BATAVIA, IL - Aldi has unveiled more of its plans to expand in the United States, this time detailing the launch of up to 45 new Southern California stores.

Aldi confirmed that it expects to open approximately 25 stores in Southern California by July 2016, with the first of those stores opening in March next year. By the end of 2016, the company will employ more than 1,100 people to work at its Southern California stores, as well as its regional headquarters and warehouse in Moreno Valley, California, according to a press release. Aldi will ultimately create more than 10,000 new jobs at its stores, warehouses, and division offices nationwide.

This aggressive expansion is part of its $3 billion investment to pay for land, facilities, and equipment. Aldi calls its growth in California an “integral part” of a five-year strategic plan to open 650 new stores across the nation.

“We recognize and value the excellent customer experience that our employees at every level deliver each day, and we know that we would not be growing at this accelerated pace without them,” said Jason Hart, CEO. “Our approach to attracting, and, equally as important, retaining the best employees is two-fold.”

Wages for store associates at these Southern California stores will start at $13 per hour, with an opportunity for long-standing associates to earn up to $21 per hour. For Moreno Valley warehouse associates, Aldi says it will offer a starting wage of $19 per hour, with an opportunity for long-standing warehouse associates to earn up to $26 per hour.

“At Aldi, we firmly believe that amazing quality can be affordable, and we are excited to bring our small-format, convenient grocery shopping experience to Southern California,” said Hart.

Bryan Gildenberg, Head of Research for Kantar Retail, explained that California could work well for Aldi, noting that the supermarkets in the state tend to be expensive while “California has an older, low-income population that find the retailer’s simple, midsize stores easy to navigate,” he said, according to the Wall Street Journal.  

These expansion plans come at a time when Aldi’s UK rival, Lidl, also announced its intention to enter the U.S. market by 2018. As we reported previously, however, Lidl may enter the U.S. somewhat earlier if its two potential North Carolina sites come to fruition.

Aldi currently operates approximately 1,400 stores in 32 states, primarily from Kansas to the East Coast, and employs more than 19,000 people.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to track Aldi’s expansion into California.

Aldi