More than 1,300 Aldi stores in the U.S. are getting a makeover in the Batavia, Ill.-based retailer's $1.6 billion plan to expand and remodel stores by 2020.
The plan, the company says, is to accommodate more fresh items including fresh fruit and vegetables (organics included), dairy and bakery. Store design plans include open ceilings, more natural light and environmentally-friendly building materials.
“With this significant investment in our stores, what we're really doing is continuing to invest in Aldi customers,” says Jason Hart, Aldi CEO, in a news release. “We're continuing to expand our fresh offerings, which means we need to provide more space for produce, meat and bakery items. We've also made a number of improvements to our products, such as removing added MSG, certified synthetic colors and partially hydrogenated oils from all of our Aldi exclusive brand foods.”
The company says it serves more than 40 million customers per month, a 60% increase since 2013.
The company also is expanding its footprint coast-to-coast, including 650 new stores, expecting to operate nearly 2,000 stores by the end of 2018.