As competitors shutter unprofitable stores and shrink their physical footprints, Aldi is doubling down on growth – opening new locations at a pace few rivals can match.
The German discount grocer said Monday that it plans to open 180 new locations by the end of 2026.
In 2025, the small-format chain said it planned to open 225 locations. That follows the roughly 120 stores opened in 2024.
The expansion poses a substantial threat to larger competitors like Kroger and Albertsons – the two largest pure-play grocers in the country – both of which are closing unprofitable stores.
Kroger and Albertsons are likely to feel the pressure most in states such as Colorado, where the two chains dominate and Aldi plans to enter this year.
Aldi’s rapid expansion
Aldi operates 2,625 US locations as of Jan. 6, according to Scrapehero, and has a long-term goal of growing to roughly 3,200 stores by the end of 2028. The investment in new store openings is expected to cost the company roughly $9 billion by 2028, according to Aldi.
The grocer’s most aggressive push will take place in Colorado. Aldi said it plans to open 50 locations within the next five years in Denver and Colorado Springs.
The company is also opening a distribution center in Aurora, Colo., in 2029, along with one in Goodyear, Ariz., in 2028 and Baldwin, Fla., in 2027.
Metro Phoenix, Ariz., which already has about 15 Aldi stores, will get 10 more in 2026. Aldi plans to open 40 more Phoenix-area stores by the end of 2030.
Westward expansion continues in Las Vegas, Nev., where Aldi operates four locations and plans to open four more by 2030.
Aldi also plans to enter the Maine market in 2026 with a store in Portland.
“One in three US households shopped at Aldi this past year, and in 2026 we’re focused on making it even easier for customers to shop our aisles first,” said Atty McGrath, CEO, Aldi US. “That means bringing Aldi to even more neighborhoods, upgrading our website and planning additional distribution centers to keep our shelves stocked with the products our shoppers love.”
Growth through acquisition
New locations are only part of Aldi’s growth plan. The discount grocer is also growing through its acquisition of Southeastern Grocers in early 2024.
Aldi announced in 2025 its plan to convert 220 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets to the Aldi banner through 2027. Roughly 90 stores were converted in 2025.
Aldi divested roughly 170 Winn-Dixie and Harveys locations to C&S Wholesale Grocers.
The no-frills chain said it will continue its Southeast expansion in 2026 by converting roughly 80 more Winn-Dixie and Harveys locations to the Aldi banner.
New Aldi website coming in 2026
Big changes are also coming for online Aldi shoppers, with plans for a new online portal in early 2026.
“Recognizing that customers increasingly expect to complete their weekly grocery shop online, Aldi is redesigning its current website to deliver a seamless online experience that matches the ease of in-store shopping,” Aldi said. “The mission is to simplify the shopping experience by helping customers effortlessly plan their trips, easily locate the products they need and save valuable time – whether shopping online or preparing for an in-store visit.”
The revamped website will feature product recommendations tailored to customers’ past orders, shoppable recipes and meal-planning tools.
The new website follows a packaging overhaul announced in September, in which Aldi put its name on every product and launched its first namesake brand.
“Our research shows customers associate Aldi with affordability, value, quality and convenience. Now, they can feel confident knowing our trusted name is behind every exclusive product in their cart,” Aldi Chief Commercial Officer Scott Patton said in September.
Aldi expansion versus competitors
Aldi’s small footprint of roughly 20,000 square feet per store gives the grocery chain an edge over competitors like Walmart, Kroger, Albertsons and Target, which can range in size from 50,000 to 200,000 square feet.
The grocer’s strategy of keeping operations simple – lean staff, self-checkout and low inventory list – also helps Aldi keep new store opening costs low, enabling it to outpace brick-and-mortar growth of its competitors.
The Kroger Co., which operates nearly two dozen separate grocery banners, announced plans in mid-2025 to shutter roughly 60 underperforming stores and open or renovate 30 locations.
Similarly, Albertsons Cos closed 29 locations in 2025 across its portfolio of banners and opened nine, following its failed merger with Kroger.
Walmart and Target have remained relatively flat on store openings. In 2025, Walmart focused largely on renovations of existing stores, with plans for 150 remodels or new store openings over the next few years.
Target said in March that it planned to open roughly 20 new stores in 2025.
