4 Reasons Aldi’s Meat Is So Cheap

There are so many reasons to love Aldi! If you’re a regular shopper, you’re no stranger to the amazing Wednesday meat deals. Pork chops for $2.99 a pound? Chuck steak for under $20? From budget-friendly brisket to reasonably-priced ribs, you know you can look for top cuts of meat that won’t empty your wallet.

The “Fresh Meat Special Buy” deals almost seem too good to be true, causing us to wonder… how does Aldi make the meat so affordable?

1. The Prosciutto Is Incognito

One secret behind the crazy-affordable meat is the store’s lack of name-brand products. When other stores offer Tyson chicken tenders, they’re paying for the nuggets and the brand name. Aldi buys comparable products without choosing the one you’ve heard of before, which leads to some much lower prices. The meat that they sell is the same quality that you would find in other grocery stores, just without that name-brand label.

We’re definitely willing to sacrifice designer double-loins for some reduced prices! Here’s our guide to budget shopping (with or without an Aldi in your neighborhood).

2. Low Staffing = Low Prices

The second secret has less to do with the meat itself—and more with the store’s unique efficiency. While most supermarkets are buzzing hubs of cashiers, baggers, stockers and managers, the average Aldi store only has six to eight employees working at a time. That means that each person has to multitask by doing various jobs around the store, but it also means Aldi uses less of their budget for wages… so you can use less of your budget on surging steak prices.

(Don’t miss our best-loved meatball recipes to use up all those delicious deals.)

3. You Save When You Buy Local

It’s Aldi’s goal to bring fresh local products to their stores. When the meat comes from a regional farm, a company has to pay way less for transportation costs than a typical grocery chain.

We personally love Aldi’s commitment to staying green and local. Here, find out why Aldi is so cheap.

4. The Wednesday Meat Deals Are the Real Deal

Aldi releases flyers explaining the Fresh Meat Special Buy two weeks in advance. Beware, though: The meat disappears fast! Don’t wait until the end of the day to shop or it might be gone—after all, Aldi has smaller stores than most grocery chains and will only carry a limited supply of each item. I like to buy early and shop in bulk, freezing the extra servings for later weeks when the deals aren’t quite as good.

Whether you eat the pork chops now or later, you’ll feel confident about taking advantage of the meat specials, knowing that you’re saving money and still purchasing top-of-the-line cuts.

And who knows? Now that you’re aware of the meat “special buy” deals on Wednesdays, maybe you’ll be shopping there “Aldi” time!