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Aldi to move into Chelsea and Kensington

BUDGET supermarket Aldi is looking to build 100 new stores in well-heeled areas of London, such as Chelsea, Kensington and Notting Hill.

Britain’s fourth largest supermarket is investing £500million to increase its presence within the M25 region, which will see it open stores in two of the capital’s wealthiest boroughs, Kensington and Chelsea and Islington.

Aldi also wants to open stores in Hackney, Hounslow, Redbridge, Enfield, Bromley and Waltham

Forest, in an expansion that will create 3,500 new jobs

Jonathan Neale, Aldi’s managing director of national real estate, said the discounter has targeted those areas due to the demand for its stores and lower food prices.

“We want to make high-quality, affordable food accessible to all, but there are still many areas in the capital that don’t have access to an Aldi. As a result, too many people have to make do with big prices at the traditional supermarkets,” he said. “The locations we’ve identified are places where there is demand for our stores and we are committed to continue investing until we can bring our quality products and unbeatable prices to as many people as possible.”

To help identify sites,Aldi is offering finder’s fees to property agents worth either 1.5% of the freehold price or 10% of the first year’s rent.

Aldi currently has more than 1,000 stores, 11 regional distribution centres and 45,000 employees across the country.

Its planned expansion in the M25 region is part of a previously announced initiative to open 500 new stores and create 5,500 roles nationally this year.

Earlier this month, Aldi gave its staff a second pay rise this year.

Hourly rates for store assistants and deputy store managers will rise from £12.00 to £12.40 outside the M25 and from £13.55 to £13.65 within it, from June 1, 2024.

The discounter became the first supermarket to pay all shop and warehouse colleagues at least £12 an hour nationally in February. In total, Aldi has invested £79million in staff pay this year.

Chief executive Giles Hurley said the store was committed to paying the best rates in the sector.