Aldi to Accelerate Store Growth

BATAVIA, Ill. — Aldi on Friday said it would step up its pace of new store development in the U.S., with a goal of 650 new stores in the next five years.

Plans call for the discounter to open approximately 130 new stores per year, representing an increase of 62.5% from its 80-store pace of recent years and an overall store count growth of 50% by 2018. The growth plan includes the establishment of a Southern California warehouse and headquarters to be located in Moreno Valley, Calif. Aldi had confirmed earlier this year that the company would seek to expand in California.

Read more: Aldi Seeks Southern Calif. DC

Aldi currently operates 1,300 stores located from the East Coast to Kansas.

"We're ramping up our expansion plans to meet growing demand for Aldi from customers across the country," Jason Hart, president of Aldi, said in a statement. "Recently, we successfully entered new markets such as Houston, and expanded our presence in competitive markets like South Florida and New York City. At Aldi, we believe that great quality can be affordable, and we are eager to bring the Aldi difference to new markets like Southern California.”

Aldi also on Friday said its stores would soon launch a natural and organic private brand to be known as SimplyNature.

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