Discount store giant ignores region NQ not on ALDI radar

TOWNSVILLE Enterprise say they are open to discussing the city’s potential to be home to an ALDI supermarket.

Director of Tourism and Events Bridget Woods said the region was capable of supporting the popular German store.

“We strongly encourage brands and international chains like ALDI to consider Townsville,” she said.

“We have the largest community in Northern Australia and the population base here would support a brand name like ALDI.”

Ms Woods said Townsville Enterprise was open to discussing the city’s potential with ALDI.

“The Townsville community would definitely embrace the ALDI chain and we would welcome the opportunity to work with ALDI to help them understand the demographics and the community here.

But a spokesman for the discount supermarket chain says ALDI has no current plans to bring the discount supermarket to Townsville and North Queensland.

It comes as the global store begins a tender process for one of two proposed sites in Rockhampton.

Townsville Chamber of Commerce president Debbie Rains believes there is growing demand from consumers for ALDI to push into the Northern Australia market.

“There’s supposedly a second store planned for Rockhampton and we don’t have an ALDI here,” Mrs Rains said.

In October, Swedish fashion giant H& M opened its doors to North Queenslanders at Stockland Townsville.

“Townsville is no longer just a country town,” she said.

“We have so many people transfer into Townsville, they move to Townsville from the south where they have been exposed to those buying opportunities.”

Mrs Rains questioned why ALDI would not consider North Queensland.

“We’ve got the port here in Townsville which has won best port in Australia two years running,” she said.

“They are growing and open to opportunities and are looking for opportunities for distribution. The quickest and most efficient route to China from Australia is from Townsville.”