SUPERMARKET Aldi will reach its 100-store milestone in Scotland next year, with the opening of four more shops. It has also confirmed plans to launch its click and collect service in Scotland for the first time. Aldi also plans to create a further 600 jobs including 150 roles in its new stores.
The supermarket is set to invest £20 million in new stores over the next 12 months. They will be at Hermiston Gait in Edinburgh, Thornybank Industrial Estate in Dalkeith, Portlethen Retail Park in Aberdeen and the J24 Retail Park in Govan. The existing store in Gateside Commerce Park, Haddington, will also be replaced.
A further seven stores will also be refurbished as part of the Project Fresh programme, creating more in-store space for fresh, chilled and food-to-go ranges as well as simpler layouts, improved fixtures and brighter aisles, a further four extensions to existing stores will also be completed.
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The supermarket has also announced that after a successful trial in England, the first Aldi click and collect service will launch in Scotland in 2021. This will be in addition to its Deliveroo partnership, which offers its on-demand delivery of Aldi products and is available at eight stores across Scotland.
Aldi says it continues to lead the way on championing quality Scottish produce with 25% of its range now locally sourced in Scotland. It claims it is widely recognised as the biggest supporter of local suppliers, and has already put plans in place to expand its Scottish range further, announcing a new target to hit 500 locally sourced product lines in the next two years.
In 2021 customers can look forward to seeing a new range of Scottish Specialbuys from eight Scottish suppliers as the winners of the Aldi’s Next Top Product competition, which ran for the third time in 2020, take to the shelves.
Richard Holloway, regional managing director for Scotland said: “During an unprecedented year, our Aldi colleagues and thousands of suppliers rose to the challenge of feeding the nation with tremendous skill and courage.
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“As we look forward to 2021, our commitment to investment and expansion in Scotland continues, and we are excited be to opening a further four Aldi stores next year, and of course reaching our significant 100th store milestone.
“While our focus very much remains in bricks and mortar shopping, the launch of our click and collect service in Scotland is perhaps one of our most significant initiatives yet, bringing our full range of groceries online for the first time.
“Our success has been driven by the customers who put their trust in Aldi every time they shop with us. This is what enables us to keep investing in Scotland –in our products, our prices, our people and in the communities we serve. We are excited through our continued store expansion to be able to serve even more customers, offering them quality Scottish produce at exceptional prices.”
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