Aldi will open 16 new stores across the UK over the coming months as part of a £370 million investment programme in 2026, extending the discount retailer’s reach as it works towards its target of operating 1,500 stores nationwide.

The expansion, announced on 16 June, will add locations in areas including Watford, Hoxton and Marble Arch in London, Hattersley and Wigan in Greater Manchester, and Balsall Common in the West Midlands. Aldi currently operates more than 1,080 stores across the UK.

According to Aldi, the new openings form part of a wider strategy to increase its national footprint and improve access to lower-cost groceries in more communities. The announcement follows the opening of a new Aldi store in Salford Quays last month.

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.”

The retailer said the £370 million earmarked for new stores this year would support its long-term growth plans and create opportunities for local employment. Neale said: “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.”

According to Aldi, the expansion programme comes after a £42 million investment in employee pay earlier this year. Store assistant pay now starts at £13.50 per hour nationally and rises to £14.47 based on length of service, while employees within the M25 receive £14.88 per hour, increasing to £15.20 with service.

The 16 locations due to open in the coming months are Hattersley, Newport on the Isle of Wight, Bishops Cleeve near Cheltenham, Newport in South Wales, Orpington, Hoxton, Ashford, Watford, Rayleigh, Balsall Common, Marble Arch, Malton, Port Talbot, Sutton Coldfield, Wigan and Sudbury.

The investment reflects Aldi’s continued focus on physical store expansion at a time when competition among Britain’s major grocery retailers remains intense. The company has consistently added new sites in recent years as it seeks to increase market share and move closer to its long-term national store target.

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