On the back of a visit at their head office by the Prime Minister last week,figures released today (12th November) reveal that the rapidly growing retailer is investing over £109 million across the next 12 months, constructing new build stores and the development of a state-of-the-art distribution centre.
The data from Barbour ABI highlights that 33 new stores should start construction within the next 12 months, 16 of which already have planning permission. This will take Aldi’s investment to over £84 million, alongside a £25 million distribution centre in Cardiff,which begins construction in the second quarter of 2015 and will create an estimated 400 jobs alone.
This coincides with a £62 million investment for 31 new stores that have already begun construction so far in 2014. The news is on the back of Aldi’s announcement on Monday that they intend to create 35,000 jobs and have 1000 stores open in the UK by 2022.
On the findings of the data, Michael Dall, lead economist at Barbour ABI, commented: ‘Aldi will see the UK as a major overseas target for expansion after steadily increasing their market share over the last few years, enticing customers from the traditional “Big Four” supermarkets with their budget price products.
Over the next six to twelve months I expect even more construction projects from Aldi will begin if they are to stay on track with their 1,000 store target by 2022. Aldi’s investment is an indication of the continuing change within the supermarket industry in in the UK.