Aldi store openings UK: how many new stores discount supermarket chain intends to open, when and locations

Since the recession of the late noughties and early 2010s, Aldi has become a major player on the UK supermarket scene.

And this fact has been reflected in the German discounter’s expansion of its retail estate.

In October 2013 Aldi opened its 500th UK supermarket. Eight years on and it has more than 920, with plans to boost that number to 1,200 by 2025 through a £1.3bn investment.

As part of this target, Aldi has said it aims to open 100 new shops by 2023 - an average of one new store a week - and create 2,000 new jobs over the next year.

But why does it intend to build so many new supermarkets - and where is it hoping to locate them?

Here’s what you need to know.

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Why is Aldi planning to expand?

According to statistics from Aldi, more than 60% of UK households shopped in its stores during 2020.

While that doesn’t necessarily mean all of these shoppers are frequent Aldi shoppers, it demonstrates the reach the supermarket has.

And the discounter wants to boost this figure even further so it can have access to more of the UK’s consumers.

“Our focus is on expanding our store estate, making sure Aldi is accessible to as many of these new shoppers across the country as possible,” said its communications director Richard Thornton.

Where could these new stores be located?

Here is the full list of towns, cities and regions where Aldi plans to build its new stores:

• South East – Bicester, Guildford, Milton Keynes,
• South West – Cheltenham, Penzance and Plymouth
• West Midlands – Birmingham, Black Country and Coventry
• East Midlands – Alvaston, Northampton and Wellingborough
• East of England – Basildon, Brentwood and Hitchin
• North West – Runcorn, Stockport and Macclesfield
• North East – Stockton, South Shields and Malton
• Yorkshire – South Bradford, Meadowhall and York
• Scotland – Cathcart, Dumbarton and Peebles
• Wales – Aberdare, Barry and Lampeter

Are these new stores 100% confirmed?

Aldi said these locations are merely where they plan to open stores, so they are not fully confirmed.

The discounter explained it is on the lookout for free-hold town or city centre or edge-of-town centre sites that could fit a 20,000 square foot (medium-sized) store and around 100 parking spaces.

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