Discount retailer Aldi Nord has launched a new project to modernise its 2,300 stores across Germany. The project, called ANIKo (Aldi Nord in-store concept), will be completed over the next few years, with an investment of €5.2 million.
ANIKo aims to refurbish Aldi outlets to make them brighter and more welcoming, as well as expanding the range of products on offer, particularly fresh produce.
"We will begin the rebuilding phase in the autumn," said Thorsten Kinzel, managing director for sales. "We will do everything to make the biggest project and investment in the history of Aldi Nord a success."
Successful Trial
The retailer has been carrying out a range of in-store tests for several months, analysing customer behaviour, and trialling product prototypes.
The first ANIKo market was opened on a trial basis in Herten in April. Kay Rüschoff, Aldi Nord's marketing director, said that customers responded to the new innovations very well, particularly the expanded range of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and bakery products.
After a successful test in Herten, the company has said that it intends to roll out the concept to all branches in Germany, converting up to 30 stores per week. It will also use the concept for new stores in its eight foreign markets, including Denmark and Spain.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Sarah Harford. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
