Aldi customers are now discovering that certain stores have in-house bakeries, drawing comparisons to competitor Lidl. The discount retailer began testing in-store bakeries in 2019, and currently, 25 stores offer this feature. A shopper from Gosport, Hampshire, shared on the Aldi UK Shoppers Facebook page her surprise at finding a bakery in her local Aldi.
The post generated a flurry of responses from other customers, expressing a desire for bakery sections in their nearby stores. Some customers noted similarities to Lidl, renowned for its bakery offerings. Meanwhile, Aldi recently disclosed plans to open new stores in priority locations across the UK as part of a £650 million investment this year.
The supermarket is seeking locations capable of accommodating a 20,000 sq ft store with around 100 parking spaces, ideally near main roads with good visibility. Additionally, Aldi is scouting sites for its smaller Aldi Local store format in Central London zones one and two. The company also announced the opening of ten new stores this summer, including locations in Surrey, South Yorkshire, and London.
Aldi’s commitment to making high-quality, affordable food accessible to all is evident in its expansion strategy. Store assistants have received a pay raise this year, with hourly rates now starting at £12.75 and £14.05 within the M25, with further increases planned for September 2025. This wage increase will set minimum rates at £12.85 per hour nationally and £14.16 per hour for employees within the M25.