A Reddit user asked Aldi staff to share the most bizarre things they’ve ever seen in the middle aisle – and the answers really are something else
Aldi, the budget supermarket giant, is famed for more than just its cheeky banter with posh rival M&S or its swanky yet affordable gin offerings.
The real talk of the town is Aldi’s legendary middle aisle, affectionately dubbed the ‘Specialbuys’ section, where shoppers stumble upon an eclectic mix of items.
Products in the aisle range from quirky home goods to sports gear, and a plethora of products that simply defy any logical classification which are not what you’d expect in your average grocery shop. The brand itself has a good chuckle over its own peculiar product range, with Aldi’s adverts and social media channels often highlighting the oddities available, reports the Daily Record.
Described on Aldi’s website as: “A destination full of mystery, magic…and unmissable bargains. A place where mums are transformed into master DIY-ers and where dads discover a love for deep sea diving.”
It’s hailed as a wonderland where everyday mums become DIY queens and dads develop a newfound passion for underwater adventures. But just how outlandish can the middle aisle offerings be?
Strap in for some truly mind-boggling finds. On 23 July, Reddit user u/Mystic_Zabe posed a question on the Scotland subreddit that sparked quite the conversation: “People that have worked in Aldi, what is the weirdest thing you have stocked in the middle aisle? “
The thread exploded with over 130 comments, each more surprising than the last. One commenter revealed: “A scuba scooter.”
For those not in the know, this contraption is essentially a motorised device that helps divers glide through the water, akin to a personal, hand-held submarine.
One Lidl customer chimed in: “I’m still puzzled who was intended to purchase the horse blanket in the Maryhill, Glasgow Lidl,” but another eagle-eyed Reddit user suggested there’s a Riding for the Disabled (RDA) centre within trotting distance, potentially cracking that case wide open.
A third remarked online: “Gotta be the concrete mixer,” and even went to lengths to provide a link to the product to show they weren’t horsing around.
Turns out, the thread wasn’t just an Aldi staff reunion; regular customers in both Aldi and Lidl were also spilling the beans on the most bizarre finds from the famed middle aisle. HashBrownsOverEasy couldn’t resist sharing: “I once saw a pair of Night-Vision goggles in Lidl for £180.”
Compounding the confusion, someone else pitched in: “Not a worker but I found a literal drone for sale the other week.”
With offerings ranging from drones to night-vision goggles and even underwater scooters, it seems as though Aldi might have a secret ambition to outfit a certain Mr Bond.
One thing is crystal clear: your weekly shop has turned into an adventure. We’re all ears – drop your strangest middle aisle purchases in the comments.
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