German supermarket chain, Aldi, has kicked off its four-year Aussie expansion plan with 14 new stores in Western Australia and 10 more in South Australia announced yesterday.
This will bring the discount supermarket’s store count up to 33 in WA and 28 in SA.
“By the end of 2016, ALDI had served approximately 3.2 million Western Australian shoppers, a testament to Aldi’s growing popularity in the local community,” an Aldi Australia spokesperson said.
The announcement also comes after a year of successful trade in South Australia, which has included opening 18 stores, serving approximately four million customers, employing over 400 South Australians and partnering with 39 local suppliers.
Aldi said over 90 per cent of Aldi’s everyday range consists of exclusive brands, the majority of which are sourced from Australian suppliers. Independent audits have confirmed that 100 per cent of Aldi’s eggs, bread, fresh meat and fresh poultry, 93 per cent of fresh dairy and 91 per cent of fresh fruit and vegetables are Australian Made.
The spokesperson said Aldi has seen “excitement and enthusiasm for Aldi’s weekly special buys, especially our seasonal Christmas range” in both states.
Aldi’s long-term expansion in WA will see up to 70 stores developed across the state, with 1200 new permanent jobs to be created state-wide over the coming years. In 2016, Aldi opened stores in Belmont Forum, Kwinana, Lakeside Joondalup, The Square Mirrabooka, Halls Head, Australind, Harrisdale, Rockingham, Camillo, Southern River, Mandurah, Butler, Mundaring, South Lake, Armadale, Wattle Grove, Cannington, Waikiki and Ellenbrook.
SA will see in excess of 50 stores developed across the state, with up to 900 new permanent jobs to be created state-wide. Throughout 2016, ALDI opened 18 stores in Parafield Gardens, Hallett Cove, Seaford Heights, Woodcroft, Mount Barker, St Agnes, Modbury, Noarlunga, Kilburn, Berri, Blakeview, Marion, Smithfield, West Lakes, Gilles Plains, Evanston, Golden Grove and Morphett Vale.
Each of Aldi’s new Western Australian stores will follow its new store format, with clearer signage, redesigned shelving and expanded wooden produce bays, energy efficient LED lighting and extended chillers.
Over the last two years, Aldi has opened three distribution centres and grown its store network by over 100 new stores.
Its expansion into WA and SA has seen an associated investment of over $700 million – which will culminate in 120 new stores across both states.
In the first quarter of trading, 27.1 per cent of grocery buyers in South Australia visited and made a purchase at an Aldi store and in the first 5 weeks of launch in Western Australia, 18.3 per cent of the state made a purchase in one of itsstores.
Aldi said that the expansion to date, has seen the discount chain capture 3.2 per cent market share in South Australia and 2.3 per cent in Western Australia.
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