Aldi to Add 4,000 U.K. Jobs as Discount Retail Booms

(Bloomberg) — Aldi Stores Ltd. plans to create 4,000 new U.K. jobs next year as the growth of discounters boosts Britain’s otherwise shrinking retail sector.

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Inside An Aldi Stores Ltd. Supermarket As Chain Sets Sustainability Goals

The German cut-price grocer said it will invest 1.3 billion pounds ($1.7 billion) over the next two years in opening 100 new stores, upgrading a further 100 and making other improvements. Many U.K. retailers are cutting jobs in order to survive the pandemic, though supermarkets have thrived during lockdowns.

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Inside An Aldi Stores Ltd.

Aldi, which entered the U.K. 30 years ago, pledged the investment as it said sales in the U.K. and Ireland rose by 8.3% to 12.3 billion pounds in the year through Dec. 31, 2019, despite the grocery market growing by just 1% overall.

Although the pandemic has fueled online grocery shopping, something Aldi does on only a limited scale, the discounter said the latest data showed its U.K. sales have continued to rise by 10% in the 12 weeks through Sept. 6, with its market share at 8%. Aldi has added 3,000 permanent roles this year.

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