Aldi is embarking on a rapid expansion across the UK, opening new stores across the country in time for Christmas. The UK’s most popular supermarket, according to recent YouGov ratings, has seen the German retailer open a huge £7 million superstore on Merseyside this week (November 13), kicking off a massive and rapid expansion programme in the all-important run-up to the festive season.
The £7m development was completed a few weeks ago and was officially unveiled at its “grand opening” by Team GB rowing hero, Harriet Taylor. The site of the supermarket was previously a disused and derelict space which has now been completely transformed and repurposed after Aldi secured planning permission back in February, despite objections from rival supermarket Tesco.
The new store comes as part of Aldi’s huge expansion plans for its UK operations which was announced on September 15. The £1.6bn investment will also go towards upgrading its current facilities, the development of distribution centres and creating new outlets such as the one now open in Litherland, and a proposed new store in Aintree.
Store manager Sarah McGuiness, who confirmed there are still more roles to fill and is actively encouraging applications, said: “It was lovely to welcome our new customers into the store, and I look forward to meeting more of the community in the coming weeks.”
The store will also accommodate 123 car parking spaces, including eight accessible, eight parent and child spaces, and provision for electric vehicle charging points, with underground infrastructure to add a further 20 in the future.
Aldi has announced plans to open 16 new stores by Christmas 2025. The supermarket giant revealed that these new outlets will all be operational between Thursday, November 6, and Friday, December 12.
The fourth-largest supermarket in the UK is investing £650 million across the country through its store opening and refurbishment programme in 2025, creating approximately 40 jobs at each new site.
In addition to this, Aldi has declared its intention to double down on its investment, committing £1.6 billion over the next two years, which will result in the opening of 40 stores annually.
Jonathan Neale, managing director of National Real Estate at Aldi UK, stated: “At Aldi, we’re focused on making affordable, high-quality food accessible to as many people as possible – and opening new stores is at the heart of how we do that.
“Launching 16 new stores in five weeks is a significant milestone for our business and a clear demonstration of the pace and ambition behind our growth plans. It means more communities will benefit from Aldi’s value and choice in the weeks ahead and beyond.”
In anticipation of the Christmas rush, Aldi has initiated a bold recruitment campaign to employ over 4,500 store colleagues across the UK. These new team members will be instrumental in replenishing stock, aiding customers and ensuring the smooth operation of stores during one of the retail calendar’s most hectic periods.
New store colleagues will also reap the benefits of Aldi’s status as Britain’s top-paying supermarket, with Store Assistants earning from £13.02 an hour nationally and from £14.35 inside the M25 from September 2025.
