Aldi has unveiled plans to open nine new stores in one of the UK’s biggest cities as part of its wider expansion plans despite the recent trend of store closures impacting the economy.
Residents in London will benefit from brand new sites from the budget retailer as part of the company’s wider plan to invest £650million in Britain and open 30 new locations within the market during 2025.
It should be noted, the investment package includes both new store openings and upgrades to existing locations, with plans already confirmed for an extension to the retailer’s Colindale store.
This latest business announcement comes as Aldi celebrates being named the UK’s cheapest supermarket by consumer champion Which? for the fourth consecutive year in 2024.
The German-owned retailer continues to strengthen its presence in London’s competitive grocery market, with four of the nine planned locations already confirmed for development over the next 12 months.
Do you have a money story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing money@gbnews.uk.
New Aldi stores will open in Wimbledon, Fulham Broadway, Caterham and Orpington in 2025. These locations have been strategically selected to expand the retailer’s footprint across different areas of Greater London.
Whilst five store locations are yet to be revealed, these initial four sites demonstrate the supermarket’s focus on expanding its retail portfolio in the nation’s capital.
Jonathan Neale, the managing director of National Real Estate at Aldi UK, emphasised the company’s commitment to accessible value shopping across the capital.
“We strongly believe that everyone in Britain should have access to high-quality food at our unbeatable Aldi prices,” said Neale.
New jobs will be created with the Aldi store openings
ALDI
“But we know that there are still thousands of shoppers in the capital that don’t yet have access to an Aldi nearby.
“We don’t think it’s fair that so many people still have to make do with big prices at other supermarkets, which is why London continues to be a real focus for us as we work to bring even more Aldi stores to shoppers across the capital.”
The supermarket has set an ambitious long-term target to open 100 additional stores across London which will reportedly create approximately 3,500 new jobs in the capital.
Recent research from PwC shows the retail sector is seeing 25 new store openings daily across Great Britain. However, with 38 daily closures, the industry faces a net decline of 12 outlets per day.
Despite these broader retail challenges, retail parks have shown net growth for the second consecutive year.
Shopping centres are also experiencing a notable recovery in openings, according to PwC’s findings.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Lisa Hooker, the leader of Industry for Consumer Markets at PwC UK, notes the sector’s resilience despite ongoing changes.
“The good news is that the rate of net closures has stabilised and consumers will always want somewhere to grab a coffee, last minute present or enjoy the experience of in-store shopping,” she said.
However, Hooker emphasises the need for collaborative action to support struggling retail locations. “We need all stakeholders including policymakers and communities to play a role in supporting, repurposing and investing in those struggling locations,” she explained.
The research reveals that half of all net closures are concentrated in just three categories: chemists, chain pubs and banks. PwC’s findings suggest retail spaces must evolve to meet changing consumer demands. “Spaces need to adapt to the hybrid world and satisfy consumer trends for convenience, variety and fun,” Hooker added.
