UK supermarket chain Aldi has formed a new national real estate team as it aims to deliver a target of 500 new stores across the country.
The centralised team will be headed by real estate managing director Jonathan Neale, while Colliers, led by its retail development and advisory head Greg Styles, will serve as the national advisors.
The announcement comes as the retailer plans to expand its network to 1,500 stores to meet growing demand.
In September 2023, Aldi opened its 1,000th UK store in Woking, Surrey.
The supermarket chain plans to open 200 new stores in London and the southeast region, and is looking for more sites in Glasgow and Worthing.
Aldi is seeking freehold locations of 1.5 acres in town centre or edge-of-town sites, which can accommodate a 20,000ft² store with approximately 100 parking spaces.
Jonathan Neale stated: “This year we opened our landmark 1,000th store and we have the most ambitious expansion plans of any major supermarket. Centralising our real estate Team and making it easier for the real estate sector to deal with Aldi is the first step in accelerating progress towards our goal of opening a further 500 new stores. We have clear, consistent requirements and want to partner with landowners, landlords and developers.
“Listening to the sector, we know that our new national team will make it easier for people to work with us. We are now set up to have the kind of agility needed to find and deliver the sites and schemes that will help us to bring our amazing quality and unbeatable value to every town and community in the country.”
In October 2023, the retailer revealed plans to open 12 new stores across the UK before the end of the year.
