Aldi, the UK’s fourth-largest supermarket chain, is accelerating its expansion plans across the country, guided in part by input from the public. Recently, Aldi invited customers to suggest locations most in need of a new store. After analysing thousands of suggestions, the company has revealed a list of priority areas where it is actively looking for new sites. These include a mix of towns and suburbs across England, Scotland, and Wales, such as Braintree in Essex, Bromley and Ealing in Greater London, Kirkby in Merseyside, and Largs in North Ayrshire.

This community-driven approach reflects Aldi’s commitment to making high-quality, affordable food accessible to more people. Jonathan Neale, managing director of National Real Estate at Aldi UK, said the public’s response has been “invaluable in helping us identify where demand is greatest.” Aldi currently operates over 1,050 stores nationwide and aims to expand to 1,500 in the coming years. This growth is supported by an ambitious investment programme; in 2024 alone, Aldi is investing around £800 million to accelerate store openings across towns and cities in Britain.

Over the summer months, Aldi plans to open ten new stores in locations including Caterham, Surrey; Sheffield, South Yorkshire; and Fulham Broadway, London. Beyond these, a broader rollout will see 23 new stores open before the end of the year, with further sites identified in other communities such as Muswell Hill in London and Mere Green in Birmingham. Every new store is expected to create approximately 40 local jobs, underlining Aldi’s role as a growing employer with market-leading pay rates.

When scouting for new locations, Aldi has very specific requirements. Each site should ideally accommodate a store of around 20,000 square feet, including parking for 100 vehicles, situated near main roads with high visibility and convenient access. In urban areas like Central London, Aldi is also pursuing smaller “Aldi Local” formats, which typically require trading spaces of about 5,000 square feet along with additional ancillary space. The supermarket is particularly interested in freehold town-centre, edge-of-centre, and retail park sites, which help facilitate these new developments.

Aldi’s business model remains a distinguishing factor in its ability to offer competitive prices. By focusing on a limited range of product lines—most of which are its own branded goods rather than big-name brands—Aldi can purchase stock at lower prices and pass these savings onto customers. This approach has helped it maintain strong sales growth and profitability in recent years, fuelling its confidence to invest heavily in store expansion.

Ultimately, Aldi’s expansion strategy demonstrates a keen focus on responding to customer demand and community needs. As it continues to invest hundreds of millions of pounds into its UK network, the supermarket is not only increasing its footprint but also contributing to local economies through job creation. Property owners with suitable sites are encouraged to contact Aldi, supporting the chain’s ongoing ambition to make affordable, high-quality food widely accessible across the country.

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Source: Noah Wire Services