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Aldi to open 1000 new stores across Europe
Allan Hall in Berlin29.05.09
German retailing titan Aldi is poised to open 1000 new stores Europewide next year, with many planned for the UK.
The no-frills chain has grown in allure as the recession bites.Company sources in Germany said "simple analysis" of the worldwide slump showed that consumers rate saving on shopping higher than ever before.
At the end of last year, Aldi had 4745 stores abroad and 4267 in Germany. Its most popular foreign markets are Britain, Switzerland, Austria, France, the Benelux countries, Spain and Portugal.
Aldi last year took €26billion (£22.8 billion) in turnover abroad compared with the �24 billion it took in Germany.
Germany's Manager Magazin reports on the Aldi effect on consumer habits in its issue out today.
Aldi's innovative logistics system for fresh produce and the range of things on offer - the latest is vouchers for hire cars - has allowed it to appeal to customers of all classes and pay packets who don't mind being seen shopping in stores with all the warmth of a warehouse.
