Discount Retail Chain Aldi International Buying Asia , the discount supermarket’s Hong Kong-based hub for sourcing Asian products and global ocean freight logistics, has adopted the One Network Intelligent Control Tower on the solution provider’s Digital Supply Chain Network. The technology will help Aldi centralize global shipping volume, increase cost transparency and improve its control over the movement of goods throughout the supply chain, as well as develop a strategic ocean freight procurement strategy. The retailer chose the Intelligent Control Tower for its range of functionalities, combined planning and execution architecture and embedded AI assistant. The solution supports Aldi’s integration of its global network of logistics partners and suppliers around a single data model at the core of One’s “network of networks,” enabling real-time collaboration across trading partners, workflows and applications. In the U.S., Aldi has been on an aggressive growth path, both via acquisitions and store openings : in May 2023 the retailer revealed plans to open 120 stores this past year. “Aldi is a leading global business, and rare in combining great products at the lowest possible prices,” said Greg Brady, Executive Chairman and Founder of One Network Enterprises in a statement. “Collaboration through enhanced visibility and execution is how organizations like Aldi will increase competitiveness, particularly during challenging times.” Read more: Aldi Deploys Supply Chain Solution to Centralize and Manage Global Shipping and Logistics - Retail TouchPoints #smartdiscount #china #aldi #usa #scm #onenetwork #logistics #drc #discount #retail #consulting #discountretail #discountretailconsulting #retailconsulting #ai #google

Discount model "NB", supported by Freshippo, owned by Alibaba, opens franchise model (after the Pickup format franchising) with the following key parameters: 700 square meters in size Wide range of products, including frozen fast food, beverages and snacks, fruits and vegetables, seafood, and cooked food and bakery Freshippo  will open 800 to 1,000 stores in the 19 cities where O2O format has already entered within 3 years Average daily sales of more than 400 Hema NB pickup stores in Shanghai reached 8,000 yuan, with the highest daily sales reaching 26,000 yuan.  More than 60% of NB pickup store franchises have achieved profitability Now for a mere 60,000 RMB (8,263.44 USD) budget, you can become a proud shop proprietor for Freshippo, also called Hema. The catch is, though, it’s not a supermarket. The franchising is for the smaller pickup shops. On 17 June, it was reported that Hema NB (Neighborhood Business) app from Freshippo had launched a page for franchising, but only for smaller pickup shops. Hema NB is Freshippo’s “hard” discount community supermarket brand that focuses on direct price reduction and Freshippo’s own brand products which are nearing their expiry date. It recently opened its 110th discount store in Chongming, Shanghai on 15 June. Freshippo is pursuing a strategy of “1+N”, meaning for each Hema NB outlet, there will be several pickup shops in the surrounding area, where local residents can place orders online and collect them at the smaller shops the next day. Prospective franchisees can choose to start a pickup shop from scratch or build a corner for Hema NB in their existing shops. They also offer group options for those without enough funds or time and just looking for a part-time job. The required 60,000 RMB budget threshold includes 30,000 RMB (4,131.66 USD) for deposit, 10,000 RMB (1,377.22 USD) to use Freshippo’s online platform and roughly 10,000 RMB for fit, finish and equipment for the store. Freshippo will in turn provide assistance in location selection, recruitment, training and support on management and IT. Freshippo’s plans is to open 800 to 1,000 stores in the 19 cities that already have a Freshippo presence or Hema NB shops in the next 2 to 3 years. In 10 years, Freshippo will aim for 10,000 stores in China. Recently, Freshippo welcomed a new CEO and switched further to a discount strategy . With its own brand starting to see overseas exposure with Chinese supermarkets in the US, Freshippo’s next steps are definitely worth watching. Read more: Did Freshippo just open the door to franchising? ( daoinsights.com ) #smartdiscount #china #nb #freshippo #alibaba #expansion #franchise #growth #development #drc #discount #retail #consulting #discountretail #discountretailconsulting #retailconsulting #google

