Why Aldi’s steak selection is ahead of Walmart

Both Aldi and Walmart are considered the best value grocery chains in the country. And while affordability is key when it comes to staples, customers also demand quality products from the stores they shop at. Quality is especially important when it comes to steaks, as shoppers want to be sure they’re getting the most for their money when purchasing juicy cuts.

In that case, you may want to focus on Aldi when shopping for meat. When we compared Aldi and Walmart to see which store is better for grocery shopping, Daily Meal found that Aldi’s steak selection is simply unbeatable. Our reviewer named Aldi’s Black Angus Ribeye as a “personal favorite” because it offered excellent quality relative to the price. According to Aldi’s website, this meat has excellent marbling and can be purchased for as little as $13.79 per pound. A quick look at Walmart’s website shows that they offer Angus Ribeye steaks for $15.97 per pound (there are currently no Black Angus cuts listed on Walmart’s website).

Read more: The 13 best steaks for grilling

There is no competition in terms of quality

Customers are obsessed with the discount retailer. Consider that Aldi has a fan club with millions of members, and these consumers love the chain for its selection of affordable, yet high-quality products. Fans of the German store on Reddit are similarly enthusiastic and have plenty of good things to say about the chain’s steak offerings. According to one commenter in a thread reflecting on the quality of Aldi meat, “I can’t get over how inexpensive their ribeye steak is.” Another shopper echoed that statement, saying, “Their grass-fed ribeye steak is really good!” While not all shoppers had the same positive experience, the general consensus on the steaks was positive.

As for Walmart, customer reviews on its Angus Ribeye steak weren’t quite as kind. The product has just over two out of five stars on the site, with the vast majority of reviews falling into the one-star category. One shopper said that “the ribeye steaks looked great,” but he noticed a “nasty industrial smell mixed with burnt plastic smell,” which prompted him to request a refund for the item. Another described the steaks as “mostly fatty,” leaving the consumer “very disappointed!”

What makes Aldi’s steak selection so attractive?

Quality is a priority at Aldi, as stated in the chain’s food philosophy on its website. The store avoids any products containing genetically modified ingredients and insists that suppliers undergo a food safety audit before their goods can be sold in the chain. As for the meat selection, much of Aldi’s offering is fresh rather than frozen, including steaks and other types of beef.

Aldi is also quite lenient when it comes to returns and refunds thanks to its return policy. If you don’t like a steak, you can return it for a refund and get another item of equal value. While Aldi’s “twice and nice” return policy is a nightmare for employees, it’s definitely a plus for shoppers who end up with a lackluster piece of beef.

As for Walmart’s return policy, items can be returned or exchanged, but not both. Additionally, some shoppers have had issues with online returns related to the store’s Angus ribeye steaks. One stated on the store’s website, “Tried to make an online return but can’t because I keep getting the message ‘We’re having technical issues.'” Based on that, Aldi seems to have the edge in terms of quality, affordability and customer satisfaction.

Read the original article on The Daily Meal.