Aldi expands store footprint with 2 openings in Florida and Pennsylvania

Aldi’s rapid pace for new store openings continued Thursday as the discount grocer added new locations in Philadelphia and Lakeland, Florida.

The German-owned discounter, with U.S. headquarters in Batavia, Illinois, opened its newest store in Philadelphia at 2830A S. 20th Street.

“We have served this community for more than 30 years and are excited to continue to offer Philadelphia residents an affordable way of shopping,” said Bob Grammer, Center Valley regional VP for Aldi. There are now 12 Aldi locations in Philadelphia, according to the grocer’s website.

Aldi’s second Lakeland location is at 4532 S. Florida Avenue. “We have served this community for 15 years and are excited to continue to offer Lakeland residents an affordable way of shopping,” said Matt Thon, Haines City regional VP for Aldi, in a statement.

Aldi, which opened seven new stores in seven different states last Thursday, took the top spot for most grand openings of grocery stores tracked by WGB in February.

Later this month, fans of the discount grocer will be able to flaunt their Aldi love with a new, limited-edition merchandise collection of bags, bucket hats, track suits and more that drops March 22.

This year’s gear collection items range in price from $1.49 to $9.99 and Kate Kirkpatrick, director of communications at Aldi USA, told WGB that “once you shop at Aldi, it’s hard not to become a fan. We do things intentionally different to offer customers a quicker, easier shopping experience with the best products at the lowest prices every day.”

Shoppers can browse the Aldi Gear Collection in store or online to order via Instacart beginning March 22 while supplies last.

In January, Aldi was named the country's most-trusted discount and small-format grocer, according to a study conducted by research firm BrandSpark in collaboration with WGB.  Aldi operates more than 2,200 stores across 38 states.