Aldi has revealed plans to invest $9bn over the next five years to open another 800 stores in the US.
The additional sites will come in the form of new openings and store conversions, and include the grocer’s recent purchase of Southeastern Grocers, the owner of 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets outlets.
“With this commitment to add 800 stores in the next five years, we’ll be where our shoppers need us while positively impacting the communities we serve,” said Aldi CEO Jason Hart.
The expansion will strengthen the discounter’s presence in the Northeast and Midwest of the US, adding nearly 330 locations across both regions. By the end of 2028, the company also plans to add more locations in Southern California, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, among others.
Starting mid-summer, Aldi will begin a phased store conversion programme for the Winn-Dixie and Harveys sites. The company anticipates that approximately 50 stores will begin the conversion process during the latter half of 2024, with the majority of these stores reopening under the Aldi banner in 2025.
Aldi also stated that a “meaningful amount” of Winn-Dixie and Harveys locations will remain under their existing banners.
“With the acquisition of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets, Aldi will serve even more communities in the Southeast, bringing us closer to our customers in a region where we’ve already experienced significant demand for affordable, quality groceries,” said Hart.
Aldi currently has over 2,300 stores in the US.
NAM Implications:
- A retail business model made for post-Lockdown…
- …and no reason to doubt the realism of Aldi’s expansion plans…
- …or schedule.
- Simply find a way to work with one of the world’s biggest routes to consumers.
