Aldi UK: The long-term target is 1500 stores

London / UK. (uas) Aldi UK and Ireland will invest more than GBP 550 million in expanding and further improving its store and distribution network during 2024. This includes plans to open stores in new locations up and down the country, as well as upgrading its existing stores and distribution centres to support growth, the subsidiary of Unternehmensgruppe Aldi Süd said in February.

(Photo: Aldi UK and Ireland)

New stores set to open in 2024 will create over 1,500 new jobs across the country, with further job opportunities in its current stores, Regional Distribution Centres and UK offices. Aldi currently has more than 1,000 stores across the UK and is committed to continuing towards its long-term target of 1,500 locations to meet the demand for its unique high quality and affordable offering. Aldi works with around 5,000 suppliers across the UK and has been ranked as the best supermarket for conducting relationships fairly and in good faith for a record 10 years in the GSCOP annual survey.

Giles Hurley, CEO of Aldi UK and Ireland: «We’re continuing to welcome more and more new customers through our doors – with people coming for our low prices but staying for our award-winning quality and British sourcing. However, there are still areas of the country that don’t have an Aldi, or that need more or larger stores to meet demand. That is what our 2024 expansion plans aim to address. We now have more than 1,000 stores across the UK but there are plenty more Aldi stores still to come, in 2024 and beyond.»

Aldi is on the lookout for freehold town-centre or edge-of-town sites that are around 1.5 acres and can accommodate a 20,000 square foot store with around 100 parking spaces. Ideally, each location will be near a main road with good visibility and access.

Aldi recently became the first supermarket to guarantee its store and warehouse staff at least GBP 12 per hour after confirming new pay rates that came into effect from February 01, 2024. The new minimum rate, makes Aldi the first supermarket to offer rates in line with the Real Living Wage that was set by the Living Wage Foundation in October last year.

Store Assistants’ pay will rise further to GBP 12.95 nationally, and GBP 13.85 within the M25, based on the length of service as part of Aldi’s GBP 67 million investment in colleague pay. In addition, Aldi remains the only supermarket in the UK to offer paid breaks.