Discount retailer Aldi announced that it plans to open 80 new stores in the UK this year and create 5,000 new jobs.
The aggressive expansion by the German-owned company will bump the total number of UK supermarkets to 700 and its workforce will increase to around 32,000. Aldi said that it is looking for store staff, stock assistants, and managers.
In the 12 months to January 31, Aldi enjoyed 5.6% market share in the UK, according to Kantar Worldpanel. Its market share has doubled over the past three years, increasing pressure on the UK’s “big four” chains to cut prices. In the three months to Jan 31, sales at Aldi increased by 13.7 percent.
Ruth Doyle, Aldi’s regional managing director, said: ‘To support our continued expansion and the ongoing performance of our existing stores, it’s important that we attract the right candidates across all of our roles.
‘We’re looking for individuals with a real passion for retail who are seeking a long-term career with a growing and ambitious business.
‘Aldi provides all staff with extensive training and development opportunities to ensure they have the necessary skills to make a real success of their career.’
According to This is Money, Aldi does not plan on releasing a list of all the new stores which it will open this year.
However, the retailer disclosed that it will open a new store in Eastbourne and one in Chipping Norton. Other than those two stores the company only said it will open new stores ‘throughout the UK’.
This is Money asked Aldi how many of the new jobs will be full-time. A spokesman for Aldi responded: ‘Aldi’s Store Manager and Assistant Store Manager positions are full time roles, whilst Deputy Store Manager roles are from 20 hours per week and Store & Stock Assistant roles are usually around 25 hours per week, but can vary between 15 and 25 hours a week.’
Grocery market share in the UK: