Grocer rejects move to Tassie
... despite filming its Xmas ad in NW
A GERMAN supermarket giant has chosen Tasmania as the backdrop for its latest Christmas television commercial but Aldi says it still has no plans to open a store here.
A Facebook page called Bring Aldi to Tasmania has been established by Tasmanians who want Aldi to provide competition to the two big supermarkets.
“Come on Aldi! Don’t just film here, give us a chance to shop at Aldi! Shake up the big two,” one local poster told the supermarket this week after it was revealed Tasmania was featured in its latest campaign.
But when asked whether it had plans to open an Aldi here after filming its 2019 Christmas campaign in Smithton and Stanley, Aldi gave a firm no.
“While we are always looking to bring the Aldi difference to more communities, we have no plans to open stores in Tasmania,” a spokesman said.
Last year Aldi opened 32 new stores in Australia to boost its total to 500 stores.
Aldi said it filmed its Christmas campaign in the NorthWest because of the landscape.
“We chose these locations due to the beautiful scenery and the welcoming community, which allowed us to bring to life a vibrant and creative campaign. There were 120 locals who featured in the commercial.”
Tasmanian company Hype TV provided location management services for the shooting.
Co-owner Dave Flower said the 60-plus crew spent a lot of money in Circular Head while on site for seven days.
“It would have been a huge spend with every available bed taken up and meals eaten at the local pub,” he said.
“Stanley certainly turned on the weather over the five full days of filming. We location-scouted for a couple of weeks before filming started and the residents were so welcoming. As a location manager, I need to get access to working properties like Highfield House and the people of Stanley and Smithton could not have been more helpful.”
Former prime minister Joseph Lyons’s cottage features in the commercial, which focuses on a magical Christmas ham that feeds the whole community and brings it together.
Tasmanians have been asking online why the supermarket filmed a commercial here when it had no plans to enter the local grocery market.
“Did anyone see an Aldi store in this ad. No. Filmed Stanley Tasmania. No Aldi in Tasmania. Good to attract tourists but won’t they be expecting to be able to shop at Aldi?” a comment on Facebook said.