Discount Retail Dollar stores continued to open rapidly across the U.S. in the second half of August 2024, with Dollar General and Dollar Tree opening more than 100 locations combined.  CVS reported the largest number of store closings at 19. The pharmacy chain opened four locations during the period. Dollar General opened 62 stores and closed eight, mainly throughout the Midwest, South, Southwest, and Northeast, and Dollar Tree’s 44 new stores were primarily located in California. All but one of Dollar Tree’s five store closures were in the Northeast.  Meanwhile, Food Lion closed nine locations across the Southern states of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.  Aldi continued with its steady stream of store openings with six locations, tying BJ’s six store openings for the month.  Read more: CVS shutters 19 stores, while dollar stores surge across the U.S. ( supermarketnews.com ) #smartdiscount #usa #dollarstore #dollargeneral #dollartree #aldi #growth #expansion #cvs #stores #drc #discount #retail #consulting #discountretail #discountretailconsulting #retailconsulting #google

Discount Retail Chain Şok Marketler continued its steady growth in the first 9 months of the year and reached a turnover of 142.7 billion TL with more than 48,000 employees and nearly 11,000 stores in 81 provinces of Turkey. Şok Marketler announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2024 to the Public Disclosure Platform (KAP). Şok Marketler's turnover was TL 142.7 billion in the first 9 months of the year. Şok Marketler opened more than 200 new stores during this period. The company, which increased its employment to over 48,000 in the first three quarters of the year, continues to contribute to the country's employment and economy by maintaining its steady growth. Significant support for women's entrepreneurship with "I Am Also in Shock" Şok Marketler continues to bring the products of women's cooperatives from different regions of Turkey, especially the earthquake zone, to its customers in its stores with the "I Am Also in Shock" project. Within the scope of the project, more than 100 thousand products have been purchased from various women's cooperatives in Hatay, Adana and Ankara. The project, in which an economic value of more than 10 million TL was created, also made a significant contribution to the increase in women's employment in cooperatives. Representatives of UN Women visited Şok Marketler in October to observe the results of the "I Am in Shock" Project on site. During the visit, UN Women representatives expressed their gratitude for the successful results and social impact of the project. "We will continue to contribute to the economy with our investments and steady growth" Evaluating the financial results of the first 9 months, Şok Marketler CEO Uğur Demirel emphasized that they continue to grow with new investments with the following words: "We support our customers with our affordable price model every day in basic products. We continue to create new employment and contribute to the economy by growing with our new store openings and our e-commerce application Cepte Şok investments. As a company that stands out especially with its high women's employment, we are proud to support women to take more part in production by increasing their economic power with our 'I Am Also in Shock' project. With our determination to contribute to employment, we will continue our growth by continuing our investments in the last quarter of 2024." Read more: (+9) Şok Marketler istikrarlı büyümesine devam ediyor #smartdiscount #sok #turkey #results #sales #ebit #growth #expansion #marketdevelopment #drc #discount #retail #consulting #discountretail #discountretailconsulting #retailconsulting #google

Discount Retail Chain Lidl USA plans to launch a marketing campaign aimed at boosting the chain’s name recognition with shoppers on this side of the Atlantic. Lidl will relaunch its brand in the United States in a bid by the German discount grocery chain to improve its name recognition after years of struggling to build momentum on this side of the Atlantic, according to a top executive of the company’s U.S. division. The marketing campaign, which carries the tagline “The Super-est Market,” represents the largest investment the grocer has made in building its brand in the U.S. since it arrived in this country, Lidl US Chief Customer Officer Frank Kerr said Tuesday during a panel session at Groceryshop. The campaign will kick off on Oct. 16, Kerr said after the session. “The customer experience and the customer journey is not just how they engage with you with their phone in their hand or when their feet are in your store. It’s also how your brand makes them feel and what reminds them of your brand, and that’s what we’ve really tried to try to get at,” Kerr said. “We want to be more of an emotional, connected brand.” Kerr said the rebranding effort reflects