A recent Placer.ai analysis shows that while Trader Joe’s, Aldi, and Lidl all benefited from value-focused grocery shopping in 2025, customers are using each store very differently.
All three chains posted year-over-year visit growth, outperforming overall grocery traffic trends. But visit duration data suggests distinct shopping patterns inside the stores. (Supermarket News story)
Trader Joe’s visits tend to fall in the 10- to 30-minute range, reflecting smaller stores and curated assortments that support efficient, mission-driven trips. Aldi shoppers generally stay slightly longer, consistent with its limited-SKU, value-oriented format that encourages customers to spend time walking the aisles and maximizing savings. Lidl sees the longest visits of the group, driven by larger stores, broader assortments, in-store bakeries, and merchandise that support more comprehensive stock-up trips.
Even among retailers often grouped together as “discount grocers,” shopper behavior — and how customers move through the store — varies meaningfully.
