ALDI

Dec. 10. There’s a new kid in town. Aldi opened at One Norman on West Catawba Avenue to join Harris Teeter at  Antiquity and Jetton Village, along with Food Lion near Town Hall, Publix in Magnolia Plaza and The Fresh Market at The Shops at Fresh Market.

Aldi’s opening in late November saves its fans a drive to Mooresville or Huntersville.

If you’re new to Aldi, here’s what you need to know: bring a quarter to get a cart and you’ll sanitize it yourself; don’t expect to see all the same brands as in other groceries; bring your own bags/boxes, do without, or pay 7 cents for a paper bag or 10 cents for plastic.

At Aldi, you won’t find Cheerios brand cereal, Jif or other major peanut butter brands or Bumble Bee tuna, for example, but a store brand alternative.

There’s no bakery or deli meat counter at Aldi. You can find a small bouquet of cut flowers at Aldi but you still need to go to a Harris Teeter or Publix for the largest flower and plant offerings. The Fresh Market is a good size as well, and Food Lion ranks above Aldi.

Harris Teeter

Online shopping with curbside pickup is a mainstay at Harris Teeter and also available at Publix and The Fresh Market. Food Lion offers store pickup and delivery at some stores, but not in Cornelius yet.

Click here for the price comparison. These prices were gathered  Nov. 20-21, and do not reflect sales or special offers/promotions.

If you’re willing to forgo brand names and the conveniences of a traditional grocery store, then  Aldi has the lowest prices for the items on this list at $26.36, followed by Food Lion at $44.03, Publix at $46.10,  Harris Teeter at $51.85 and The Fresh Market at $53.16.