ALDI to Open First California Stores

ALDI announced it will launch its first stores in Southern California in March 2016, expecting to open approximately 25 stores before July 2016. Additionally, by the end of 2016, ALDI will employ more than 1,100 people to work in its Southern California stores, as well as at the company's regional headquarters and warehouse in Moreno Valley, Calif. ALDI has a long track record of being an employer of choice, offering generous wages and benefits that are higher than the national average for the retail industry. In Southern California, ALDI will offer starting wages of $13 per hour for store associates, with an opportunity for long-standing associates to earn up to $21 per hour.  For Moreno Valley warehouse associates, ALDI will offer a starting wage of $19 per hour, with an opportunity for long-standing warehouse associates to earn up to $26 per hour. Store and warehouse employees will average 33-40 hours each week and will be eligible for full benefits, including health insurance, dental coverage and the opportunity to participate in the company's 401(k) program with matching contributions. Since opening its first store in 1976, ALDI has achieved measured, but steady, growth and today, ALDI operates nearly 1,400 stores across 32 states and employs more than 19,000 people. Coast-to-Coast Expansion The ALDI expansion to California is an integral part of a five-year strategic plan to open 650 new stores across the nation. By the end of 2018, ALDI expects to operate nearly 2,000 stores, enabling ALDI to offer its fresh, high quality groceries at everyday low prices to more than 45 million customers each month. To support its expansion plan, ALDI will invest more than $3 billion to pay for land, facilities and equipment. "At ALDI, we firmly believe that amazing quality can be affordable, and we are excited to bring our small-format, convenient grocery shopping experience to Southern California," said Jason Hart, CEO, ALDI. "We back up that belief by offering our shoppers great-tasting foods – from fresh produce, meats, dairy and breads to cereals, pastas and wines – at a significant savings compared to the national brands." To reach its aggressive expansion goals, ALDI will create more than 10,000 new jobs at its stores, warehouses and division offices from coast to coast. "We recognize and value the excellent customer experience that our employees at every level deliver each day, and we know that we would not be growing at this accelerated pace without them," said Hart. "Our approach to attracting and, equally as important, retaining the best employees is two-fold. First, we offer our associates generous compensation, including benefits, which is well above the industry standard. Second, we operate within a culture that is based on respect, honesty, responsibility and open communication. Together, this is an unbeatable combination."