Aldi and Lidl have opened multiple new stores today as part of their expansion drives in the UK.
Aldi has opened the doors to four new outlets at Cribbs Causeway in Bristol, Hetton-le-Hole in Tyne and Wear, Ashton-in-Makerfield in Greater Manchester, and Macduff in Banffshire.
This follows a series of openings in recent weeks by the discounter, including new sites in Sedgley in the West Midlands, Horsham in West Sussex, and Muswell Hill in London.
Aldi currently operates around 1,030 stores in the UK, with a long-term target of 1,500. In this year alone, it has invested £800m in expanding its footprint in the country.
“Our new store openings are a testament to our ongoing investment in the UK, and we’re thrilled to bring Aldi’s unbeatable prices to even more communities just in time for Christmas,” said Richard Thornton, Communications Director at Aldi UK.
“To be opening four new stores in one day is an outstanding effort from the team and shows just how serious we are about bringing more stores to communities up and down the country.”
Meanwhile, Lidl has opened six new stores in the UK today. This includes four new sites in Shinfield, Bovey Tracey, Downham Market, and Stirchley today, along with a replacement outlet in Connah’s Quay and a refurbished site in Chessington.
The discounter opened four new stores in November in Bristol, Hemel Hempstead, Ipswich, and Hoxton, and is due to open an additional two new branches next week in Forest Gate and Caterham.
Last month, Lidl GB posted strong annual results and stated that it plans to accelerate its expansion plans. A further eight new stores are due to open at the beginning of 2025, to be followed by another 40 during its next financial year and “hundreds more after that”.
Lidl’s Chief Development Officer Richard Taylor commented: “As we head into December, opening six stores in a single day highlights the incredible momentum behind our expansion in our 30th year.
“This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering affordable, high-quality products to more households across the country, especially at a time of year when value matters most.”
NAM Implications:
- The race is on, or continues…
- …depending on where you sit.
- Patently, for each discounter, there is still potential for outlet expansion in the UK.
- The key is that suppliers need to ensure they obtain and maintain the fair share of the action, somehow…
