Dive Brief:
- Aldi will open two stores on Long Island, New York, in the first half of this year, bringing its store count in the region to eight, according to a company press release sent to Grocery Dive.
- One store will open in the village of Valley Stream on Feb. 27, the grocer’s first in Nassau County. Another will be located in North Babylon, though the company did not announce an opening date.
- The expansion is part of Aldi’s more than $5 billion investment to remodel 1,300 existing stores and open hundreds of new ones across the U.S. The company said this will make it the third-largest grocer by store count by the end of 2022.
Dive Insight:
Aldi is opening these stores after nearly 10 years of operating on Long Island, Aldi’s South Windsor division vice president Bruce Persohn said in a statement. "The goal of our expansion nationally and locally is to reach new shoppers, and we are growing on Long Island because people want Aldi in their communities," Persohn said.
While it may already have a presence there, Aldi’s decision to open up additional stores stems from competitors targeting this area in recent months. Lidl, in particular, is investing heavily in its Long Island presence, with plans to have eight new stores on Long Island by this summer. Lidl has said it sees potential for as many as 50 Long Island stores.
Stop & Shop also announced in October $133 million in upgrades at 21 of its stores in the area. The upgrades, intended to improve the shopper experience, include new kitchens, expanded prepared and made-to-order food departments, new cafes and speedier checkout.
BJ’s Wholesale Club is also a big player on Long Island, with several locations already operating and a new one proposed at a former Macy’s site, though it is currently facing some opposition.
Aldi’s recent evolution in its store model and product assortment will help it remain competitive in the growing discount store marketplace. The grocer is in its second year of remodeling and opening stores that emphasize fresh produce, ready-to-cook and grab-and-go foods and fresh bakeries.
Across the U.S., Aldi has doubled its store count in the last decade, the Wall Street Journal reported, and it’s on track with its targeted investment. In addition to New York, the grocer’s website notes some new or remodeled stores are opening in California, Ohio, Illinois and Florida.
