Aldi will open 180 new stores by 2026 in a major nationwide expansion plan
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Budget grocery chain Aldi is expanding its presence in the US
The company announced Monday that it plans to open more than 180 stores by the end of 2026, pushing its total to about 2,800 this year. Its goal is to operate around 3,200 stores by the end of 2028.
As part of the company’s growth plans over the next five years, it will enter the Colorado market for the first time while opening additional stores in Southeast and Western markets. It also has plans to open three new distribution centers in Florida, Colorado and Arizona.
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Aldi, which is entering its 50th year in the US, said the expansion meets “ongoing demand” for its simple and cost-effective operating model.
Aldi announced on Monday that it will open more than 180 stores by the end of 2026. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
“In 2026 we are focused on making it easier for customers to shop our aisles first,” Aldi’s US CEO Atty McGrath said in a statement. “That means bringing ALDI to even more locations, improving our website and planning more distribution centers to keep our shelves stocked.”
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Aldi operates using a passive model, keeping costs low by selling a limited selection of private label products in smaller stores. Areas are also relatively understaffed.
Aldi supermarket in Alhambra, California. (Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
For example, customers deposit a refundable quarter to use shopping carts, which the company says reduces the need to hire additional staff to collect carts, and saves customers more money.
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The demand for cheap groceries has increased as consumers face higher everyday costs.
Aldi operates using a passive model, keeping costs low by selling a limited selection of private label products in smaller stores. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Aldi said in its announcement that “ALDI’s next wave of growth is fueled by its customers” with 17 million new customers visiting stores by 2025 alone.
Key markets where Aldi operates:
- Maine: In 2026, Aldi will enter Maine. It will open a store in downtown Portland.
- Colorado: More than 50 stores are planned for the Denver and Colorado Springs markets, supported by an accompanying distribution center.
- Arizona: The grocer will open 10 new stores in the Phoenix market by 2026, with plans to add a total of 40 new stores in the market by the end of 2030.
- Las Vegas: The retailer plans to double the current store count by 2030.
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- Southeast: Aldi plans to continue its expansion in the Southeast in 2026 by converting close to 80 Southeastern Grocers locations to the Aldi format. Since acquiring Southeastern Grocers in 2024, Aldi has converted and opened nearly 90 stores, with plans to convert more than 200 in total by the end of 2027.
