Aldi Rolling Out Larger Units

JON SPRINGER

BATAVIA, Ill. — Aldi has begun rolling out new stores that are slightly larger than previous incarnations — and could allow for further expansion in some locations, a real estate director with the retailer here told SN Tuesday.

Aldi’s newest concept store, which also features a few tweaks in its interior layout, was tested over the last year and is now approved for expansion throughout the chain, said Chris Stair, a real estate director with Aldi in Batavia, where Aldi is expected to open a store with the new larger design next week.

Stair said the new store is close to 18,000 square feet, as opposed to previous prototypes of about 16,500 square feet. The larger store provides more selling floor square footage, he said, “but this kind of design in a freestanding store also gives us the flexibility to expand the store in the future.”

Inside the store, changes include putting cooler and freezer departments closer together, and moving the bakery/bread section to a new location in the back of the store, Stair said.

Aldi operates about 1,100 U.S. stores.