Aldi has announced plans to open 16 new stores across the UK in the coming months, with a location in the West Midlands making the shortlist. The German supermarket chain, which already operates more than 1,080 stores in the UK, will expand into England, Wales, and the Isle of Wight.
New Store Locations
The confirmed locations include Watford and Hoxton in London, Hattersley in Greater Manchester, and Balsall Common near Solihull in the West Midlands. Other sites are Newport on the Isle of Wight, Bishops Cleeve in Cheltenham, Newport in South Wales, Orpington, Ashford in Kent, Rayleigh in Essex, Marble Arch in London, Malton in North Yorkshire, Port Talbot in Wales, Sutton Coldfield in West London, Wigan in Greater Manchester, and Sudbury in Suffolk.
Investment and Ambition
The chain stated that these launches are part of its long-term ambition to operate 1,500 stores across the UK. This follows the opening of Aldi's new Salford Quays store in May and forms part of a planned £370 million investment in new stores during 2026.
Jonathan Neale, managing director of National Real Estate at Aldi UK, said: “At Aldi, we’re committed to making high-quality, affordable food accessible to everyone, which is why we continue to invest in expanding our store network across the UK. Our £370 million investment in new stores this year will help us bring Aldi’s unbeatable value to even more communities, supporting local economies through our industry-leading pay for colleagues.”
Opening Dates and Pay
Aldi did not share specific opening dates for the new branches. In April, store assistants at Aldi's UK branches saw their pay increase to £13.50 per hour nationally, with those inside the M25 earning £14.88. These rates rise to £14.47 and £15.20 respectively based on length of service. Aldi said the change would benefit 28,000 hourly-paid store workers. Other major retailers that increased hourly pay in 2026 include Sainsbury's, Primark, and John Lewis.
