Aldi is planning to open stores in these two Hampshire locations
Aldi has revealed plans to open two new stores in Hampshire this year.
The budget supermarket chain is planning to invest £12 million in the county during 2021.
This includes opening two stores in the county, with Farnborough and Petersfield eyed as the spots for the new Aldi sites.
The investment is part of the supermarket’s long-term target to reach 1,200 stores in the UK by 2025. On average, Aldi is set to open more than one store a week this year.
Giles Hurley, chief executive officer, Aldi UK and Ireland, said: ‘We have been investing in Britain for more than 30 years now, but we know that there are still areas that either don’t have an Aldi at all, or that need another store to meet customer demand.
‘With shoppers increasingly looking to make sure they get unbeatable prices on their weekly shop without compromising on quality, our stores are becoming ever more popular.
‘This investment in Aldi stores over the course of this year will help make the UK’s lowest-priced supermarket more accessible to even more people, and bring us closer to our long-term goal of having 1,200 stores across the UK by 2025.’
Last summer, Aldi announced it was looking for 18 new store locations in Hampshire – including in Southampton, Totton, and Winchester – as part of its longer-term expansion plans.
The supermarket has recently increased its minimum hourly rates, paying a minimum hourly rate of £9.55 nationally, up from £9.40.
Those working within the M25 will earn £11.07 an hour instead of £10.90. Store colleagues will now be able to earn up to £10.57 after three years nationally and £11.32 after two years in London.
The new rates of pay are also boosted by the fact Aldi is still one of the only UK supermarkets to pay for breaks taken during shifts, which Aldi says means its staff are the best-paid in the sector.