Aldi and Lidl are pushing ahead with a series of store openings ahead of Christmas, as part of their wider expansion plans.
Aldi is opening four stores today (5 December) as part of its UK expansion drive, across Cribbs Causeway in Bristol, Hetton-le-Hole in Tyne and Wear, Ashton-in-Makerfield in Greater Manchester, and Macduff in Banffshire.
The new shops, which will create over 100 new jobs, follow a series of store launches in recent weeks, including new locations in Sedgley in the West Midlands, Horsham in West Sussex and Muswell Hill in London.
The openings form part of its long-term target of 1,500 stores across the UK, with the supermarket investing £800m in expanding its UK footprint this year alone.
Meanwhile, Lidl is launching six stores today in preparation for the big day.
The budget grocer has opened four new stores in Shinfield, Bovey Tracey, Downham Market, and Stirchley.
Alongside these, a new store in Connah’s Quay has replaced the town’s old Lidl, while its Chessington site has reopened following a full refurbishment and extension.
Lidl said this represented a multi-million-pound investment, leading to approximately 160 new jobs.
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The move follows four new stores opening last month in Bristol, Hemel Hempstead, Ipswich, and Hoxton, and comes ahead of two further shops opening next week in Forest Gate and Caterham.
The openings form part of Lidl’s expansion plans, which will see it launch a further eight stores at the start of 2025 followed by around 40 more in its next financial year.
Lidl GB chief development officer Richard Taylor said: “As we head into December, opening six stores in a single day highlights the incredible momentum behind our expansion in our 30th year.
“This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering affordable, high-quality products to more households across the country, especially at a time of year when value matters most.”
Aldi communications director Richard Thornton said: “Our new store openings are a testament to our ongoing investment in the UK, and we’re thrilled to bring Aldi’s unbeatable prices to even more communities just in time for Christmas.
“To be opening four new stores in one day is an outstanding effort from the team and shows just how serious we are about bringing more stores to communities up and down the country.”
Lidl chief development officer Richard Taylor said: “As we head into December, opening six stores in a single day highlights the incredible momentum behind our expansion in our 30th year.
“This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering affordable, high-quality products to more households across the country, especially at a time of year when value matters most.
“Our teams are relentlessly pursuing expansion opportunities and, with every store we open, we’re taking another step towards making this vision a reality.”
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