ALDI reformulates private label products

ALDI Inc., Batavia, Ill., said that it removed certified synthetic colors, partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) and added MSG from all of its exclusive brand food products. This announcement is part of the company’s efforts to expand store offerings and address customers’ preferences and needs about particular ingredients in their food. With 90 percent of ALDI products being sold under private labels, ALDI is able to ensure that customers have a wide selection of options free of these ingredients and available at the low prices they are known for.

“At ALDI, we are dedicated to the well-being of our customers by providing high quality groceries at the lowest possible prices and offering foods shoppers can feel good about serving their families,” said Jason Hart, CEO, ALDI. “Our decision to remove these ingredients from all of our exclusive brand foods delivers on our ongoing commitment to meet the evolving preferences of our customers. Since more than 90 percent of the products we sell are under our exclusive brands, eliminating these ingredients will have a real impact on the over 30 million people who shop in our stores.”

As a retailer focused on private label brands, ALDI said it continues to take a leading role in responding to consumer demand by removing these ingredients from the vast majority of their products. The company began removing these ingredients in 2014, and customers will begin to see these products in stores this fall, with all reformulated product lines in stores by the end of 2015.

Over the past several years, ALDI said it has enhanced its product offerings to provide customers with even more options they can feel good about, including:

• fresh produce including an increase of fresh, organic produce offerings, including organic bananas, apples, tomatoes, avocados and salad mixes,
• new product lines such as its SimplyNature line of products, which is free from more than 125 ingredients, as well as a gluten-free line of products under the ALDI exclusive brand, liveGfree,
• labeling that highlights nutritional facts on the front of all ALDI exclusive brand food packages for shoppers to easily find key nutritional information, and
• Dietitian’s Picks which showcase existing products hand-selected by registered dietitians for their nutritional value to help guide shoppers in their purchasing decisions.

Additionally, ALDI said it partners with registered dietitians through its Advisory Council to provide tips, recipes and meal-planning ideas that make healthy eating easy and affordable for families.

“I’m happy that ALDI is listening to people’s concerns about synthetic dyes and eliminating them in all of their products,” said Sally Kuzemchak, registered dietitian, author and ALDI advisory council member. “Shopping at ALDI makes it easier for busy parents to stock up on quality ingredients at a great value for their families.”