Aldi will invest more than £550m in expanding and further improving its store and distribution network during 2024.

This includes plans to open stores in new locations up and down the country, as well as upgrading its existing stores and distribution centres to support growth. New stores set to open in 2024 will create over 1,500 new jobs across the country, with further job opportunities in its current stores, Regional Distribution Centres and UK offices.

Aldi currently has more than 1,000 stores across the UK and is committed to continuing towards its long-term target of 1,500 locations to meet the demand for its unique high quality and affordable offering.

This announcement comes after Britain’s fourth largest supermarket recorded its strongest Christmas yet and invested more than ever before in the British suppliers and growers that provide around three quarters of all items sold.

Aldi works with around 5,000 suppliers across the UK and has been ranked as the best supermarket for conducting relationships fairly and in good faith for a record 10 years in the GSCOP annual survey.

Giles Hurley, CEO of Aldi UK and Ireland, said:

“We’re continuing to welcome more and more new customers through our doors – with people coming for our low prices but staying for our award-winning quality and British sourcing."

“However, there are still areas of the country that don’t have an Aldi, or that need more or larger stores to meet demand. That is what our 2024 expansion plans aim to address. We now have more than 1,000 stores across the UK but there are plenty more Aldi stores still to come, in 2024 and beyond.”

Aldi is on the lookout for freehold town-centre or edge-of-town sites that are around 1.5 acres and can accommodate a 20,000sq foot store with around 100 parking spaces. Ideally, each location will be near a main road with good visibility and access.

Aldi recently became the first supermarket to guarantee store and warehouse colleagues at least £12 an hour after confirming new rates of pay which take effect from 1 February 2024. The new minimum rate, makes Aldi the first supermarket to offer rates in line with the Real Living Wage that was set by the Living Wage Foundation in October last year.

Store Assistants’ pay will rise further to £12.95 nationally, and £13.85 within the M25, based on the length of service as part of Aldi’s £67m investment in colleague pay. Aldi also remains the only supermarket in the UK to offer paid breaks.