Aldi set to open 40 UK&I stores in 2027 despite pressure on earnings

Discount supermarket Aldi has pledged to invest £900 million in another 40 new UK & Ireland stores and its warehouse network next year despite having seen annual earnings dip.

The German-owned chain reported operating profits down 1% at £432.9 million in 2025, against earnings of £435.5 million the previous year, as investment in prices and a rising wage bill offset a 5% increase in sales.

Pretax profit meanwhile dipped by 3.8% to £400.5 million for the year.

It said turnover, however, lifted to a record £19 billion over the year.

Aldi, which already has 1,092 shops across the UK and Ireland, said it would open another 40 stores in 2027 as part of a £900 million record investment plan for next year.

The UK's fourth largest grocery chain said it was opening 30 new stores over the next 10 weeks alone as it ramps up its expansion programme, including Dumbarton, Newport and Willesden in London.

The group has previously said it wants to reach 1,500 shops across the UK with a drive to "focus on communities cut off from affordable groceries due to lack of local choice or competition".

The investment plan will also include work on its warehouse and distribution network.

Aldi also said it would continue cutting prices in the run-up to Christmas, following a £340 million price cut campaign so this year.

Giles Hurley, chief executive of Aldi UK & Ireland, said: "The cost of food remains one of the biggest pressures on households across the country.

"Recent droughts at home and events overseas have highlighted just how fragile our food system is and why food security must be a long-term national priority."

Hurley told reporters on Monday that "we aren't seeing any systemic food shortages" but admitted that conditions were "unprecedented" over the summer.

It comes amid warnings that the El Nino weather system could lead to more droughts and floods later this year, putting further pressure on global food security.

The boss also stressed that it is "hard to predict" the outlook for food inflation but said the company would continue investments in order to keep prices low compared with UK supermarket rivals.

Hurley added: "We're working hard to make good food more affordable for every family – cutting prices on everyday essentials, signing long-term supplier agreements to help increase home-grown production, and continuing to bring affordable groceries to even more communities through our store opening programme."

By Holly Williams and Henry Saker-Clark, Press Association Business Desk

source: PA

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