Aldi is a privately owned grocer that has built its reputation on low prices and, as well as food, is famous for ‘special buys’ – bargain products that arrive in stores every Thursday and Sunday.
The business was established in Germany in the 1940s by brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht and in 1960 split in two to form Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud. The UK and Ireland business is part of Aldi Sud, which also operates in countries including China, Australia and the USA.
In recent years Aldi, and value supermarket counterpart Lidl, have disrupted the established UK grocers and won market share.
Aldi has focused on selling through its stores and only offers a limited selection online, such as wines and a variety of general merchandise ranging from weekly special buys to toys and homewares. Aldi UK has a target of 1,200 stores by 2025.
Tesco has reported “early signs” that shopper behaviour is shifting as the soaring cost of living bites.
Retail Week explores the impact of the current world crisis on each customer and business and asks what, if anything, can be done.
The soaring cost of living is increasingly affecting food shoppers’ spending habits as punishing inflation replaces the pandemic at the front of consumers’ minds.
Retail Week rounds up the actions being taken by retailers in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Last updated March 29, 2022.
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine heaps further pressure on global supply chains and commodity prices, Aldi and Lidl could permanently shift UK grocery’s established order, writes Hugh Radojev.
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