Aldi reveals £300m investment plans as sales reach record levels

Discount German supermarket chain Aldi is set to invest £300m in its UK stores after reporting a record year in sales.

In 2015 Aldi’s sales in the UK and Ireland reached £7.7bn, which is an £812m increase from the year before.

Aldi, which currently has 659 UK stores, will be investing in the opening of 70 new stores by 2017 as part of a wider plan to launch 1,000 stores by 2022.

The supermarket chain also plans to refurbish over 100 stores next year.

Matthew Barnes, chief executive of Aldi UK and Ireland, said: “During the past five years we have invested close to £1.7bn in the UK by opening more stores than any other supermarket and enhancing our distribution capabilities.

“Our future capital expenditure plans are unchanged - we will continue to make significant investments in our business, paying our employees more than any other supermarket.”

In addition, Aldi reported a 1.8% drop in operating profits to £255.6m (from £260.4m in 2014). The supermarket chain that this was due to its continued investment in the business.

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