Aldi has announced plans to open 40 new stores across the UK in 2026, part of a £370 million investment programme aimed at expanding access to low-cost groceries. The German-owned supermarket said the new locations will include Southam in Warwickshire, Hastings in East Sussex, and Amersham in Buckinghamshire, targeting communities where it currently has no presence.
Giles Hurley, chief executive of Aldi UK and Ireland, said the company had identified clear gaps in its store network. “We recognise there are still areas across the UK without an Aldi store,” Hurley said. “Our expansion plans are designed to address these gaps and bring Aldi’s high-quality, affordable food to more customers.”
Aldi currently operates around 1,060 stores in the UK and aims to increase that number to 1,500 in the long term. Hurley emphasised that the expansion reflects the company’s belief that affordable food should be widely accessible. “We’ve always believed that access to high-quality affordable food is a right, not a privilege, and that’s why it’s our mission to make this a reality for customers up and down the UK,” he added.
The announcement follows a busy year for Aldi, with new stores opened in Eastbourne, East Sussex; Fulham Broadway, London; and Deeside, Wales. The £370 million planned for 2026 forms part of Aldi’s wider £1.6 billion two-year expansion programme unveiled last September. The plan includes opening a total of 80 new UK stores over the two-year period.
Industry analysts said the continued rollout underscores Aldi’s confidence in the UK grocery market, where value-focused retailers are benefiting from sustained pressure on household budgets and changes in consumer spending patterns. The company has consistently outperformed rivals in the discount segment, capitalising on the growing demand for affordable, high-quality food.
The expansion programme is also expected to create hundreds of new jobs, both in store operations and at the company’s logistics and support centres. Aldi said its growth strategy is designed to strengthen its presence in under-served communities, while also enhancing convenience for existing customers.
Hurley noted that Aldi’s investment in the UK reflects long-term confidence in the market despite economic uncertainty. “We are committed to continuing to provide value and choice for our customers. These new stores are part of our ongoing effort to reach more communities and make high-quality food affordable for everyone,” he said.
With 40 new stores set to open next year, Aldi’s UK footprint is expected to expand significantly, reinforcing its position as one of the country’s leading discount supermarket chains and highlighting the growing influence of value-oriented grocery retail amid rising living costs.
