Aldi has launched a major product expansion in the USA in which 20% of items in every store will be new versus last year along with an ongoing store opening and upgrade plan.
The effort — focusing on fresh, organic and easy-to-prepare offerings — will boost the selection of fresh food by 40% with new products, including vegan choices, kombucha, healthy ready-meals and grab-and-go type food. Aldi said it’s also aiming to have one of the nation’s largest selections of private label milk alternatives with the addition of organic almond milk, coconut milk and a full range of lactose-free and soy milk.
The rollout is expected to run through early next year. The new product push dovetails with other Aldi initiatives launched last year and adds up to an estimated total investment of more than US$5 billion.
Aldi plans to remodel and expand over 1,300 U.S. stores by 2020 through the addition of more space and refrigeration to accommodate more items, particularly fresh offerings like produce, dairy, bakery and meat. The upgraded stores also will get a new look and feel. The discount grocer currently has about 1,800 stores in 35 states, but aims to expand to about 2,500 stores nationwide by 2022.
One of Aldi’s unique strategies includes an array of novel food and household products offered in stores for a limited time – designed to lure customers back to check out what’s new.
Meanwhile in Europe, Aldi UK is on track to become carbon neutral by 2019 by cutting its greenhouse gas emissions. The discounter has already installed 388 solar panel systems, spent millions to upgrade its fridges and secured a deal to use 100% renewable electricity for its sites.
