senior Scoops

A recent article in the Supermarket News made the claim that someone from roughly 25% of all American households has visited an Aldi location. Two out of every five customers in 2024 were new to the company. Aldi is clearly in a growth phase.

The Illinois-based grocery chain first came to the United States in 1976 when the German company opened its first U.S. store in Iowa. Since then, it has grown to over 2,440 stores across thirty-eight states and Washington, D.C. After years of steady growth, the company announced plans in a March press release to accelerate its expansion, aiming to add 800 new stores nationwide by the end of 2028. So far this year, Aldi has opened about 120 new stores.

If you haven’t been to an Aldi yet, prepare yourself for a unique shopping experience. The company’s business approach can be summed up in one word: minimalist.

First, you’ll need a quarter to get a shopping cart. Insert your coin into the handle of the cart, and it releases a chain connecting the carts together. You won’t see cart collectors in the parking lot. When you return your cart, you’ll get your quarter back—and if you don’t want to bother returning it, someone else will gladly do it for that quarter.

Inside the store, you’ll notice the simple, no-frills atmosphere. Products are displayed in their original shipping boxes, and you won’t find many premium brand names.

The typical Aldi store measures about 20,000 square feet—less than half the size of a conventional 50,000-square-foot supermarket. You can browse the entire store quickly, which is helpful since there are few staff members available to assist customers..

At checkout, you’ll find some of the fastest cashiers around. You’ll pack your own groceries, preferably in bags you’ve brought from home. These practices are part of Aldi’s smart strategy to keep prices low.

Aldi’s approach has resonated with customers across the country. A Kiplinger report from February of this year listed Aldi as one of the 10 best grocery chains in the US.

Are you part of the 25% of Americans who have visited an Aldi market?

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