Aldi worker says stores are deliberately much smaller than other supermarkets

08 February 2023 , 16:26

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Aldi's smaller stores help to save them money and offer lower prices (Image: Getty Images)

Low grocery prices and super speedy checkout systems are what budget supermarket Aldi is most famous for - but have you ever wondered how they manage it? An Aldi worker has shared some insider knowledge with the Mirror on just some of the ways the company keep things so simple for customers.

From carefully-curated product ranges to several energy efficiency improvements, there are many clever techniques that save the popular German retailer money and time. Managing director of buying at Aldi, Julie Ashfield, says it all starts with the actual building itself - which you might've noticed is much smaller than rivals.

Smaller stores

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Julie explains there are lots of ways the budget supermarket keeps prices low (Aldi)

Typically big supermarket superstores can be up to 70,000 ft² in size, whereas the average Aldi store is just 16,400 ft².

Less space also means less being spent on running costs and maintenance, allowing Aldi to offer lower prices at tills.

It also means a quicker shopper experience for customers - even when you account for time being spent (or distracted!) in the middle aisles.

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Less is more

While big supermarkets offer a dizzying array of different types of the same product, Aldi keeps it simple by selling one type of each.

For example, other supermarkets will have big brands of lemonade and their own label, while Aldi will stick to one which matches the leading brand on quality and volume.

This creates economies of scale and keeps the price of lemonade low for Aldi shoppers. It's a winning formula that is one of the big reasons why Aldi's prices are lower than its rivals'.

Energy savings

Aldi worker says stores are deliberately much smaller than other supermarkets

Staff are trained in all aspects so they can quickly jump onto checkouts at busy times (Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Since becoming carbon neutral in January 2019, Aldi UK has continually worked to reduce its carbon footprint through cutting its energy consumption.

The introduction of chiller doors, for example, saves the equivalent of over 2,000 tonnes of carbon emissions a year, while Aldi's Project Fresh investment works to refurbish stores and improve their energy efficiency.

By using less energy, Aldi is able to make savings elsewhere in the business to benefit customers.

Skilled colleagues

Not only is Aldi the UK's best-paying supermarket, it also prides itself on the training and development opportunities it offers to all colleagues.

However, it's not just about ensuring its workforce are as happy and well-equipped for their roles as possible - it's also a smart way of keeping prices low.

Aldi train colleagues to work on all areas of every store, meaning it can benefit from having a smaller team of people who are experts on everything – from scanning groceries to keeping shelves stocked at any time.