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Tag: aldi

  • Aldi removes single-use plastic straws from its product range

    Aldi removes single-use plastic straws from its product range

    Aldi, the multinational retail giant, has taken a significant step towards environmental sustainability by eliminating single-use plastic straws from its product line. This move aligns with the recycled soft plastics program led by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s Soft Plastics Taskforce, which is prevalent in many large supermarkets.

    Aldi’s Environmental Commitment

    The decision to phase out single-use plastic straws is expected to prevent millions of these items from contributing to landfill waste and water pollution. Daniel Baker, Aldi Australia’s director of sustainability, voiced the company’s ongoing commitment to making positive changes for the environment. He highlighted how actions such as these serve as a testament to Aldi’s continuous efforts to improve the planet.

    Aldi’s dedication to environmental sustainability extends beyond this recent change. The company has also pledged to replace single-use plastic tableware in its staple and seasonal product offerings with paper alternatives. This strategy will result in an estimated reduction of 46 million plastic items annually.

    Previous Initiatives

    Aldi’s decision to eliminate plastic straws follows a series of eco-friendly initiatives introduced in 2021. Last year, the supermarket chain ceased the use of plastic straws in its juice boxes and popper cartons, substituting them with paper straws. This move led to the elimination of 70 million plastic straws.

    Industry-Wide Changes

    Aldi is not alone in its efforts to promote environmental sustainability in the retail industry. Fellow supermarket chain Coles has also stopped selling single-use plastic tableware products, opting for FSC-certified and reusable alternatives instead.

    Questions & Answers

    **What is Aldi’s latest initiative to reduce plastic waste?**
    Aldi’s most recent effort to decrease plastic waste is the elimination of single-use plastic straws from its product line.

    **What other changes has Aldi made towards environmental sustainability?**
    In addition to removing single-use plastic straws, Aldi has also pledged to replace single-use plastic tableware with paper options in their staple and seasonal product ranges.

    **Are other supermarkets making similar changes?**
    Yes, Coles, another major supermarket chain, has also stopped selling single-use plastic tableware, choosing to use FSC-certified and reusable options instead.

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  • Aldi ranked Australia’s top supermarket for fifth consecutive year

    Aldi ranked Australia’s top supermarket for fifth consecutive year

    For the fifth time in a row, Aldi has been named Supermarket of the Year 2024 in Roy Morgan’s Customer Satisfaction Awards.

    The supermarket has won this title eight times. The ratings are calculated from an annual survey of 60,000 Australians and cover 40 industry categories.

    “With the rising cost of living, we know many Aussie families are feeling the pinch,” said Simon Padovani-Ginies, group director of Aldi Australia. “That’s why we’re more focused than ever on keeping grocery prices low and making every dollar count. Our entire business model is based on saving people money while making sure only the best products make it onto our shelves.”

    “As well as delivering a dependably high level of customer satisfaction to millions of Australians Aldi is also recognised by Roy Morgan as one of Australia’s top five most trusted brands – a position Aldi has held consistently over the last five years despite the challenges faced by the sector in an era of high inflation and rising interest rates,” said Roy Morgan CEO Michele Levine.

    She said Aldi had a perfect record of winning all 12 monthly customer satisfaction awards during 2024 with an average customer satisfaction rating of “an exceptional” 88.8 percent.

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  • Aldi US plans to open 225 more stores nationwide this year

    Aldi US plans to open 225 more stores nationwide this year

    Aldi US plans to open more than 225 stores across the country this year as part of the next phase of its five-year growth strategy.

    The openings will include organic growth and conversion of select Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores to the Aldi format.

    The company plans to convert approximately 220 Southeastern Grocers locations to Aldi through 2027. About 100 converted locations will re-open by the end of this year.

    About 170 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores not affected by the conversion will be sold to a consortium including C&S Wholesale Grocers, Southeastern Grocers senior leadership and private investors.

    Aldi said this divestment allows it to create a focused portfolio in the Southeast as it progresses its expansion plans across the country. The company plans to expand its footprint in the Northeast and Midwest regions, grow presence in the West with more stores in Southern California and Arizona, and enter new communities like Las Vegas.

    “When we announced our acquisition of Southeastern Grocers, we shared that we intended for a meaningful number of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets to continue to operate, and we’re delivering on that promise while also supporting Aldi growth,” said Jason Hart, CEO of Aldi.

