Retail Arbitrage Series: Aldi

Welcome back to the Retail Arbitrage Series. We’ve had a short break from this series while covering business leaks, because it’s important to stay on top of the areas where sellers lose money through Amazon. But now we’re back to sourcing, and with Q4 on the horizon, it’s a good time to highlight another store you might be overlooking: Aldi.

Aldi is not usually the first name that comes up when people think about RA, but it does have some unique opportunities if you know where to look. It’s definitely not an all year round staple, but when it’s good, it can be very good. Let’s dive in.

How Aldi Works

Aldi is a supermarket best known for its low grocery prices, but what makes it interesting for RA is the middle aisle. This is effectively Aldi’s clearance and promotions section, running right up the centre of the shop. It’s filled with random offers that change weekly, everything from toys and garden gear to home appliances and seasonal specials.

These “Specialbuys” are where the sourcing opportunities lie. You won’t find much in the way of grocery arbitrage here, but Aldi’s rotating promotions mean there’s always a chance to stumble across profitable stock.

Types of Products Found in Aldi

The product mix in Aldi changes throughout the year, but here are some highlights worth noting:

• January/February (post-Q4): You’ll often see toys reduced after Christmas. Last year, for example, Barbie sets were heavily discounted in January, and they turned out to be strong RA buys.
• Spring/Summer: Aldi leans into seasonal promotions, especially garden equipment, outdoor furniture, BBQs, pools, and accessories. These can be profitable if you catch them early.
• Health & Beauty: Aldi also pushes its own ranges of perfume, skincare, and toiletries. Not all of these appear on Amazon, but occasionally they match to listings and present good margins.
• Cleaning Items: Certain cleaning brands and bulk consumables pop up and can sometimes be flipped for a profit.
• Q4 (Autumn–Winter): Toys return as the star of the show. Aldi runs seasonal promotions on branded toys as well as its own ranges, and these can be excellent buys in the run-up to Christmas.

The key with Aldi is to stay alert. You never quite know what you’re going to get, but the middle aisle always has potential.

How Clearance Works

Aldi doesn’t run clearance in the traditional supermarket sense. Instead, everything flows through the Specialbuys section in the middle of the shop. The stock rotates weekly, and once it’s gone, it’s gone.

• Discounts are clearly labelled, often with bright tags.
• Products tend to be displayed in baskets or on pallets.
• If something sells slowly, Aldi will cut the price further, so checking back can pay off.

Unlike other supermarkets, you won’t find random clearance tucked into regular shelves. Everything is centralised, which makes sourcing quicker.

Best Time of Year for Aldi

Aldi isn’t a store you’ll rely on every week, but there are a few times when it’s worth making the effort:

• January (post-Christmas): Reduced toys can present brilliant opportunities.
• Spring/Summer: Seasonal goods like BBQs, garden furniture, and pools are strong buys.
• Q4 (Autumn–Winter): Aldi really shines in Q4 with toy promotions. These can form part of a strong Christmas sourcing strategy.

The rest of the year, Aldi can be hit or miss, sometimes completely dry, sometimes full of hidden gems.

Aldi Hacks

• Focus on the middle aisle. Don’t waste time scanning the whole store — everything worth checking is right there.
• Check multiple stores. If you find a profitable line in one Aldi, you’ll usually be able to find the same deal in others.
• Scan Aldi’s own health and beauty branded items.
• Always be consistent. Aldi’s stock rotates fast, so keep dropping in whenever you pass one.
• Grab one of the Aldi promotional magazines when you are in store, this will tell you what “special buy” items will be coming in the near future, meaning you can plan ahead.

Pros and Cons of Aldi

✅ Pros

• Easy to source — the middle aisle is the only section worth scanning.
• You can often replicate finds across multiple Aldi stores.
• Aldi staff are generally reseller friendly and don’t mind bulk buys.
• Opportunities for high ROI products, especially toys and seasonal gear.

❌ Cons

• Inconsistent — you may walk out with nothing.
• Dry spells are common during off peak months.
• No cashback stacking or loyalty hacks compared to other retailers.
• Not a staple store — better as an add on to existing RA routes.