research the company conducted that showed that only 58% of people in the parts of the U.S. where it operates “knew we were a grocery store.” To counter that, the company engaged a creative agency to devise a campaign that would position Lidl as a supermarket chain and also “leverage our superpowers as a brand,” he said. Lidl opened its first store in the U.S. in 2017 and currently operates around 170 stores in nine East Coast states and Washington, D.C. The company, which operates grocery stores in more than 30 countries, announced plans to open several new stores during the past few weeks, including locations in the New York City and Washington, D.C. , areas, but its growth trajectory in the U.S. remains well behind other grocers, including its German archrival, Aldi .  In an illustration of the urgency Lidl has assigned to the U.S. rebranding effort, Kerr said the company squeezed “probably two years worth of work” into six months. Kerr indicated that Lidl is hoping it will be able to convince grocery shoppers to become passionate about its brand so they will help propel it, adding that its research shows that most people view grocery shopping as an errand. “Customers will complain or they may leave you. Fans will not. Fans will stay loyal, and fans will stick with your brand, and fans are excited to tell others about the discovery of your brand,” he said. Part of Lidl’s effort to better connect with shoppers in the U.S. will center on consistently using specific colors, drawn from its corporate colors of red, yellow and blue, across all marketing channels to represent essential elements of its brand, according to Kerr. For example, Lidl wil use red whenever it wants to telegraph a discounted price or aggressive deal, he said. Lidl has also focused heavily on retooling its assortment and rethinking how it makes decisions about the products it carries as it changes course in the U.S. Kerr noted that the company has recently made adjustments to about 40% of its everyday SKUs through changes like switching to a new supplier, replacing the packaging “or just a complete flip of the direction of that category,” he said, describing the revamp as “a massive undertaking” for Lidl US. Lidl carries about 4,000 SKUs on its shelves year-round, he said. In May, Lidl announced plans to overhaul its meat and poultry selections ahead of July Fourth. Kerr noted that Lidl’s business model is built around leveraging its stable of private labels and selected national brands to drive sales volume, which made finding the right mix of products a top priority for him and his team. “It was really critical for us to get back to the core of who we are, and that is we are a business that operates on throughput and the value of fast nickels, and our assortment did not reflect that,” Kerr said. Kerr added that the company used to make choices about items it sells without fully taking data about its customers into account because various teams operated independently of each other, but has made adjustments to remedy the issue since the beginning of 2024. “These decisions were made previously very much in a silo,” Kerr said, adding that “there was a big gap in connecting the insights of our customers and helping our merchants make key strategical decisions into category growth. So, ultimately, that was one of the first orders of business that we had.” Read more: Lidl to relaunch its brand in the US | Grocery Dive #smartdiscount #lidl #rebranding #efforts #marketing #promotion #image #usa #drc #discount #retail #consulting #discountretail #discountretailconsulting #retailconsulting #google

Discount Retail Chain Lidl UK has bounced back to profit this year, swinging from a £76m loss to a £43.6m pre-tax profit, as it gained more shoppers than any other supermarket. Momentum has been mounting for the supermarket which has left rival Aldi in its wake over the past year. Earlier this month, Lidl was named the fastest-growing supermarket with a bricks-and-mortar presence for the 15th period in a row, according to Kantar. But with competition fierce in the sector, can the discounter continue this good run? The secrets to Lidl’s recent success Retail consultant Matthew Nobbs, who spent 22 years in leadership roles at Lidl, says the some of the grocer’s recent successes comes from the fact it has “spent a lot of time becoming more efficient in the last 12 months”. “It has been getting its operating model right, getting availability right, and it’s paid dividends. Now not only has it gained new customers, but it’s opening stores again, albeit through a different model of sale and leaseback, which is new for Lidl,” he explains. This is an about-turn for Lidl, which just last February revealed it