A shortage of Aldi’s premium dry Armando pasta has sparked rumours the popular pantry staple is being discontinued.
Concerned shoppers took to Reddit to express their concerns, having observed dwindling stock on supermarket shelves.
Nine.com.au has been told the pasta isn’t being discontinued. Instead, the issue is one of supply.
We have also been told that while there may currently be limited stock of Armando pasta at some Aldi locations, customers can check the Aldi website for the latest store availability.
This latest supermarket shortage follows a shortage of San Remo and Coles brand pasta earlier this year, as Aussie shoppers stock up on pantry staples due to continuing cost-of-living pressures.
Coles customers were met with a Customer Notice in early June notifying them of a supply issue with San Remo Red Bag pasta.
The notice read: “Due to supply issues we currently have limited to no supply of San Remo Red Bag pasta.
“We apologise for the inconvenience and will have the product back on shelf as soon as possible.”
This issue has since been resolved, nine.com.au has been told.
In April, Coles home brand pasta supplies were scarce in some supermarkets, which was thought to be in part due to shoppers stocking up for Easter, but also seems to be part of a growing trend of customers stocking up on affordable pantry staples to help make ends meet.
Coles, Aldi, and Woolworths, sell several varieties of pasta including more affordable brands, private labels, and premium pasta varieties that have proved popular recently.
Aldi’s budget brand, Cucina, sells for 89-99c for a 500g pack. Their premium Armando brand is priced at $2.69 per 500g.
Coles sells home brand pasta under the label Coles Simply and Coles. Coles Simply sells for 90c for a 500g pack and Coles brand is priced at $1 for a 500g pack.
Coles also stocks a newer, premium pasta brand called Cucina Matese which is priced from $2.80 for a 500g pack.
Woolworths stocks pasta under their Woolworths Essentials and Woolworths brands, with Woolworths Essential costing 90c for a 500g pack and Woolworths brand priced at $1 per 500g.
Woolworths also stocks the premium pasta brand La Molisana which is priced at $3.50 for a 100g pack.
For those purchasing these premium dry pasta brands thinking they are a healthier option, Paediatric nutritionist Mandy Sacher has told nine.com.au Armando, Cucina, and La Molisana aren’t necessarily healthier.
“So the premium ones, they’re using a higher quality durum wheat semolina, and it’s processed a lot slower at lower temperatures. So it’s as refined, but the actual processing of it is more traditional and more gentle.
“They do source higher protein durum wheat semolina strains, but it still is a refined grain. So from a nutritional perspective, it’s fairly similar, but from the consumer’s perspective, the texture is different.
“The thing is, with the premium pastas, they are generally more expensive. So a lot of people just go with the cheaper brands.”
She said the most important step with pasta is how it is cooked.
“If you really want that texture to be held, ‘al dente’ is always the best.
“And if you are going to eat refined carbs like pasta, then eat it the next day because you’ll get a more resistant starch.”
