Aldi Gets a New Look

Discount grocer Aldi is spearheading a $1.6 billion initiative to remodel and expand more than 1,300 of its U.S. stores by 2020.Remodeled stores will place a larger focus on fresh items through more robust produce, dairy and bakery sections. The stores also will boast a more modern design, open ceilings, natural lighting and environmentally friendly building materials including recycled materials, energy-saving refrigeration and LED lighting.“We’re continuing to expand our fresh offerings, which means we need to provide more space for produce, meat, and bakery items,” Aldi chief executive officer Jason Hart said in a media release. “We’ve also made a number of improvements to our products, such as removing added MSG, certified synthetic colors and partially hydrogenated oils from all of our Aldi exclusive brand foods.”The German grocer operates more than 1,600 U.S. stores across 35 states and plans to grow that number to nearly 2,000 by 2018.The Institute recently visited Aldi stores in Champaign, IL, and Palatine, IL, to look for improvements. Below is what we found. New category markers along the stores' perimeters are easily visible from the entrance, directing shoppers to sections including the “wine cellar,” bakery and dairy.Signage near the produce section underscores freshness.In the Aldi Palatine location, an endcap header highlighted organic produce, employing a “So you can eat better for less” message. Products from national and private-label brands are still merchandised on shelf trays for the most part. However, a floorstand stocking laundry detergent pods from Procter & Gamble’s Tide and Gain was spotted at the Aldi Palatine location.

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