Aldi is to open 12 new stores across the UK before the end of the year as part of its expasion drive, opening one new site a week on average.

The discount grocer opened three stores in Slough, Torquay and Cannock last week and will be adding Taunton and Oldham to its list of store locations this month.

In November, Farnborough and West Bridgeford will also see new Aldi sites open, alongside Portsmouth, Stockton, Swansea, Staines-upon-Thames, Reading, Coventry, Chadderton and Cumbernauld by the end of December.

Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free

Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning

The openings form part of the supermarkets long-term target of having 1,500 stores in the UK, as it is set to invest £1.4bn on expanding over the next two years.

Each new store will create around 40 jobs on average, with store assistants receiving starting pay of £11.40 per hour and £12.85 per hour in London alongside paid breaks.

Aldi UK real estate director, George Brown, said: “We’re welcoming more and more customers through our doors each week, which is why we’re investing in new stores up and down the country to bring our great value groceries to even more people and meet the growing demand for Aldi.

“Shoppers know they’ll always get more for their money when they shop with us, and we’re confident Aldi’s success will continue to grow.”