USA: Aldi targets 50% increase in locations over five years

USA: Aldi targets 50% increase in locations over five years

Aldi has unveiled plans to expand its footprint in the US, the Wall St Journal and Nine MSN report.

In a statement from the company, plans were revealed that would see a 50% increase in stores over the next five years, as Aldi seeks to become the largest discount retailer in the US. The German supermarket chain currently has nearly 1300 stores across 32 states of the country, mostly concentrated in the MidWest and the East.

The opening of some 650 new stores will see Aldi venture into new geographical territory, such as Southern California, it is reported. The investment is in the order of $3 billion.

"We are ramping up expansion because there is growing demand for our stores," Aldi US President Jason Hart is quoted as saying.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Aldi opened its first US outlet in 1976 and has averaged 80 new store openings per year since then. The expansion would see Aldi overtake its rival Save-A-Lot, which at a recent count had 1,334 locations.

Source: Wall St Journal / Nine MSN