Aldi has drawn up a hitlist of towns and cities across the UK that it is targeting for potential sites as part of its ambitious store roll-out plan.
The discounter, which currently has 332 stores in the UK, has published a long list on its corporate website of more than 300 towns and cities where it wants to trade, ranging from Fort William in Scotland to Penzance in Cornwall. Aldi said the move was part of its effort to eventually increase its store portfolio to 1,500.
On its website, Aldi says that the sites should have a catchment population in excess of 100,000 and should ideally be situated on principal roads with main road frontage.
It adds that its preference is to purchase freehold greenfield or brownfield, town centre or edge-of-centre sites suitable for development. However, it is also interested in leasing new or existing space in retail parks and district centres.
A spokesman for Aldi said: "We are always on the lookout for potential or existing supermarket sites to purchase and redevelop as Aldi stores."
The discounter acquired 20 former Kwik Save stores from Somerfield earlier this year, five of which are in south Wales.
The spokesman said that Aldi already had 14 stores in Wales and would invest £24m in converting the five stores plus opening a further two new stores in Cardigan and Llandrindod Wells.
He said the retailer would be investing £4m at another former Kwik Save in Bedworth, Warwickshire, as part of a development that would include other retail outlets, car parking and apartments.
This week Aldi also purchased a site in Blackpool to build a new store.
Beth Brooks

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