Aldi is ramping up its UK expansion with plans to invest a record £900m next year, including opening more than 40 new supermarkets and expanding its distribution network.

It said the investment reflected its “increasing confidence” in its growth plans after annual sales rose five per cent to a record £19bn in the year to 31 December 2025.

Pre-tax profits, however, slipped by £2.6m to £433m as it continued to cut prices, despite inflationary pressure on costs.

Aldi currently operates 1,092 stores across the UK and Ireland and is aiming to grow its estate to 1,500 locations over the longer term.

It is set to open 42 stores this year, with 30 due to launch within the final 10 weeks of 2026, before opening a similar number in 2027.

Aldi UK and Ireland chief executive Giles Hurley said: “We could probably grow faster but we need to find the right sites in the right locations and have to go through a planning process which can, at times, be challenging.”

The £900m commitment marks a step up from the £370m Aldi is investing in new UK stores this year as it accelerates its push into areas where it believes shoppers remain underserved.

The company has been steadily adding to its estate throughout 2026, including opening a new store every week during September across locations such as Telford, Rayleigh and Hoxton.

Alongside its store expansion, Aldi has continued to invest heavily in price, having committed £340m to price cuts across more than 1,000 products so far this year.

Hurley said consumers were still “feeling the pinch” amid persistent inflation and claimed the retailer had attracted more than 425,000 additional customers.

Aldi is also stepping up its focus on domestic sourcing, having spent £14bn with British suppliers in 2025.

Around 80 per cent of its sales currently come from UK suppliers, while the retailer has pledged to source at least half of its products through long-term supplier agreements by next year.

It has also recently expanded its delivery offer through a landmark partnership with Deliveroo, to broaden customer access beyond its physical store network.

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