Aldi targets 20 new store locations across the UK

Aldi has unveiled an updated list of priority locations across the UK where it is actively seeking new store sites, following a nationwide call-out for suggestions from the public.

The German discounter said it analysed thousands of responses to determine where demand is greatest as it works towards its long-term goal of 1,500 UK stores — up from more than 1,050 currently trading.

Among the top locations Aldi is targeting are Braintree, Bromley, Hitchin, South Croydon, Worthing and Warwick. Over the summer, it plans to open 10 new stores, including sites in Caterham, Sheffield and Fulham Broadway.

Aldi UK MD of national real estate Jonathan Neale said: “We want to make high-quality, affordable food accessible to everyone, and that means opening new stores in the communities that need them most,”

“The response from the public has been invaluable in helping us identify where demand is greatest, and where we need to focus our efforts on finding the sites that can become new stores.”

Each site should accommodate a 20,000sq ft store and around 100 parking spaces, with good visibility and access from a main road.

The discounter is also on the lookout for suitable locations to support the expansion of its Aldi Local format in Central London, specifically in zones one and two. These sites require at least 5,000sq ft of trading space, plus 3,000sq ft of ancillary space.

This expansion drive forms part of Aldi’s £650m investment this year, aimed at bringing its “unbeatable value” to even more communities.

Source: Retail Gazette