Aldi has announced it will open 100 new stores across the UK over the next few years.
The German discount retailer, which operates over 920 stores across the UK, revealed it is searching for freehold town-centre or edge-of-centre sites suitable for property development.
Aldi revealed it is on the lookout for sites that are big enough to accommodate a 20,000 sq ft store and around 100 dedicated parking spaces, preferably on a prominent main road and with good visibility and access.
The move comes as Aldi pledged to invest £1.3 billion by 2023 in a bid to further grow its retail estate, as it aims to open an average of one new store a week.
It has now released an updated list of some of the locations where it is currently looking for new sites, including cities like York and Coventry, as well as smaller towns such as Bicester and Hitchin.
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Some areas Aldi is targeting include Guildford, Milton Keynes, Cheltenham, Penzance, Plymouth, Birmingham, Black Country, Coventry, Alvaston, Northampton, Wellingborough and Basildon.
Brentwood, Hitchin, Runcorn, Stockport, Macclesfield, Stockton, South Shields, Malton, South Bradford, Meadowhall and York are also on the list.
The discount retailer also aims to open new stores in Scotland and Wales, in locations such as Cathcart, Dumbarton, Peebles, Aberdare, Barry and Lampeter.
Additionally, Aldi will also be investing in the development of new and expanded distribution centres.
“We’re continuing to gain even more customers – with over 60 per cent of UK households shopping with Aldi in the last year,” Aldi UK communications director Richard Thornton said.
“Our focus is on expanding our store estate, making sure Aldi is accessible to as many of these new shoppers across the country as possible.
“Looking ahead, we are excited to provide millions of new customers with access to Aldi’s award-winning quality and unbeatable value as we create even more places and more ways to shop with us.”
The news comes as Aldi was the nation’s favourite supermarket, according to new research by YouGov, ranking ahead of M&S, Tesco and Sainsbury’s in the study.
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