was scaling back its store opening programme from 50 new stores during the year to just 25 to focus investment into expanding its warehouse capacity. However, earlier this month it unveiled plans to push ahead with its national expansion as it exchanged on a £70m sale and leaseback deal for 12 new stores and will open an additional 10 new stores before Christmas. At the time, Lidl GB chief development officer Richard Taylor said the deal is “just the latest example of how we’re continuing to expand our footprint across the country, ensuring that even more households can benefit from a Lidl store nearby”. For Lidl chief executive Ryan McDonnell, food itself is at the heart of the discounter’s success as he praised the range,  quality and value of its offer. He says: “We’ve come a long way since we opened our first stores here 30 years ago, from stocking jars of frankfurters to now having over two thirds of our products sourced from British suppliers.” However, McDonnel adds that it has “stayed true to our customer promise of offering the best value on the market. In doing so, we have become trusted by households across the country to be their one-stop shop, while always supporting British food production”. According to Kantar data, for the 12 weeks to 3 November,  Lidl secured 326,000 additional shoppers to its stores, which is more than any other supermarket, and saw over 35 million more shopping trips made over the year. McDonnell adds: “Now, 60% of households are choosing to shop at Lidl, and they’re coming back more frequently, which is a fantastic sign of increasing loyalty. “We have great momentum and, although our ambitions have no ceiling, we won’t rest on our laurels. We’ve been laying the foundations for further growth whilst creating an even better store experience for shoppers.” Can this momentum continue? Nobbs believes that Lidl can absolutely continue continue this good run, citing its operational prowess and “relentless ambition for growth” in its existing estate, and new store programme as some of the reasons behind this. He believes the growth of the discounters is far from over and points out that value chains hold a 33% share of the market in Germany, which he says shows  there is “huge opportunity” for the likes of Lidl and Aldi in the UK. Looking ahead, Shore Capital retail analysts Clive Black and Darren Shirley say: “We expect Lidl to remain true to its value roots, so a curated assortment, strong core value credentials leveraging its own growing supply base. “Lidl is, and we sense, will remain a formidable player in the UK grocery scene – driving up the M1 past its distribution centre is a statement of intent – but also, we believe, a rational player in the UK grocery scene, fitting into our now quite long-standing narrative on sector dynamics of improving productivity per square foot, stable to rising margins and, with capital discipline broadly evident, improving free cash flow credentials.” Can rival discounter Aldi catch up? There has been a marked difference in Aldi and Lidl’s performance over the past year. While Lidl has been soaring, Aldi has seemingly plateaued. The latest Kantar data shows that while Lidl’s sales soared 7.4% over the last 12%, helping market share shoot up 0.3 percentage points to 7.7%, Aldi’s sales nudged up 1.6% and it’s share remained flat at 10.4%. Nobbs says that the problem for Aldi is that it’s “doing the same thing”, and although this is done “very well”, “there’s nothing new or magic”. “Aldi is the master of performance and productivity. Lidl is the master of range and buying. Lidl has outperformed in terms of customer proposition and Aldi needs some new trading mechanics and propositions to continue to grow,” he says. In other areas, Aldi is weaker than Lidl. It does not offer a loyalty scheme and its bakery offer does not compete with Lidl’s, which Kantar revealed earlier this year was the most popular supermarket bakery, selling an average of 122 croissants every minute and one jam doughnut every second. With shopper numbers – and profits – soaring, and ambitions to reach even more customers through the opening of new stores,  Nobbs believes that Lidl “has a momentum that will be hard to stop.” Read more: As Lidl swings back to profit, can it maintain its position as UK grocery's star performer? #smartdiscount #lidl #aldi #uk #development #expansion #revenue #sales #profit #growth #focus #drc #discount #retail #consulting #discountretail #discountretailconsulting #retailconsulting #google

