Aldi has pledged to invest £1.3bn into upgraded stores and distribution centres over the next two years after it saw record sales figures last year.

In its annual trading update, Aldi reported a 49% increase in pre-tax profits to £271.5m in the year to December 31.

Sales also rose 8.3% to £12.3bn due to an influx of new shoppers, up 6% to 17.6 million in the same year.

Under its new investment plan, Aldi is expected to open 100 new stores across the UK throughout 2020 and 2021, creating 4,000 new jobs next year alongside the 3,000 permanent roles created so far this year.

The plans are in line with Aldi’s long-term goal of 1,200 stores by 2025.

Other investments include refitting and upgrading 100 of its stores under the ‘Project Fresh’ initiative, building new or expanding existing distribution centres and rolling out new innovations such as its click-and-collect service, which launched last week.

Chief executive Giles Hurley said: “For over 30 years, our success has been driven by the ever-increasing number of shoppers who put their trust in Aldi every time they shop with us. This is what enables us to keep investing in Britain – in our products, our prices, our people and in the communities we serve. 

“With the UK’s economic outlook increasingly uncertain, families are more concerned about their grocery bills than ever. We’ve seen before that our customers need us most in times of financial hardship, which is why our commitment to remain Britain’s lowest-priced supermarket is more important than ever.”

Aldi has expressed a commitment to keeping its prices the lowest in the sector as more households struggle amid the coronavirus pandemic.