    “Over the last year, we’ve seen firsthand how C&S Wholesale Grocers, Southeastern Grocers and their teams have continued to deliver great quality, service and value to their customers, and we are confident they will lead the company successfully into its next chapter,” he added.

    Last year, the chain opened nearly 120 stores, bringing its total store count to more than 2400.

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  • Aldi confirms it has abandoned plans to launch online shopping

    Aldi confirms it has abandoned plans to launch online shopping

    Supermarket chain Aldi has dropped its plan to expand into online shopping believing it might affect its ability to continue providing low-cost products for customers.

    According to Jordan Lack, Aldi’s MD of buying, the company dismantled its online team late last year after serious consideration.

    “The greater concern is the impact on cost structure as fundamentally keeping our costs low has a direct impact on the prices we can offer our customers,” he said.

    Lack stressed that the company prioritises value over convenience as price plays a great importance to consumers.

    Last month, consumer group Choice said Aldi was $17 cheaper for a basket of 14 grocery items compared to Woolworths and Coles.

    In addition, offering online shopping would also create more complexity given Aldi is still building warehouses and an automated distribution centre, Lack stated.

    Instead, the retailer is considering new products while targeting growth corridors on the outskirts of major cities and growing sales at its existing 570 stores.

    “There was 5.1 per cent growth in new households shopping with Aldi in the last three months,” Lack said. “Customers are coming for price, but we are holding them because of quality. We are aiming to get more shoppers to come to Aldi as their first stop.”

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  • Aldi partners with BrewDog for pop-up pub in Sydney

    Aldi partners with BrewDog for pop-up pub in Sydney

    Aldi Australia has partnered with Scottish craft beer company BrewDog to launch a pop-up pub in Sydney.

    The Special Brews by Aldi pub will open its doors at the Hotel Sweeney’s for one night only on December 13 and will offer a sneak peek at the limited-edition beer on sale at Aldi stores. It will also offer lower-priced craft beers, with the collaboration’s exclusive Ald IPA priced at $3.25 per can.

    Aside from drinks, the pop-up pub will offer custom merchandise and snacks. Customers can collect their punch card at the door and purchase up to three cans of Ald IPA, along with Aldi and BrewDog slinging limited-edition stubby holders and socks.

    “Aussies know Aldi for delivering the best value on everyday groceries, but we’re taking it further by delivering a night out in Sydney for under a tenner this holiday season,” said Paul Handley, buying director at Aldi.

    “We are excited to welcome patrons to this new experience and for Aussies to crack open the new Ald IPA.”

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  • Aldi to open its first Townsville store

    Aldi to open its first Townsville store

    Aldi has announced a new lease agreement with Dexus to see Townsville’s first Aldi arrive at the Willows Shopping Centre later this year.

    The new 2,252sqm store will offer North Queenslanders the full Aldi experience, providing shoppers with award-winning grocery products at low prices and Special Buys together with fresh fruit, vegetables, and bread delivered daily.

    Ryan Wheelhouse, Willows Centre Manager, said the Townsville community looks forward to having its Aldi open later this year.

    “We know the community have been excited about this announcement and the great value Aldi offers across its grocery range, including its famous Special Buys. The store will open later this year and will be next to TK Maxx, making Willows the only centre north of south-east Queensland to house all three supermarket chains under the one roof.”

    Dexus’s Head of Retail Leasing, Eddie Giraldo said that Aldi will bring a new affordable, quality supermarket offering to Willows where customers can continue to enjoy the convenience of having everything they need under one roof. We are committed to delivering the best retail experiences in Townsville.

    “After much anticipation and popular demand from the Townville community, we are delighted to be working with Aldi to bring them to North Queensland,” he said.

    Aldi will join Woolworths, Coles, Big W, Rebel, JB Hi-Fi, TK Maxx, Cotton On Mega and Best & Less and 130 specialty retailers making Willows Townsville the home of the biggest brands.

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  • Aldi Australia CEO Tom Daunt set to become global chief

    Aldi Australia CEO Tom Daunt set to become global chief

    Aldi Australia chief executive Tom Daunt is leaving the local discount chain and moving to Salzburg to become the global joint managing director of the German supermarket.

    He is the first Australian to take the helm of the global business from Matthew Barnes, who resigned earlier this year to return to the UK.

    Staff was told of the news today, with suppliers to be officially informed tomorrow. Mr Daunt takes up his new role on May 1 and the local discount retailer will now be led by Anna McGrath and Marietta Schorn.

