The American arm of discounter Aldi has announced that it will pursue an 'aggressive' $1.6 billion investment strategy, with plans to revamp and expand more than 1,300 outlets by 2020.
The new stores will focus on fresh items and a 'modern', convenient shopping experience. They will include larger bakery, dairy and produce sections.
Aldi has also recently added a number of lines its says are popular with customers, such as organic line SimplyNature and the liveGfree gluten-free brand, which will be highlighted in the new stores.
The refurbished stores will feature airy ceilings, natural lighting, and sustainable building policies - such as energy-conscious refrigeration, LED lighting, and use of recycled materials.
The company said that Aldi USA now serves more than 40 million customers each month, illustrating an almost 60% increase since 2013.
The broad remodelling plan is being completed in conjunction with a roll out of 650 new stores across the US. By the end of next year, the discounter expects to have 2,000 stores in the country, serving 45 million customers monthly.
Aldi recently announced that it will sink more than $3 billion into land, facilities, and equipment for the expansion.
Currently, the company operates 1,600 outlets in 35 states, more than two-thirds of the country.
“On behalf of the more than 24,000 ALDI employees across the country, we look forward to bringing the ALDI difference to new markets, but we’re just as excited to share a new store experience with our longtime ALDI customers,” said CEO Jason Hart.
© 2017 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Karen Henderson. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
