was a nice feature because there were no carts in parking lots or on streets. Also service was fast and stores clean. I dont mind boxing or bagging my own food if it means money saved to me.Try it you'll like it. MN College Park, Orlando

[ray]

Old Curmudgeon wrote:

<quoted text>And I'm sure no health benefits either. However, liberals, progressives and other leftist typeswill welcome this food chain (because it is European and all things in europe are superior to American things) as wonderfull competition for the hated Wal-Mart.

wal mart sucks and i am a union member . And i cant afford a limo

[Old Curmudgeon]

ray wrote:

<quoted text>wal mart sucks and i am a union member . And i cant afford a limo

I'm sorry you can't afford a limo neither can I. What's your point?