    Ms McGrath has worked with Mr. Daunt for several years and is a 17-year veteran of discount supermarket, while Ms Schorn will move to Australia from Austria where she had been running the Aldi network.

    This is not the first time Aldi has operated a dual management model.

    Aldi Australia launched in 2000. By 2014, German-born Stefan Kopp, alongside Mr Daunt – who at that time was group managing director – were both running the local chain.

    Mr Kopp left the Australian operations in 2017 and returned to Aldi in Germany, while Mr Daunt remained as the local CEO. He helped the company defy skeptics who had suggested the discount retailer would never find sufficient sites and that its narrow range of private-label brands would not resonate with Australian shoppers.

    In the UK, Aldi has been taking market share from the major supermarket chains as living costs rise and real wages fall behind amid heightened inflation.

    Analysts expect a similar trend to play out in Australia, with Aldi tipped to regain market share it lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, when consumers sought convenience over price and favored neighborhood stores over shopping centres. Aldi’s share plateaued at between 10 percent and 12 percent before the pandemic.

    “Starting in the second half of 2022, we are seeing an incremental rise in the number of customers choosing to shop with us, and our expectation is that will continue this year.”

    Mr Daunt has committed to three years in the global role and will likely return to Australia in future. He did not return calls on Wednesday.

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  • Aldi named Best Sustainable Seafood Supermarket

    Aldi named Best Sustainable Seafood Supermarket

    Aldi has overtaken Sainsbury’s as the most sustainable supermarket for seafood, according to MSC league tables released today.

    Though Sainsbury’s remained top of the NGO’s table in terms of the volume of MSC-certified products, the percentage of Aldi’s seafood range that was MSC certified rose from 69% last year to 79%. Some 76% of Sainsbury’s range was MSC certified.

    The discounter’s smaller range meant the addition of 11 certified products took it to the top of the table, with a total of 85 MSC-approved seafood SKUs.

    Nine of the 10 supermarkets surveyed by the MSC were stocking more MSC-certified SKUs than in 2017, the survey found, with Asda and Tesco the fastest-growing (adding 35 and 33 certified products to their ranges respectively). Iceland was not surveyed by the MSC in 2017, but came bottom of the table in 2018’s rankings, with just one product, equivalent to 3% of its fish range.

    Morrisons remained near the bottom of the table with 4% of its fish products carrying the MSC logo, though it added five certified products. Sainsbury’s added the fewest new products, extending its certified product range by one to 226 from 2017 to 2018.

    “Our approach is to provide our customers with fresh, sustainably sourced fish and this is reflected in the MSC’s findings,” said Aldi MD of buying Julie Ashfield. “Customers know that shopping at Aldi means they can enjoy quality, responsibly sourced products, at affordable prices.”

    It follows a move by Aldi to launch a responsibly sourced assurance scheme for own-label fish in November. Its Love Fish signage would appear on products sourced in accordance with a “range of standards including MSC and ASC certification,” it told The Grocer last year.

    Overall, British supermarkets were selling more sustainable seafood than ever before, with offerings increasing 60% since 2016, said the MSC. More than 20,000 seafood products worldwide carry the MSC blue tick label.

    “The majority of British supermarkets are making a real investment in the future of their seafood,” said MSC programme director Toby Middleton.

    “Consumers are not powerless in making sustainable choices. Our league table shows that retailers are offering their customers clear labelling and the chance to make a difference, helping to protect fish stocks for our children and our grandchildren.”

  • Aldi sued over ‘copycat’ snacks

    Aldi sued over ‘copycat’ snacks

    Australian children’s snack food brand Little Bellies is suing German supermarket chain Aldi for alleged copyright breaches of several organic fruit and vegetable puff snacks.

    Aldi, which famously mimics well-known brands and creates comparable in-house products at a much cheaper price, has emerged victorious in several legal battles in Australia since it launched here in 2001.

    US snack food giant Frito-Lay sued Aldi in 2001 over its Cheezy Twists, alleging a breach of its Twisties trademark. Frito-Lay won the first battle in the Federal Court, but Aldi appealed and had the ruling overturned.

    In 2015, Israeli beauty company Moroccanoil Israel sued Aldi for alleged trademark breaches of its Moroccan Argan Oil hair care products. Moroccanoil lost the original case, and an appeal.

    The owners of Little Bellies hope a different tack – suing for an alleged copyright infringement – may yield a different outcome.

