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Last Updated:
2024-09-22 08:20:01

Aldi

German discount supermarket chains
German discount supermarket chains

Aldi is a German discount supermarket chain founded in 1946 by brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht. It operates over 12,000 stores in 18 countries, split into Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd in 1960.

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1913
Karl Albrecht Sr. Starts Trading in Baked Goods

In 1913, Karl Albrecht Sr., a former coal miner, began trading in baked goods, laying the foundation for the future retail giant Aldi.

1919
Expansion of Anna Albrecht's Small Store

In 1919, Anna Albrecht expanded the small store in Essen, Germany, marking a significant growth in the family business.

1930
Karl Albrecht Sr. Falls Ill with Emphysema

In the 1930s, Karl Albrecht Sr. fell ill with emphysema, leading to his inability to work, prompting his wife Anna to take over the family store.

1945
Aldi founded by Anna Albrecht's sons

After receiving their mother's small store, Anna Albrecht's sons turned it into a chain and split it into two companies, naming it Aldi, short for Albrecht Diskont.

1946
Founding of Aldi

In 1946, brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht took over their mother's store in Essen, Germany, and founded Aldi, a discount supermarket chain.

1948
Karl and Theo Albrecht take over the business and expand to four stores in Germany

In 1948, Karl and Theo Albrecht, sons of Anna Albrecht, took over the family business and expanded it to four stores across Germany, marking the early growth of the Aldi brand.

1950
Expansion of Albrecht Brothers' Store Chain

By 1950, the Albrecht brothers, Karl and Theo, had expanded their store chain to own 13 stores in the Ruhr Valley region.

1954
Aldi expands to 77 stores

In 1954, Aldi expanded to a total of 77 stores due to its below-average price model, slowly dominating the market in Germany and spreading across Europe.

1960
Split of Aldi

In 1960, the Albrecht brothers split the company over a disagreement about selling cigarettes. Karl Albrecht believed it would attract shoplifters, while Theo Albrecht did not. This led to the formation of Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd.

1961
Split of Aldi Business

In 1961, the Aldi business was split into two divisions by the Albrecht brothers due to a disagreement over selling cigarettes. Karl took control of stores in southwest West Germany, while Theo managed stores in the northern part.

1962
Opening of First Aldi Store

In 1962, the first store under the name Aldi was opened, offering a small selection of goods sold directly from pallets. This marked the beginning of the Aldi retail chain.

1966
Financial and Legal Separation of Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd

Since 1966, Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd have been financially and legally separate entities, although they may appear as a single enterprise in certain aspects.

1967
International Expansion of Aldi

Aldi started its international expansion in 1967 when Aldi Süd acquired the grocery chain Hofer in Austria. Aldi Nord followed by opening stores abroad in the Netherlands in 1973, leading to further expansion into other countries.

1968
International Expansion of Aldi

In 1968, Aldi expanded internationally by acquiring the Austrian chain store Hofer, which had approximately 30 branches. This move marked Aldi's entry into the global market.

1976-03
Aldi's Expansion to the United States

Aldi made its way to the United States from Essen, Germany through an undisclosed investment in Benner Tea Co., a grocer in Burlington, Iowa. The store, originally a Giant Food store, reopened as Aldi in late March of 1976.

1979
Acquisition of Trader Joe's

In 1979, an Albrecht family trust associated with Aldi Nord purchased Trader Joe's, a chain with over 500 stores in the US. This acquisition expanded Aldi's presence in the American market.

1980
Aldi's global expansion

Aldi has grown into a global empire with more than 12,000 stores worldwide, including in the US, the UK, Australia, and France. It plans to open 800 more stores in the US in the next five years.

1984
Introduction of Fridges in Aldi Süd Stores

In 1984, Aldi Süd introduced fridges in its stores, enabling the sale of a wider range of products. This innovation marked a significant development in Aldi's retail strategy.

1990-04-05
Aldi Launches First Store in Great Britain

Aldi opened its first store in Great Britain in Stechford, Birmingham, marking its entry into the British market.

1999
Aldi Enters Irish Market

Aldi expanded its operations to Ireland in 1999, marking its entry into the Irish market.

2000
Expansion into Australia, Slovenia, and Hungary

In the early 2000s, Aldi expanded its presence into Australia, Slovenia, and Hungary.

2001-01-25
Opening of First Australian Stores

Aldi opened its first two stores in Australia located at Bankstown Airport and Marrickville in Greater Sydney. Customers eagerly lined up to experience Aldi's 'Smarter Shopping' concept, offering exclusive branded products and competitive prices.

2002-12
Survey on Aldi's Market Share in Germany

In December 2002, a survey conducted by the German market research institute Forsa found that a significant percentage of different occupational groups in Germany shop at Aldi, with high percentages across blue-collar workers, white-collar workers, public servants, and self-employed individuals.

