The Best 5 Copycat Items From Aldi To Save Money
Written by
J. Arky
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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Aldi is a unique grocery store that offers fantastic buys on essential household items that you and your family need to have at home. One aspect of Aldi that is starting to gain traction and get more attention are its “copycat” products. These are affordable items that mimic or are similar to more popular brand-name items.
So instead of going to a mega-store with brand names, why not try shopping at Aldi and picking up a few of its top copycat buys?
Nut Butters
- Name Brand: Classic Almond Butter ($5.99/12.5 ounces) by Justin’s
- Aldi Copycat Item: Red Mill Creamy Cashew Butter ($1.99/14 ounces) by Clancy
The days of nut butter being relegated to the category of “peanut” are over. Consumers have spoken and they want a variety of nut butters, but they might find a better one at Aldi.
“If you’re looking for a nut butter that you can spread directly onto something or eat straight from the jar, these are your solutions,” said James Wilkinson, an online retail specialist and CEO of Balance One Supplements. “And because Aldi’s cashew butter is smoother and creamier than the almond butter from Justin’s, I find the Aldi option preferable. Bonus if you miss out on almonds because of allergies!”
Coconut Milk
- Name Brand: So Delicious Organic Coconut Milk ($2.99)
- Aldi Copycat Item: Happy Farms Organic Coconut Milk ($1.89)
Milk does not have to exclusively come from cows anymore and you do not have to buy the name-brand variety you find in your local grocery store. Instead, head over to Aldi to find a copycat alternative milk for a better price.
“Both are shelf-stable, unsweetened choices for use in smoothies, curries or baking,” Wilkinson said. “Aldi’s has the same quality and organic certification, but at half the price. Victory for the health-conscious budget shopper.”
Organic Chia Seeds
- Name Brand: Nature’s Path Organic Chia Seeds ($4.49)
- Aldi Copycat Item: Simple Truth Organic Chia Seeds ($2.89)
Adding chia seeds to your breakfast, lunch or midday snack is a great way to ensure your meal is packed with vitamins and nutrients. And while there might not be a special ingredient to how they are made, the copycat chia seeds at Aldi are worth putting in your shopping cart.
“These tiny, powerful seeds are rich in fiber and heart-healthy omega-3s and are great sprinkled on your yogurt or oatmeal or into homemade puddings,” Wilkinson said. “Both Simple Truth and Nature’s Path sell certified organic, non-GMO, certified gluten-free chia seeds. Can you guess which is available for half the price? Aldi to the rescue.”
Ghee
- Name Brand: Ghee by Ancient Organics ($9.99)
- Aldi Copycat Item: Huntington Hills Grass-Fed Ghee ($5.99)
Grass-fed clarified butter, a staple of a Paleo or keto diet, is high in healthy fats, easy to digest and is often used for cooking at high temperatures or as a richer alternative to butter, according to Wilkinson. This popular item is made only that much more delicious when you pick up Aldi’s copycat version.
“Since ghee is made by simmering off the water and milk solids of butter, it’s by definition lactose-free,” Wilkinson said. “Both Aldi’s ghee and the popular Ancient Organics brand come from grass-fed cows.”
Olive Oil
- Name Brand: Pompeian Organic and Extra Virgin Olive Oil ($5.99)
- Aldi Copycat Item: Simple Truth Organic and Extra Virgin Olive Oil ($3.99)
If you are the chef in your family, chances are that you cannot make your delicious dishes without using olive oil. Skip buying the expensive kind at your name-brand carrying grocery outlet and head over to Aldi for quality olive oil that won’t drain your bank.
“For those who like to cook Italian style, a simple splash of an increasingly expensive – and widely imitated – bread dipper can cost a small fortune,” Wilkinson said. “Aldi’s organic extra virgin olive oil is a very good budget buy. In most trials by consumer publications, it has ranked comparably with pricier brands.”
“These are only a few examples, but what is clear is that there’s growing consumer demand for high quality goods at low prices – thanks to Aldi’s ‘copycats’ you can have both, rather than having to make the ‘quality versus low-price’ trade off,” Wilkson concluded. “Aldi has shown that there are substitutes for high prices, and it might provide a template for other budget conscious consumers and online retailers, a trend that appears to be continuing.”
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