Aldi has announced plans to invest £370 million in 2026 as it accelerates its UK store expansion, with the discounter targeting the opening of 40 new locations across Britain.
The programme includes new stores in Southam, Warwickshire; Hastings, East Sussex; and Amersham, Buckinghamshire, as the retailer continues to build momentum towards its long-term ambition of operating 1,500 UK stores.
The latest investment forms part of Aldi’s wider £1.6 billion two-year expansion programme unveiled last year. It follows a busy 2025 for the supermarket, which saw new openings spanning Kirkintilloch in East Dunbartonshire to Eastbourne in East Sussex, alongside launches in urban and regional locations including Fulham Broadway in London and Deeside in Wales.
Giles Hurley, chief executive officer of Aldi UK and Ireland, said the expansion is aimed at closing remaining geographic gaps in Aldi’s estate while keeping affordability front and centre.
“Our unwavering commitment is to make high-quality, affordable groceries accessible to everybody,” he said. “But we recognise that there are still areas without an Aldi store, so our expansion plans for 2026 are designed to address some of these gaps as we work towards our long-term goal of 1,500 UK stores.”
The retailer recently revealed that families in more than 200 UK towns are paying up to £2,437 extra per year on grocery shopping due to a lack of access to an Aldi store.
Alongside its physical expansion, Aldi is also investing in its workforce. Earlier this month, the supermarket confirmed increases to its pay rates from 1 March 2026, with store assistant wages rising to £13.35 per hour nationally (up to £14.30 with service) and £14.71 within the M25 (up to £15.03 with service).