ALDI Opening Brings Fresno Shoppers Low Prices. Maybe Higher Home Values, Too

Huge avocadoes at 25 cents a piece were a hot seller as ALDI celebrated the opening of its new Fresno store on Thursday.

“The avocadoes were out of this world!,” exclaimed shopper Herman Nagle.

The store located at the corner of Shaw and West opened at 8 a.m. Despite a steady rain, a constant stream of cars filed into the parking lot.

“I live close by here so I think I’ll be coming by a lot,” said Nagle.

Nearby Homes Could Appreciate in Value

It’s that convenience factor that gets factored into an analysis by ATTOM Data Solutions that shows how stores like ALDI enhance property values for nearby homes.

The data company’s December report revealed properties close to a Trader Joe’s realized an average 5-year home price appreciation of 35 percent, and homes near a Whole Foods saw an average appreciation of 33 percent. ALDI brought an even higher premium of 41 percent.

Shoppers who spoke with GV Wire℠ were pleased to hear about the store’s positive effect on property values, but seemed even happier with the values they were finding on the shelves.

ALDI shoppers were pleasantly surprised to see quarters already pre-loaded into carts Thursday so they could be used at no cost. Usually, customers need to have their own quarter to check out a cart. The quarter is returned when the cart is returned. (GV Wire/Jim Jakobs)

First ALDI Location in Fresno

The store is ALDI’s first in Fresno and is part of the chain’s national expansion that it hopes will make it the third-largest U.S. grocery retailer, based on the number of locations, by the end of 2022.  

“I just like the prices, they’re really good,” said shopper Apollonia Barboza. “It’s like a better Sprouts in my opinion.”

Barboza was impressed with the fresh produce options she found when she walked in the front door. She says the price of blueberries appeared to be about 1/3 the cost of other stores she’s been to.

“Milk is very cheap here,” says Barboza who tells GV Wire℠ she’s used to paying between $4 and $5. “It’s like $2.84 here.”

Shopper Lamont Waller was lured into the store by an ad he saw, and the hope of finding a perfect frozen pizza option.

“Deep dish pizza,” exclaimed Waller when GV Wire℠ asked what he was most excited about. “It’s supposed to be pretty good. Almost close to Chicago (style).”

25 cent avocadoes were the talk of the aisles Thursday morning. (GV Wire/Jim Jakobs)

Over 1,900 ALDI Stores Across the Country

ALDI operates more than 1,900 stores in 36 states. Ninety percent of the products in their stores are ALDI exclusive brands.

The company opened a store in Clovis on Herndon Avenue in October 2019. There are stores in Porterville and Hanford, as well.

ALDI is known for its no-frills business strategy.

A recent article on the industry-focused website Grocery Dive said, “Aldi’s small staff numbers mean that shoppers bag their own groceries and make deposits to take shopping carts, but neither is likely to be a deterrent to many customers. The grocer’s brutal efficiency and corner-cutting measures translate to lower prices, an attractive prospect as economic uncertainty and high unemployment fail to abate in many states.”

The ALDI “Benton’s” brand was well known among shoppers Thursday morning. It’s a cheaper alternative to some name brands, but shoppers say it’s just as good. (GV Wire/Jim Jakobs)

Summit Cola is another exclusive ALDI brand. A 2 liter bottle of cola was selling for 69 cents Thursday morning. (GV Wire/Jim Jakobs)