Aldi 101 for Adelaidians and other denizens of the Blessed Realm.
If you are interested in brewing related equipment and ingredients, they will be in the centre aisles. Here's how an Aldi store is laid out: store layout is basically identical although some stores are "mirrored" left to right if you know what I mean. Ed: there's a common misconception (created by people who have only been there once and fled in terror) that the place is chaos with **** everywhere. Not so, the layout is actually very logical, smooth to negotiate and far more sensible than Colesworths. What throws many people is the Centre Aisles... forget them till last.
On entry you will see the tea, coffee etc first. Nearby will be a display of remaindered items such as Pickled herring, Easter eggs after Easter, odd teas and sauces and other run-outs.
Then you work around the outside aisles:
First outside aisle: breakfast cereals, biscuits, confectionery, longlife and powdered milks, chips, tinned foods, pasta, rice, sauces, most of your dry groceries including paper towels and bog rolls.
Back wall: Cleaning products, medications, beauty, toothpaste and brushes, cleaning products can spill over into a centre aisle where you will also find nappies and fly spray.
Final outside Aisle: you'll get to the chilled cabinets for meat, chilled veg, smallgoods, etc along the wall with fruit and veg in a free standing display on the other side of the aisle.
Then you get to butter, yog, milk, cream, cheese etc.
Eggs are in that area, and bread is generally along the wall just before you get back to the till area.
Freezers are either "coffin freezers" close to the checkout but I understand a lot of the SA stores will have glass door freezers similar to Colesworth.
Now that's your grocery shop, once you have done it a few times the beauty is that you can go to an Aldi in Newcastle, Bribie Island or Ballarat and know almost precisely where everything is:
Stores will have either two or three centre aisles depending on size.
One centre aisle is pet foods and soft drinks, plus the above mentioned freezers.
The others are where the catalogue specials are. There's a specials list on Wednesday and another on Saturday.
The centre aisles are where the gold is. Generally the new specials are placed at the back of the store opposite the cleaning section: TVs, Fridges etc.
As the month progresses they "migrate" towards the front of the shop.
They don't do "bait and switch" to get you into the store, I've found they are generally well stocked for most specials. For example they will have perhaps 10 televisions, a pallet of fridges etc.
If you really really want an item off the catalogue (online or letterboxed) then simply queue up early.
Once you get the hang of the place it's fast and furious, actually suits a lot of guys who don't enjoy supermarket shopping.
Also get yourself a 99c trolley token to go on key ring or just leave in drinks hole in car, as that's when you'll need it.
Bring your own bags, there is a packing bench, or buy 15c big tough bags that last forever and useful round the house.
Happy shopping.