UNITED KINGDOM - It appears that 33 new Aldi stores could be touching down in markets across the United Kingdom very soon. Recent reports from across the pond revealed that the grocery chain is on the lookout for new store locations as it continues its expansion drive around the world.

“Aldi is growing rapidly, and we are welcoming around a million new customers into our stores every year,” said Ciaran Aldridge, National Property Director for Aldi UK, according to Ludlow & Tenbury Wells Advertiser. “But there are also hundreds of towns across the U.K. where there is not an Aldi, meaning there are hundreds of thousands of people who can’t easily access the high quality, affordable food our customers love. We are willing to explore all opportunities, including developer-led schemes or existing retail unites.”

The news source reported that Aldi is planning on opening nine new stores in Worcestershire towns, where it is looking for freehold town-center or edge-of-center sites for development. In addition, Aldi has identified 13 new store locations across Nottinghamshire, according to NottinghamshireLive, and 11 new supermarket locations across Hertfordshire that could welcome a new branch, according to HertsLive.

Each prospective site would be around 1.5 acres, which would house a 20,000-square-foot store.

Why the massive expansion, you ask? Aldi’s latest push for new brick-and-mortar stores is part of its target project to open 1,200 stores by 2025. Currently, Aldi operates 880 stores across the U.K.

How will Aldi’s latest expansion affect the grocery market as a whole? And how will this growth bolster its partnerships with suppliers? AndNowUKnow will continue to report.

Aldi UK