Discount Retail Chain Tiendas ARA, got a sustainability-linked loan of up to US$120million from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. ARA Colombia is owned by Portugal's Jerónimo Martins. The funds will be used to build two EDGE-Advanced certified distribution centers in Bogota and Cali, which will allow the company to strengthen its logistics network and expand in small and medium-sized cities. The loan aims to improve the logistical and operational capabilities of Tiendas Ara , which operates 1,349 stores in 374 municipalities in 24 departments, and has gained ground in the retail food sector in Colombia. This investment seeks to increase access to consumer products for middle- and low-income families in an environment of high inflation and economic inequality in the country. "We are pleased to support Tiendas Ara in its expansion efforts and contribute to the development of the retail sector in Colombia," said Elizabeth Martínez de Marcano, IFC's regional director for Colombia, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. "This investment aligns with our goals of promoting inclusion, innovation and sustainability. By supporting the expansion of Tiendas Ara, we can improve access to affordable retail services and contribute to Colombia's economic development." Nuno Sereno, CEO of Jerónimo Martins Colombia, highlighted the company's commitment to the local market. "Eleven years ago, we committed to democratizing access to food and other quality products in Colombia. Our long-term commitment is maintained with this loan, which also underscores our practices in social and environmental issues," said Sereno. "Our logistics network will be strengthened with the new distribution centers in Cota and Cali, which will allow us to supply hundreds of stores in the country." In an economic context marked by inflation and pressure on food prices, the discount sector has become more relevant, with Tiendas Ara focusing on pricing strategies and cooperation models with local suppliers. Founded in 2013, the company has built a network that seeks to respond to the needs of consumers in the areas where it operates. Distribution centers will have to meet EDGE-Advanced sustainability standards, with a projected 40% reduction in energy consumption and 20% reduction in water use. These requirements respond to Colombia's climate change goals and reflect the growing interest in sustainable practices within the retail sector. Read more: Tiendas Ara receives US$120 million loan from IFC for logistics expansion - Forbes Colombia #smartdiscount #ara #colombia #expansion #loan #ifc #scm #sustainability #drc #discount #retail #consulting #discountretail #discountretailconsulting #retailconsulting #google

Discount Retail Chain O!Save wants to expand quickly intensifying the competition with its main rival and leading discount retail chain Dali. Banking on its wider product offering and scale, Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. (RRHI) will expand its hard discount and neighborhood supermarket store formats to go head-to-head against rising competition. Gina Dipaling, RRHI vice president for corporate planning and investor relations, on Wednesday said they planned to open up to 300 new O!Save stores next year to compete against rapidly growing hard discount grocery chains, such as Dali Everyday Grocery. RRHI currently holds a minority interest in O!Save Trading Philippines Corp. through HD Retail, the Gokongwei-led firm’s subsidiary that operates the hard discount category. Expansion “O!Save is actually accelerating their expansion … By the end of this year, there will be 400 O!Save stores,” Dipaling said during the Philippine Stock Exchange’s Investor Day forum. O!Save currently has around 300 stores across the country, she said. At the same time, Dipaling added they were accelerating the expansion of Robinsons Easymart, RRHI’s neighborhood supermarket format. Compared with hard discount stores that traditionally offer fewer products to cut costs and prices, Robinsons Easymart has more selections, Dipaling noted. Tripled She said Robinsons Easymart has around 6,500 stock keeping units (SKUs), or product types. Hard discount stores, on the other hand, offer up to 600 SKUs. “So you can actually fulfill your full shopping list versus that of the hard discounters,” she said. In the first nine months of the year, RRHI’s earnings tripled to P7.81 billion due to gains from the merger of Robinsons Bank with Ayala-led Bank of the Philippine Islands. Article continues after this advertisement Without the onetime gain, RRHI’s core earnings in the January to September period rose by 7.6 % to P4.1 billion. The company’s top line had a modest 3-percent growth to P142.4 billion on sustained contributions from the core food and drugstore segments, which include Robinsons To further boost sales, Dipaling said they planned to accelerate store openings in the next three to five years. Gokongweis ready to compete with Dali grocery chain #smartdiscount #osave #philippines #dali #growth #rrhi #robinsons #expansion #growth #drc #discount #retail #consulting #discountretail #discountretailconsulting #retailconsulting #google

