Aldi to open 16 new UK stores with £370 million investment

The German discount supermarket chain Aldi has announced plans to open 16 new stores across the United Kingdom in the coming months, backed by a £370 million investment for 2026. The expansion is part of the retailer's long-term ambition to grow its UK footprint to 1,500 stores.

Confirmed new locations include Rayleigh in Essex, Watford and Hoxton in London, Hattersley in Greater Manchester, Balsall Common in the West Midlands, and Sudbury on the Essex-Suffolk border. Other stores are planned for Manchester, Suffolk, and the Isle of Wight. The Rayleigh store, which will occupy former Carpetright and Argos units at the Weir Retail Park, is anticipated to open as early as September.

Jonathan Neale, Aldi UK's managing director of national real estate, stated the company is committed to making affordable, high-quality food accessible to everyone. He said the investment will help bring Aldi's value to more communities while supporting local economies through what the company describes as industry-leading pay for its colleagues.

This expansion continues a period of rapid growth for the discounter, which currently operates more than 1,080 UK stores and recently opened a new outlet in...