DISCOUNT supermarket giant Aldi has revealed it wants to build a new store in Pershore as part of its plans for 100 new stores in the next two years.
The UK’s fifth largest supermarket has been on an expansion drive in recent years and has ear-marked nine areas in the country.
As well as opening its doors in Pershore, Aldi chiefs have suggested a third store in Evesham is on the cards.
The supermarket has a store on the Sinclair Retail Park and despite closing its Swan Lane store in April the German giant wishes to make a swift return.
Speaking after the closure of the town centre store was announced earlier this year a spokesman said: “The site is no longer suitable for our long-term requirements.
“We’d like to assure you that Aldi remains committed to serving the people of Evesham and we hope that current customers continue to shop with us at our new store at Sinclair Retail Park.”
The supermarket has pledged to invest £1.3billion by 2023 in a bid to further grow its retail estate, as it continues to push ahead with plans to open an average of one new store a week.
Aldi, which now has more than 920 stores across the UK, is searching for freehold town-centre or edge-of-centre sites suitable for property development.
The supermarket says it is on the lookout for sites that are big enough to accommodate a 20,000 sq ft store and around 100 dedicated parking spaces, preferably on a prominent main road and with good visibility and access.
Additionally, Aldi will also be investing in the development of new and expanded distribution centres.
Richard Thornton, communications director at Aldi UK, said: “We’re continuing to gain even more customers – with more than 60 per cent of UK households shopping with Aldi in the last year.
“Our focus is on expanding our store estate, making sure Aldi is accessible to as many of these new shoppers across the country as possible. Looking ahead, we are excited to provide millions of new customers with access to Aldi’s award-winning quality and unbeatable value as we create even more places and more ways to shop with us.”
The supermarket giant is also looking to open stores in Hagley, Kidderminster, Redditch, Stourport-on-Severn. Great Malvern and Tenbury Wells
It also hopes to add to its three sites in Worcester.
