Aldi is accelerating its expansion across the UK, with the discount supermarket opening a new store each week during September as it continues its wider programme of investment and growth.
The retailer opened a new store in Balsall Common near Solihull on 3 September, with further openings planned in Telford on 10 September, Rayleigh in Essex on 17 September and Hoxton in East London on 24 September.
The four September openings form part of Aldi’s plan to add around 40 new stores across the UK during 2026. The company has committed approximately £370 million to its store expansion programme and is continuing to identify locations where it believes there is demand for a discount supermarket.
Aldi currently operates around 1,086 stores in the UK and has a long-term ambition to increase that number to 1,500. The latest openings are expected to create up to 120 jobs.
The expansion comes as price remains one of the most important factors influencing supermarket choice. Aldi has continued to compete aggressively with Lidl and the major British supermarket groups by maintaining a relatively limited range, focusing on high-volume products and keeping operating costs under pressure.
The retailer’s expansion is also taking place at a time when supermarket competition remains intense. Recent Which? research again placed Aldi at the top of its monthly comparison of supermarket prices, with a basket of 92 everyday products costing an average of £159.36 in August. Lidl followed at £161.10.
For Aldi, opening stores in new communities is therefore not simply about increasing its estate. It is also a way of putting its value proposition directly in front of more shoppers and increasing competition in local grocery markets.
The September openings demonstrate that the discount supermarket is continuing to pursue physical expansion despite the increasingly competitive UK grocery market.
With a target of approximately 40 new stores during the year and a longer-term objective of 1,500 locations, Aldi’s expansion remains one of the most significant supermarket development programmes currently taking place in Britain.