What are the Aldi ‘secret’ shops? 11 stores to open across the country
Aldi has opened a number of exclusive food stores where products can be purchased at extremely low prices, but there is a problem.
The grocery retailer is opening a series of 11 staff-only stores at distribution centers across the country that will sell items that cannot be sold in stores but are still safe to eat. It’s the latest in the supermarket’s plans to reduce food waste.
Warehouse Operations and Office workers will have the opportunity to purchase products that are not suitable for sale in stores but are still perfectly good to consume. Approximately 240 tons of food waste is expected to be prevented every year.
The retailer’s latest announcement follows a successful trial at its Darlington Regional Distribution Centre.
Luke Emery, Aldi UK National Sustainability Director, said: “Colleague Shop is another example of how we are working to reduce food waste across our operations.
“This is a practical initiative that benefits both our colleagues and the environment, and after a successful pilot we are delighted to be rolling it out across the country.”
These ‘colleague stores’ will now be spread across all 11 of Aldi’s Regional Distribution Centers across the country, from Bathgate in Scotland to Sheppey in Kent.
There will be stores in Bolton, Goldthorpe and Sawley, as well as Cardiff, Atherstone and Neston. Southern workers will be able to visit stores in Chelmsford and Swindon. additionally.
Aldi has successfully met its 2030 target eight years ahead of schedule, reducing food waste in its operations by 57 per cent in 2022 compared to 2017. Following this success, the company revised its target and aims to reduce food waste by 90 percent by 2030, compared to a 2017 baseline.
Aldi lost its title as the cheapest supermarket in the UK in the summer for the first time in nearly two years, being replaced by rival Lidl.
Price analysis by consumer group Which? During July, we looked at an average basket of 76 grocery items, including both popular brands and own brands; Lidl beat its discount rival by less than £1 overall (or slightly more when using loyalty cards).
Lidl’s total price was £128 with a loyalty card and £128.40 without, while Aldi was £129.25.