Discount Retail Chain Aldi UK is launching a pigs in blankets delivery service as demand for the festive staple soars ahead of Christmas. The service, which will take place in London on 30 November, will allow customers to pre-order a delivery to their doorstep for a dedicated timeslot for £5, with all proceeds going to community giving platform Neighbourly. The delivery menu features five meat options including Aldi’s Specially Selected Ultimate Pigs in Blankets, Truffle Chipolata Pigs in Blankets, Honey & Ginger Candy Cane in Blankets, Cheese in Blankets, and Ashfields Loaded Yorkshire Sliders. Vegan options include a Plant Menu Ultimate Footlong Pig in Blanket and Plant Menu Ultimate Pigs in Blankets. It comes as Brits are predicted to eat 761 million pigs in blankets this Christmas and follows a high level of demand for the grocer’s Pigs in Blankets Restaurant which launches on 29 November on Bethnal Green Road, Shoreditch. Aldi UK managing director of Buying Julie Ashfield said: “The response to our Pigs in Blankets Restaurant has been phenomenal, and we’ve listened to our customers who want a way to enjoy these festive favourites even if they can’t make it to the venue. This UK-first service is our solution, delivering Aldi’s Pigs in Blankets experience directly to shoppers’ homes.” Read more: Aldi launches pigs in blankets delivery service amid soaring demand #smartdiscount #uk #aldi #london #deliveryservice #piginblankets #neighbourly #christmas #drc #discount #retail #consulting #discountretail #discountretailconsulting #retailconsulting #google

Discount Retail Chain Aldi Süd is emerging as to how the discounter wants to go into the future in purchasing. The pressure in the non-food market, by the success of non-food discounters such as Action, is forcing the Mülheim-based company to look for synergies even faster. Therefore, the discounter will bundle its volumes even more strongly than before in the future. By the end of the year, responsibility for important product groups such as textiles, shoes, toys, garden or camping will move from the national companies in Austria, Hungary, Italy and Slovenia to the international purchasing department in Mülheim. At the same time, the discounter will expand its purchasing office in Hong Kong, where around 500 employees are already employed. Aldi is increasingly looking for alternatives to established importers in order to achieve lower purchase prices. "The cards are being reshuffled," says an insider. Read more: https://click.mc.lebensmittelzeitung.net/?qs=2e0b9bda377a6dec5ff7adb17bb8dcc5ef12ec018b6867a2061b57ab9d0901382a113b82332878d455ce4acc3b85b2764a7ffabcebaa5d933bec6865745ff763 #smartdiscount #aldi #germany #international #inout #specialbuys #synergy #drc #discount #retail #consulting #discountretail #discountretailconsulting #retailconsulting #google

Discount Retail Chain ALDI USA pursues an ambitious plan to expand its physical store footprint. The discount retailer is working to tread lightly on that footprint through an equally ambitious plan to become the most sustainable grocer in America. The company is making progress on both fronts, announcing its intent to build 800 stores within the next five years and aiming to transition to natural refrigerants across all of its locations within a decade and hit net-zero GHG emissions in ins value chain by 2050.  Much of the progress in the ESG arena, including ways to marry sustainability and affordability, was outlined in ALDI’s 2023 Sustainability Progress Report released earlier in late October. That report recapped recent results, such as garnering the most Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) GreenChill store certifications, removing all plastic shopping bags at checkout and operating more than 700 stores that already use eco-friendlier refrigerants. Progressive Grocer recently talked with Josiah McClellan, director of sustainability at ALDI U.S., about the report and its implications. He reiterated the retailer’s responsibility to reduce its environmental impact and support commitments through the five key areas of reducing emissions, improving packaging, minimizing waste, sourcing products responsibly and supporting communities.  “Equally focusing on all of these areas is essential to fueling our ambition to become the most sustainable grocer in the country and to make sustainability affordable and accessible for all. Not to mention, oftentimes, these areas are not mutually exclusive, and focusing on multiple is needed to make strides on our most aggressive sustainability goals,” he said. McClellan shared examples of concurrent program and progress, including its effort to eliminate deforestation in our high-priority supply chains, powering operations with 100% renewable energy, reducing unnecessary packaging and partnering with organizations to address food insecurity while slashing food waste.  Customers can see some of the value grocer’s commitments to sustainability when they walk into an ALDI location. “ALDI stores have always been built with sustainability top-of-mind, from how they are designed to how they operate. ALDI stores are generally half the size of the average supermarket, which makes them inherently more efficient. We only fill our shelves with the most popular products in the most popular sizes that consumers need, which reduces waste; and we don’t offer plastic shopping bags at check out which reduces the amount of plastic going into circulation,” MClellan explained. Store infrastructures are also improving from a green POV. “Now, as one of America’s fastest-growing retailers, we have an even greater responsibility to reduce our environmental impact and implement more sustainable practices as we continue to expand. We are doing this by purchasing environmentally friendly refrigeration systems for all new and remodeled stores in support of our goal to transition to natural refrigerants across all U.S. stores before the end of 2035. We are also trialing heating systems that eliminate the use of fossil fuels, and installing solar panel on rooftops wherever financially viable,” McClellan shared, adding that ALDI also recently tested new technology to recover waste heat from other systems, like refrigeration units, to reuse the heat for HVAC equipment. The sustainability leader echoed ALDI President Dave Rinaldo’s emphasis during a recent sit-down interview with Progressive Grocer that the company fosters a culture of caring for people and planet. “ALDI leadership is deeply invested in our sustainability journey, ensuring that sustainability is engrained into who we are as a business and remains a core part of our business strategy. The strides we’ve made on our sustainability journey couldn’t have been possible without our employees,” McClellan declared. “From those on the frontlines engaging with shoppers firsthand on the importance of using a reusable bag to our warehouse employees finding opportunities to reduce operational waste to our buying team who ensures our shelves are stocked with products our customers can feel good about purchasing, sustainability is everyone’s job at ALDI.” On Curbing Waste  “As a retailer of groceries, household essentials and more, we always strive to minimize waste and manage it responsibly," explained McClellen. "To hold ourselves accountable, we have two waste reduction goals: first, to achieve zero waste in our operations by the end of 2025 by diverting 90% of our waste from landfills through recycling, donation and organics recycling programs and second, to reduce our food waste by 50% by the end of 2030. “To make progress on these goals, we’ve optimized our ordering protocols and technology to minimize over-ordering from the start, and we maintain strong community partnerships with organizations like Feeding America to help ensure food and goods find a second home when they need one," he continued. "When it comes to the end of a product’s lifecycle, we work hard to find ways to reuse and recycle materials like wood pallets, cardboard and plastic film. And, because many of the nearly 2,000 products in our stores are packaged in some way, packaging presents a strong opportunity to reduce unnecessary waste and identify alternative materials that that can support our sustainability ambitions.” On Benchmark Milestones McClellen said ALDI is taking action to make progress against the following 2025 sustainability goals: Reduce Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 4% by 2025 compared to 2021 baseline. Install only natural refrigeration systems in new and remodeled stores from 2025 onward. Reduce ALDI-exclusive primary packaging materials by 15% by the end of 2025. Certify 100% of private label coffee as responsibly sourced by the end of 2025. On Supplier Partnerships That Move Sustainability Needle “As our stores are stocked 90% with ALDI-exclusive brands, we are able to work closely with our suppliers to ensure they are upholding our high standards and taking care of people and the planet while bringing our customers’ favorite products to shelves," said McClellen. "Our sustainability efforts cannot be done without our network of suppliers. They are an integral part of our strategy, and this collaboration sets us apart. Recognizing that suppliers play a big role in our ambitious net-zero target, we recently joined the Supplier Leadership on Climate Transition (Supplier LOCT), a consortium launched in 2021 to accelerate progress toward science-based GHG reduction targets, to help support our suppliers to reduce their own emissions.” Read more: ALDI Leadership Is Deeply Invested in Sustainability Journey | Progressive Grocer #smartdiscount #aldi #usa #sustainable #leader #benchmark #environmental #expansion #growth #investment #mission #drc #discount #retail #consulting #discountretail #discountretailconsulting #retailconsulting #google

