Aldi pancakes…

Today is Pancake Day so where better to go for your pancake ingredients and toppings than Britain’s favourite supermarket? Yes I know that I sound like an ad, but then that is my background. Anyway, is there anyone remaining who hasn’t been touched by the magic of Aldi?

Just a few years ago Aldi stores were dismissed as being cheap shops selling low-quality goods, whose customers couldn’t afford to shop in proper supermarkets. Back then anyone shopping at Aldi would go in disguise or at the very least claim that they shopped at Aldi for the novelty value, a laugh. Gradually though, things have changed and now, given the ridiculously long queues for the checkouts, the number of Range Rovers in the always packed car park and the fact that my next door neighbour but one shops there, it seems that that the poor reputation of Aldi's products is long gone.

And the two German brothers, Karl and Theo, who originally owned Aldi are the first and second richest men in Germany and are laughing all the way to the Bundesbank.

The big supermarkets have been taken by surprise and, as the posters say, Aldi has won the Which? Supermarket of the Year for two (or is it three?) years, and in 2013 Aldi won The Grocer Grocer of the Year Award. Not bad for a supermarket that charges for carrier bags, is German (don’t mention the war), sells mainly ‘own’ brands and until quite recently only took cash payment.

They also sell what I can only describe as random stuff. The centre aisles are packed with all manner of strange things that none of us need, but can’t resist. I have yet to use my extending window sponge, chocolate moulds, reversible umbrella rain hat and musical candles, but I guess that they’ll come in handy one day and probably all at the same time. Picture me in my hat, cleaning my windows whilst scoffing home made chocolates and whistling along to my candle.

And with that image firmly implanted in your mind this post is officially closed.

Enjoy your pancakes.