Aldi has announced intentions to launch 40 new stores across the UK throughout this year. The discount grocery retailer is set to allocate £370 million for this purpose, with locations including Southam in Warwickshire, Hastings in East Sussex, and Amersham in Buckinghamshire being targeted.
This initiative is part of a broader £1.6 billion investment plan spanning two years that Aldi unveiled last year, aiming to reach a milestone of 1,500 stores in the UK. Notable store openings in 2025 comprised locations such as Kirkintilloch in East Dunbartonshire, Eastbourne in East Sussex, Fulham Broadway in London, and Deeside in Wales.
Giles Hurley, the Chief Executive Officer at Aldi UK and Ireland, expressed the company’s dedication to offering high-quality, affordable groceries to all. The expansion strategy for 2026 is tailored to address areas lacking Aldi stores, aligning with the ultimate objective of establishing 1,500 outlets nationwide. Aldi’s commitment to providing accessible, affordable food underscores its mission to serve customers across the UK.
Recent accolades include Aldi being recognized as the UK’s most economical supermarket by consumer group Which? for the fifth consecutive year. Additionally, Aldi secured the top spot in The Grocer’s ‘Super Grocer 33’ survey, highlighting its status as the preferred choice for British consumers in terms of value.
Moreover, Aldi has raised its pay rates for store colleagues, with national store assistant rates climbing to £13.35 per hour, reaching up to £14.30 with tenure. For employees within the M25, the rates are set at £14.71 per hour and rise to £15.03 with service, effective from March 1, 2026.
In 2025, Aldi earned the title of the cheapest supermarket according to Which? consumer rights magazine, maintaining this position for ten out of the 12 months. Lidl claimed the top spot twice, in July and October, with a mere 77p average price difference between Aldi and Lidl throughout the year.
Specifically, in December, Aldi offered the most budget-friendly prices for a list of 68 items, averaging £123.60 per month. Lidl closely followed, costing just 10p more at £123.70, catering to both Lidl Plus members and non-members. Comparatively, Asda’s average cost for the same items was £134.89, while Tesco Clubcard members paid £135.84 or £139.12 without a Clubcard for the specified items.
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