Why Aldi's Meat Is So Cheap – The Secret Behind The Savings
German discount market giant Aldi has gained enough popularity that it's opening another more than 200 stores in 2025. It's gained this popularity through its discounted prices. In the meat department, the savings are so significant that some patrons have questioned whether Aldi is compromising on meat quality or safety levels at its 2,000 locations across 36 states.
The good news is that Aldi's meat is so competitively priced for several reasons. This starts with the bargain store mostly selling off-branded or in-house meat products. As an example, customers who purchase Sysco or Tyson chicken are paying for the name on the package. Aldi's proprietary brands and off brands do not get marked up thanks to their lesser-known trademarks.
Besides this, Aldi has several other secrets to its less-expensive protein offerings. These include the source locations of the meat, lower transportation costs, and better operational overhead. The company does this while maintaining a high-quality product. Though Aldi has occasionally had complaints about certain types of meat, in general its products are highly regarded by loyal customers.
Why Aldi meat is so cheap
Aldi keeps its meat prices cheap primarily by relying on suppliers with whom most customers are unfamiliar. This results in better-priced items. The company prides itself on selling off-branded products to provide superior pricing over typical grocery outlets.
In sourcing its meat strategically, Aldi also saves money to pass along to its customers. The majority of Aldi meat actually comes from farms that are local to the region. This inherently translates to shorter distances for transportation. The closer sourcing of its meats means less overhead in fuel and trucking costs. For example, Aldi corporate stipulates that all beef products can only be sourced from cattle raised in the locale of the store selling it.
Aldi has a third advantage in keeping its operational costs lower than mainline competitors. The store rebrands its meat under an in-house brand. Another advantage the company has lies in saving on operating costs by eliminating a deli counter or in-store butcher. The downside is that customers are not able to request specific meat cuts, but this helps the company to maintain a small staff per location, often six to eight employees. A lower number of employees to compensate translates to higher savings for the store's customers.
The meat quality is generally good but there have been occasional issues
Aldi products are in great demand with its customers. Yet the bargain prices on the meat have raised concerns from the store's patrons. Among the meat items, the only one that has consistently earned mixed reviews over the past decade is the company's chicken, according to Foodie.
Chicken meat from Aldi attracts a disparaging series of comments from some purchasers. The thighs and breasts tend to need trimming before they are suitable to cook. Sometimes the boneless chicken actually has parts of bones in it that must be removed. Reddit users often categorize the Aldi chicken breasts as fibrous and woody.
Yet other meat products from Aldi receive high marks. The beef, in particular, is popular with customers. Aldi sells a USDA Choice brand of Black Angus Beef that is typically acclaimed for the meat quality. The store features an in-house brand of meat products known as "Never Any!" that offers protein with no added hormones or antibiotics. Customers consistently give this store brand high praise.