Discount Retail Chain Aldi Spain continues to consolidate its growth in Spain with the opening of eight new stores in December. The company will strengthen its presence in key regions such as Catalonia, the Valencian Community, the Community of Madrid and Andalusia, as well as strengthening in the Basque Country and Castilla y León. These openings are part of the company's national expansion plan. In total, in the last quarter of the year, the chain has accelerated its expansion plan with nearly 20 openings. In this way, Aldi will reach 460 stores in Spain with the inauguration of a new supermarket in Barcelona, to which will be added the eight new stores in December, totaling 468 stores. Continuing with its expansion plan, in Burgos, the retailer will open its first store in the capital, marking its entry into this province. This progress is in addition to the logistical boost represented by the new logistics centre in Miranda de Ebro, inaugurated in March to support the company's expansion throughout the northern and central regions of the country. In the Basque Country, the company continues to grow in Vizcaya with the opening of a second store in Barakaldo. It will also continue to grow in Madrid with the opening of a store in the capital, on Calle Méndez Álvaro, scheduled for the end of December. This new supermarket will complement the recent opening in the municipality of San Agustín de Guadalix, consolidating its network in the central region. In response to this growth, the Pinto distribution center is also being expanded. The company will also continue its growth in Andalusia, a key region for its expansion. New stores have been opened today in San José de la Rinconada (Seville) and Torre del Mar (Malaga), reaching 26 stores in Seville and 30 in Malaga. At the end of December, a new opening is planned in Cádiz, which will be added to the store inaugurated in El Puerto de Santa María last May. Andalusia, which in March exceeded 100 stores with the opening in Nerja (Malaga), consolidated its position as the first autonomous community in Spain to reach this milestone. Aldi has surpassed seven million customers in 2024, which is 26% more than three years ago In the Valencian Community, Aldi will continue to expand its presence in Alicante with new openings in Benidorm and Jávea, reaching more than 40 supermarkets in the province. These stores are in addition to the recent openings in La Nucía and Torrevieja during November, managing to open four supermarkets in less than a month in Alicante. This growth in the Mediterranean arc is supported by the logistical strengthening of the region, thanks to the centre inaugurated in Sagunt (Valencia) at the end of 2023. The chain will also open a new store on Via Augusta, Barcelona, on November 29. With this opening, the growth of recent months in the Catalan capital is consolidated, where the districts of Gracia and Les Corts have recently reached 20 establishments in the city with new stores. The expansion in Catalonia will continue in December with another opening in Barcelona and the arrival in the municipality of Palau-Solità i Plegamans. With these new openings, Aldi completes its expansion plan in Spain for 2024, a growth that has continued the momentum of the last three years. In addition to the aforementioned openings, in November the company celebrated its arrival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife with a store in the historic Victoria factory and cinema, an emblematic building that had been closed for more than 50 years and that Aldi has rehabilitated, contributing to the revitalization of the area. Thanks to this expansion, Aldi has exceeded seven million customers, 26% more than three years ago. The chain's offer includes 86% of own-brand references and 80% of national origin. Read more: Aldi will close 2024 with 468 supermarkets in Spain #smartdiscount #aldi #expansion #spain #stores #drc #discount #retail #consulting #discountretail #discountretailconsulting #retailconsulting #google