Aldi has announced 16 new store openings across the UK, including two in Wales, as the supermarket chain ploughs ahead with a £370m investment programme this year. The latest locations – spanning Watford and Hoxton in London, Hattersley in Greater Manchester, Balsall Common and Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, as well as sites in Kent, Essex and North Yorkshire – come just a month after the launch of its Salford Quays store.
The expansion is part of Aldi’s long‑term ambition to run 1,500 shops nationwide, up from its current tally of more than 1,080. Jonathan Neale, Managing Director of National Real Estate at Aldi UK, said: “At Aldi, we’re committed to making high‑quality, affordable food accessible to everyone, which is why we continue to invest in expanding our store network across the UK. Our £370 million investment in new stores this year will help us bring Aldi’s unbeatable value to even more communities, supporting local economies through our industry‑leading pay for colleagues.”
“Aldi confirms 16 new UK stores including two in Wales as part of £370m investment this year.”
Earlier this year, Aldi raised wages for shop‑floor staff after a £42m investment in remuneration during 2026. Store assistant pay now starts at £13.50 an hour nationally, rising to £14.47 with length of service, while staff inside the M25 earn from £14.88 an hour, increasing to £15.20. The pay boost underscores Aldi’s push to attract and retain workers as it races to open dozens of new supermarkets a year. With 16 more sites now confirmed and a record capital outlay, the question is whether the discounter can sustain its blistering pace without compromising the low prices that have made it a household name.