    The holding company that owns the intellectual property for the Baby Bellies, Little Bellies and Mighty Bellies snack ranges, Hampden Holdings IP, alleges Aldi has ripped off its Organic Blueberry Puffs, Organic Apple & Cinnamon Puffs and Organic Carrot Puffs since at least August 2021.

    Hampden Holdings licenses the brands to Every Bite Counts. According to regulatory filings, both firms are owned by brothers Steven and Clive Sher.

    In Britain, supermarket chain Marks & Spencer sued Aldi for copyright infringement of its light-up Christmas gin bottle. Last month, the High Court in London ruled Aldi infringed on M&S’s copyright. A second copyright dispute between the two companies over a caterpillar cake was settled, and Aldi made a number of tweaks to its design.

    Aldi is not the only discount chain that has been targeted in legal action. Fellow German discount chain Lidl was sued last year by Lindt & Sprüngli over its well-known chocolate gold bunnies. A Swiss court ordered Lidl to destroy the bunnies and prohibited their sale, saying they infringed Lindt’s trademark.

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  • Aldi opens new store in Prospect

    Aldi opens new store in Prospect

    Aldi says its newest store, which opens in Prospect, NSW, this week will feature new innovations for the banner aimed at enhancing the customer experience.

    The store is fitted with large wooden produce bays in a modern interior store design featuring newly designed registers at manned checkouts and registers and self-checkouts.

    To cut emissions, the store has incorporated natural refrigerant technology and LED lighting and the company promises that any unsold food items will be distributed to local rescue organizations.

    “We offer a supermarket experience that is like no other in Australia and we are proud to call ourselves ‘Good Different’,” said Viktor Jakupec, regional MD of Aldi Australia.

    “It’s our differences such as having never offered single-use plastic bags, using a coin deposit system for our trolleys and our tight product range that allow us to bring value to our customers every day.”

    The new store is located at 106 Main North Road, Prospect.

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  • Aldi faces $10m underpayment bill after court ruling

    Aldi faces $10m underpayment bill after court ruling

    Aldi could be liable for millions of dollars in compensation after a federal court judge found the supermarket chain had underpaid warehouse workers.

    The court has found Aldi breached employment laws by directing employees to begin work 15 minutes before their rostered starting time.

    Workers at a Sydney distribution centre were required to undertake a number of tasks before clocking on, including completing safety checks on forklifts, checking communication devices and undertaking a group warm-up activity.

    Aldi claimed it was not underpaying its workers and that employees were only expected to be ready to commence work at the start of their rostered shifts.

    But judge Douglas Humphreys said he was satisfied there was a “clear implied direction” that employees had to arrive early and undertake those tasks, and that a consistent failure to comply would lead to disciplinary action.

    “There was no personal benefit to the employee in the activities carried out. Each was to the benefit of the employer,” he said in his findings.

    “In these circumstances, the court is satisfied that the activities carried out constitute work.”

    The SDA retail and warehouse union claims Aldi owes its distribution centre workers up to $10m in unpaid wages for working an extra 10 minutes per shift.

    It says the decision could affect about 4,000 current and former workers, a claim disputed by Aldi.

    The company said it respected the court’s decision and was determining the payment owed to four employees directly affected by the proceedings.

    “We are reviewing the implication of the court’s decision on other employees across our business and will seek to apply the principles of the court’s decision fairly to any other affected employees,” an Aldi spokesperson said on Wednesday.

    “Numbers quoted by the SDA are significantly inflated and are not representative of the number of employees we believe may be impacted by the decision.”

    The SDA said it was still working through calculating individual back-pay amounts for its members.

    “Aldi joins a long list of large employers found to have underpaid their workers,” the SDA’s NSW branch secretary Bernie Smith said.

    “Unlike the way the multinational likes to present itself in its advertisements, it turns out Aldi is not good and not different.

    “Multinational companies operating in Australia can’t set their own rules.”

    Humphreys is yet to make any orders regarding penalties. The parties are scheduled to return to court on Friday for a directions hearing.

  • Aldi Australia backs Global Plastics Treaty

    Aldi Australia backs Global Plastics Treaty

    ALDI Australia has joined over 80 global businesses in endorsing the call for a global plastics treaty to end plastic pollution.

    The Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, which also includes financial institutions, and non-governmental organizations, is pushing for the development of a legal UN treaty to end plastic pollution, calling for “an ambitious and effective global agreement to accelerate progress towards a circular economy in which plastic never becomes waste or pollution.”

