Batavia, Ill. — German discount grocery store chain ALDI has plans to open more than 225 new store locations in 2025 as part of its 5-year national growth strategy. This is the most stores ALDI will open in 1 year in its nearly 50-year U.S. history. The new stores will comprise original ALDI supermarkets and the conversion of select Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores. Approximately 220 Southeastern Grocers locations will be converted to the ALDI format through 2027.
As part of the strategy, ALDI has closed a transaction to divest approximately 170 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores that are not part of the ALDI conversion plan to a consortium including C&S Wholesale Grocers and Southeastern Grocers.
“When we announced our acquisition of Southeastern Grocers, we shared that we intended for a meaningful number of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets to continue to operate, and we’re delivering on that promise while also supporting ALDI growth. Over the last year, we’ve seen firsthand how C&S Wholesale Grocers, Southeastern Grocers and their teams have continued to deliver great quality, service and value to their customers, and we are confident they will lead the company successfully into its next chapter,” says Jason Hart, CEO, ALDI.
Grand openings for the first converted Southeastern Grocers stores are underway, with roughly 100 converted locations re-opening as ALDI stores by the end of 2025. In addition to its Southeast expansion, ALDI will continue its growth into the Northeast, Midwest and Western regions. ALDI currently operates more than 2,400 grocery stores in the U.S.
“Converting the remaining locations to the ALDI format is critically important to our nationwide commitment to help shoppers fill their carts with quality groceries for less. As shoppers continue to feel sticker shock at the checkout, the value ALDI delivers can’t be beat,” added Hart.
In addition to its Southeast expansion, ALDI will add to its established footprint in the Northeast and Midwest regions, grow its presence in the West with more stores in Southern California and Arizona, and enter new communities, like Las Vegas.
Last year, ALDI opened nearly 120 stores, bringing its total store count to over 2,400 and solidifying its position as the third-largest grocery chain by store count in the U.S. More than 1-in-4 American households shop at ALDI for its affordable, quality groceries, which is double the amount from just 6 years ago.
“With our expansion across the country, ALDI is earning the trust of more shoppers in more communities than ever before, bringing us closer to becoming America’s first stop for groceries,” says Hart.
Deutsche Bank served as financial advisor to ALDI. New York-based law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, represented the in-house lawyers and transaction team for ALDI and Kayne Law Group served as co-real estate counsel to ALDI.
For more information, visit www.aldi.us.
SOURCE: ALDI