Aldi reveals why its checkout staff scan items so fast – and how it saves shoppers money
IF you’ve ever shopped in Aldi then you’ll probably have experienced its ultra-fast checkout staff.
Aldi’s speedy reputation is no mistake, in fact, the supermarket claims that its tills are 40 per cent quicker than rivals.
It’s all part of Aldi’s plan to be as efficient as possible - and this, the budget shop claims, helps keep costs low for shoppers.
Efficient barcodes on packaging means staff are able to scan items as quickly as possible, with the majority of products having multiple barcodes to speed up the process.
It also uses “shelf-ready” packaging which keeps costs low when it comes to replenishing stock.
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And it has not gone unnoticed. Many Aldi shoppers have aired their thoughts on the speed of checkout workers on social media in the past.
For most it’s a good thing, but for some it has caused issues.
One said: “I’m close to an anxiety attack every time I shop at Aldi due to the mad speed”.
While another added: “The speed of an Aldi checkout clerk is inversely proportional to your speed at packing your bag or trolley”.
Others are just proud that their packing skills match those of Aldi staff. But some have even wondered if staff have a quota for the amount of items they need to get through the checkout while on a shift.
The supermarket admits that while speed is important it’s really about “customer experience” and that it understands different people pack bags and pay for their shopping at different speeds.
A spokesperson from Aldi told The Sun Online: "Our employees are trained to operate the checkout at the right pace for each individual person they serve."
As well as a fast-paced till the supermarket is known for its low prices. Along with Lidl, it has been taking on the big four supermarkets - challenging them on price and products.
In fact, earlier this year Aldi overtook Co-Op to become Britain's fifth biggest supermarket by market share, according to data from Kantar Worldpanel.
It’s success is also down to the number of products it sells. It has a total of 1,500 product lines, compared to a major supermarket which stocks well over 40,000.
This allows Aldi to keep its prices low. For example, they have just one type of tomato ketchup versus a supermarket which might stock around 20 different versions.
It means Aldi can buy the product in large volumes and with smaller costs in terms of getting stock into stores.
Aldi is also well-known for selling “copycat” versions of popular and luxury products.
For example, its new range of scented candle, which were made to rival posh Jo Malone ones, sold out in stores across the country within a matter of hours.
The candles - which cost £3.99 each - are significantly cheaper than the luxury version which usually cost upwards of £44.
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