    Aldi joins Ikea, Walmart, and the below companies in the coalition.

    ALDI Australia says this cements its commitment to sustainable business operations.

    “As one of Australia’s largest grocery retailers, we understand the important role we play in reducing our use of plastic and introducing more sustainable packaging within our own supply chains at a local and business level,” said ALDI Australia’s Director Corporate Responsibility, Daniel Baker.

    “The plastics crisis doesn’t stop at our shores or even our oceans. This is a global challenge that needs a cohesive response and having a United Nations treaty with businesses worldwide is essential to help solve this global crisis together.”

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  • Aldi opens its first Melbourne Corner Store concept today

    Aldi opens its first Melbourne Corner Store concept today

    Aldi has opened its first Corner Store concept, in Melbourne’s CBD, complete with a cafe serving barista coffee.

    The company says the store is designed for inner-city customers stocking ready-to-eat meals, fresh produce, bakery items such as cinnamon buns, croissants and baguettes, and its discounted Special Buys products. The Corner Store concept was first tested on Sydney’s North Shore, a hybrid model of part convenience store, part supermarket.

    Huw Longman, director of Aldi Corner Stores, said the new shop will meet customers’ needs in the surrounding high-density, urban area.

    “Shopping habits continue to evolve, and we are seeing a large audience of people who prefer shopping more frequently with a hyper-focus on convenience.”

    He said the store meets these needs, taking convenience and creativity and combining it with quality and savings.

    To commemorate the store opening, a unique limited-time Lazzio coffee cart pop-up will offer customers coffee for 37 cents. The coffee beans are hand-roasted in Victoria by Black Bag Roasters. Proceeds from the coffee sales will be donated to Aldi’s national charity partner, Camp Quality.

  • Aldi opens Dumpling Truck, serving meals for less than $1.50

    Aldi opens Dumpling Truck, serving meals for less than $1.50

    Remember when you could get a whole takeaway meal for $1.50? We don’t either, but it sure beats paying $10 for a schooner and $12 for an iceberg lettuce.

    With the cost-of-living soaring, you’d be forgiven for thinking you can’t afford a Friday night out. But just wait until you see the prices at Aldi’s new pop-up dumpling truck.

    Opening for one night only, this Friday 12th August in the Aldi Bankstown Central car park on Chapel Rd, the pop-up dumpling truck will be dishing out servings of six takeaway dumplings for just $1.44.

    When you break down the prices, that’s 25c per prawn gyoza and 23c per chicken dumpling. Which will allow you to feed a family of four from just $5.76.

    The Urban Eats® dumplings include fan fave prawn gyoza and chicken dumplings, a new addition to the supermarket chain’s frozen food range.

    “At a time when consumers are feeling the pinch, it’s rewarding to provide an option for people to still enjoy their Friday night rituals when they shop with us,” said Frozen Food Buying Director, Andrew King.

    “The ALDI Dumpling Truck demonstrates how good food doesn’t have to hurt your pocket. You can dish up quick, delicious and affordable Friday dinners at home for less than $1.50 a serve!”

    The Aldi dumpling truck will be located at Aldi Bankstown Central on Chapel Rd this Friday 12th August from 5pm-7pm, while stocks last. Cards only, no cash accepted. (And before you get any shady ideas, there’s a maximum of 4 serves per person.)

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  • Snickers unveils Creamy Peanut Butter bar in Australia

    Snickers unveils Creamy Peanut Butter bar in Australia

    Snickers has released its limited-edition Snickers Creamy Peanut Butter bar in Australia for the first time.

    The Snickers Creamy Peanut Butter bar is made with real peanut butter, silky smooth caramel and fresh ground peanuts, enrobed in the rich Snickers chocolate.

    Mars Wrigley Australia Marketing Director Ben Hill says the variation has been a smash hit overseas, and he’s excited for Australians to finally get their hands on the product.

    “We know how much our customers love the classic Snickers bar, with its satisfying layers of nougat, caramel, and the signature peanut crunch,” he says.

    “Now, thanks to this innovation in texture, our fans can get Snickers satisfaction in both crunchy and smooth – something that is sure to delight peanut butter fans of all kinds.”

    Snickers Creamy Peanut Butter is available in a 36g twin pack for RRP $2 from leading retailers including Woolworths, Coles, Metcash, 7 Eleven, Coles Express, BP, Ampol, ALDI and Big W.

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