Aldi marks three decades of growth and community impact in Scotland – Scottish Business News

Popular discount supermarket, Aldi, is celebrating 30 years in Scotland this month. 

Since opening the doors to its first store on Glencairn Street in Kilmarnock in November 1994, it has grown into a household name, known for delivering exceptional value and quality. 

Over three decades, Aldi has expanded its footprint with 106 stores across Scotland now, providing thousands of jobs and investment via new stores and local community programmes.

The business is a major employer in Scotland with over 3,600 staff located between its stores and headquarters in Bathgate.

Aldi is also set to open its latest store in Castle Douglas in November, bringing 25 new jobs to the local community.  

Its charity projects, including its popular Supermarket Sweep and Sports Fund initiatives, have donated over £475,000 to foodbanks and local sports teams since they first began in 2016. 

Aldi has now won the Which? cheapest supermarket for three years in a row and has scooped the monthly award eleven times in a row. As it continues to demonstrate real value to shoppers, the supermarket has soared in popularity, welcoming an additional five million customers through its doors in 2023, with numbers set to increase by the end of this year.  

Much of this success could be attested to Aldi’s commitment to championing locally produced food and drink, which continues to be recognised by shoppers and the industry. It is the only retailer to have a dedicated Scottish Buying Department, and it currently works with more than 90 Scottish suppliers and stocks 450 Scottish products 

In 2020, Aldi opened a £22 million freezer and chill facility in Bathgate, reinforcing its commitment to support Scotland’s food and drink industry. The new warehousing facility provides an extra 182,986 sq. ft of space to help meet the growing demand for Aldi products in Scotland. 

Recently, Aldi was awarded ‘Best of Scottish’ for the third time in the last four years at the Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards 2024, which recognises businesses that place Scottish sourcing at the heart of their consumer experience and proudly promote Scottish provenance.  

Graham Nicolson, Regional Managing Director, said: “Our 30-year milestone is a testament to our commitment to Scotland. It’s really special to look back at how far we’ve come as a business since our first store opened in Kilmarnock – we are incredibly grateful to our loyal customers and devoted team members who have been with us every step of the way. 

“Looking to the future, we remain committed to the strong relationships we have built with our Scottish suppliers, allowing our customers the opportunity to purchase locally sourced, high-quality Scottish products at affordable prices. Here’s to the next 30 years.”