Aldi has announced intentions to launch 40 new stores in the UK this year. The discount retailer plans to allocate £370 million towards opening new locations in various areas, such as Southam in Warwickshire, Hastings in East Sussex, and Amersham in Buckinghamshire.
This initiative is part of a broader £1.6 billion investment program unveiled last year, aiming to reach a milestone of 1,500 Aldi stores in the UK. Recent store openings in 2025 include Kirkintilloch in East Dunbartonshire, Eastbourne in East Sussex, Fulham Broadway in London, and Deeside in Wales.
Giles Hurley, the Chief Executive Officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, emphasized the company’s commitment to providing high-quality, affordable groceries to all consumers. He highlighted the expansion plans for 2026 as a strategic move to address areas lacking an Aldi presence, aligning with the long-term objective of reaching 1,500 stores across the UK.
Aldi’s dedication to offering affordable, quality food has earned it recognition as the UK’s most economical supermarket for the fifth consecutive year by Which?. Additionally, the retailer recently secured The Grocer’s ‘Super Grocer 33’ award for the seventh time, reinforcing its reputation as the top choice for British shoppers in terms of value.
In a bid to further support its workforce, Aldi disclosed an increase in pay rates for store employees, with hourly rates for store assistants rising to £13.35 nationally and up to £14.30 based on tenure. Within the M25 area, hourly rates are set at £14.71, climbing to £15.03 with experience, effective from March 1, 2026.
In 2025, Aldi emerged as the most budget-friendly supermarket according to Which? magazine, holding the top position for ten months out of twelve. Lidl claimed the title twice, in July and October. The average price difference between Aldi and Lidl per month throughout the year was a mere 77p.
For a list of 68 items, Aldi boasted the lowest average cost in December at £123.60, edging out Lidl by just 10p, with an average spend of £123.70 for both Lidl Plus members and non-members. In comparison, Asda’s average cost for the same items in December was £134.89, while Tesco Clubcard members paid £135.84 or £139.12 without a Clubcard.