FIVE GERMAN SUPERMARKET WHISKIES AMONG WORLD'S BEST

The GatecrasherS Supreme: GERMANY’S ALDI AND LIDL 

Aldi and Lidl Scotch Whiskies Retail Around $15 Per Bottle

ALDI

Aldi (Albrecht Diskont) is the common brand of two family-owned German discount supermarket chains with over 10,000 stores in 20 countries. The chains operate as two financially and legally separate groups, Aldi Nord and Süd. Aldi Nord operates in Denmark, France, the Benelux countries, Portugal, Spain and Poland, while Aldi Süd operates in Ireland, Great Britain, Hungary, Switzerland, Australia, China, Italy, Austria and Slovenia. 

Both Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd also operate in the US with 1,600 stores as of 2017 (the only country to have both of Aldi's subsidiaries operating outside of Germany).

Aldi is the largest wine retailer in Germany and sells low cost alcohol. It manufactures several brands of whiskies, mainly Scotch Whisky. Four of Aldi’s Whiskies have been named among the best in the world for the second consecutive year at the highly acclaimed global competition Spirits Business Scotch Whisky Masters. The award-winning whiskies include Aldi Highland Malt Black Scotch Whisky, Glen Marnoch Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Glen Marnoch Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Aldi Hogwash Blended Malt Scotch Whisky.

LIDL

Lidl is part of the Schwarz Group, the fifth-largest retailer in the world with sales of €104.3 billion (2018). This German global discount supermarket chain operates over 10,000 stores across Europe and the United States. Lidl is the chief rival of Aldi in several markets, including the US. There are Lidl stores in every member state of the European Union. Lidl stores are also present in Switzerland, Serbia and the United States.

Lidl's Queen Margot, an eight-year blended Scotch whisky, took home a category win for "Scotch Blended 12 Years & Under." The whisky beat out competition from industry giants (and far pricier bottles) including Johnnie Walker Black Label and Chivas Regal.

All these whiskies are sold at prices ranging between one half to one third of the pricier global Scotch Whiskies. Somebody is taking the common man for a ride!

Watch this space. A review or two of Grade A whiskies will follow anon.

ADDENDA

ALDI

In 1913, Anna Albrecht opened a small grocery store in Essen, Germany, while her husband was employed as a miner. Soon after WWII, her sons, Karl and Theo Albrecht took over. Under the brothers' leadership, the business expanded rapidly, growing from a single store to 13 locations across the Ruhr Valley by 1950. By 1960, there were 300 stores in Germany. In the mid-1960s, the Albrecht brothers had a disagreement over whether or not the company should sell cigarettes. To settle the dispute, they divided the company into Albrecht Diskont Nord and Albrecht Diskont Süd.

In 1962, they introduced the name Aldi (a syllabic abbreviation for Albrecht Diskont). In Germany, Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd have been financially and legally separate since 1966, although both divisions' names may appear as if they were a single enterprise with certain store brands or when negotiating with contractor companies. The formal business name of Aldi Nord is Aldi Einkauf GmbH & Co., while the formal business name of Aldi Süd is ALDI SÜD Dienstleistungs-SE & Co. Each company is owned and operated independently, but they do have contractual business with one another. Between them, they run discount supermarket chains operating over 13,400 stores in 18 countries.

Internationally, Aldi Nord operates in Belgium, Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain, while Aldi Süd operates in Australia, Austria, China, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States. In Austria and Slovenia, Aldi operates stores under the Hofer brand. Aldi is the largest wine retailer in Germany.

LIDL

Lidl is a German international discount retailer chain that operates over 12,000 stores, present in every member state of the European Union, Serbia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. Headquartered in Neckarsulm, Baden-Württemberg, the company belongs to the Schwarz Group, which also includes hypermarket chain Kaufland. Lidl is the chief competitor of the German discount chain Aldi in several markets.

In 1930, Josef Schwarz became a partner in a company based in Heilbronn named Südfrüchte Großhandlung Lidl & Co. which had been established since at least 1858 under the name A.Lidl & Cie. Schwarz renamed the company Lidl & Schwarz KG and expanded into a food wholesaler.

In 1977, under his son Dieter Schwarz, the Schwarz Group began to focus on discount markets, larger supermarkets, and cash and carry wholesale markets. Dieter did not want to use the name Schwarz-Markt (literally "black market") and managed to legally acquire the name Lidl. Lidl is thus part of the Schwarz Group, the fifth-largest retailer in the world with sales of €104.3 billion (2018).

The first Lidl discount store was opened in 1973, copying the Aldi concept. Schwarz rigorously removed merchandise that did not sell from the shelves, and cut costs by keeping the size of the retail outlets as small as possible. By 1977, the Lidl chain comprised 33 discount stores. As of 2024, Lidl has a presence with nearly 13,000 stores in 31 countries. The Lidl group sells a wide selection of wines as well as a range of spirits such as whisky, gin, rum, and brandy.

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