2004
Aldi stores start accepting debit cards

Starting from 2004, Aldi stores began accepting debit cards as a payment method, expanding beyond cash transactions.

2005-05
Launch of Print and Television Ads in UK and Ireland

Since May 2005, print and television ads have been appearing in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

2007
Aldi Süd's Expansion into Hungary

In 2007, Aldi Süd expanded its operations into Hungary, increasing its presence in Central Europe.

2008-11
Aldi Süd's Investment in Greece

From November 2008 until December 2010, Aldi Süd invested an estimated €800m in Greece before eventually pulling out at the end of 2010.

2009
Diskont petrol stations established in Austria

Aldi, through its subsidiary Hofer, established no-frills petrol stations called Diskont in Austria in 2009. These stations provide self-serve unleaded or diesel fuel.

2010-12-31
Aldi Süd's Withdrawal from Greece

Aldi Süd pulled out of the Greek market on 31 December 2010 after investing a significant amount in the country.

2011
Aldi stores opened in Connecticut, Florida, Texas, and Georgia

In 2011, Aldi expanded its presence in the United States by opening stores in Connecticut, Florida, Texas, and Georgia.

2013-10
Aldi Opens 300th Store in Great Britain

Aldi reached a milestone by opening its 300th store in Great Britain, showcasing its rapid expansion in the country.

2014-10
Aldi Germany accepts Visa/MasterCard without surcharge

Starting from October 2014, Aldi stores in Germany began accepting Visa and MasterCard without any additional fees, making it more convenient for customers to use credit cards for payments.

2015-09
Aldi Germany accepts Visa/MasterCard without surcharge

From September 2015, Aldi stores in Germany started accepting Visa and MasterCard without any additional charges, improving payment convenience for customers.

2016-07-07
Aldi Suisse accepts Apple Pay

On July 7, 2016, Aldi Suisse became one of the early adopters of the Apple Pay contactless payment system, providing customers with more convenient payment options.

2018-03-01
Aldi Süd's expansion into Italy

On March 1, 2018, Aldi Süd opened its first 10 stores in Italy. Over the course of the first year, they opened a total of 51 outlets, with plans to further expand in the country.

2018-08-09
Aldi (Nord) Expansion of Product Selection

On August 9, 2018, Aldi (Nord) announced plans to broaden its product range by introducing more organic, fresh, and easy-to-prepare meals in the United States.

2018-08-12
Aldi's Explosive Growth

Aldi, starting as a corner store in Germany, has expanded significantly to become one of the largest supermarket chains globally.

2018-09-18
Aldi Grocery Delivery Announcement

On September 18, 2018, Aldi revealed its intention to provide grocery delivery services in the United States, following testing in select cities like Atlanta and Chicago.

2019-03
Aldi Süd Launches Aldi Local Stores in the UK

In March 2019, Aldi Süd introduced smaller-format stores in the UK named Aldi Local, featuring a more limited product range, a focus on fresh items, and unique shopping experiences.

2019-08
Aldi's $3.4 billion investment for US expansion

In August 2019, Aldi announced a $3.4 billion investment to expand to 2,500 stores in the US by the end of 2022. Additionally, they planned to renovate 1,300 existing stores with an extra $1.6 billion investment.

2019-10
Aldi's growth in northern Italy

By October 2019, Aldi had 66 stores operating in northern Italy. The company was also planning to open 80 new stores in the country and establish a distribution center in Landriano.

2019-11
Aldi announces same-day beer and wine delivery in the US

In November 2019, Aldi revealed plans for same-day beer and wine delivery in the US through a partnership with Instacart.

2020-03-04
Aldi Sustainable Packaging Initiative

Aldi declared on March 4, 2020, that all its suppliers must transition to recyclable, reusable, or compostable packaging by 2025.

2022-12-09
Aldi's withdrawal from Denmark

On December 9, 2022, Aldi Nord announced the withdrawal of Aldi from Denmark after 45 years of operations. A significant number of stores were taken over by Norwegian competitor Rema 1000.

2023-03-03
Scott's Refrigerated Logistics goes into receivership

Australian trucking giant Scott's Refrigerated Logistics faced receivership and liquidation on March 3, 2023, after voluntary administration in February. The Transport Workers' Union blamed ALDI Australia for contributing to the company's financial strain.

2023-08-16
Acquisition of Winn-Dixie and Harveys by Aldi Süd

On August 16, 2023, Aldi Süd entered into an agreement to acquire Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket, including approximately 400 stores across several states in the US. This marked a significant expansion of Aldi's presence in the American market.

2028
Aldi's Expansion Plans

Aldi plans to open an additional 800 stores in the US by the end of 2028, aiming to reach a total of nearly 3,200 stores. The expansion includes new stores in the Northeast, Midwest, southern California, and Arizona.

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Aldi
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