Discount grocery Aldi announced a long-term goal of investing $9 billion over the next five years to open 800 new U.S. locations.
The new stores will come in the form of new openings and existing store conversions, the Batavia, Ill.-based grocer said in a press release.
The rapid expansion plan includes the grocer’s pending purchase of Southeastern Grocers, owner of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets banners, the company said.
“With this commitment to add 800 stores in the next five years, we’ll be where our shoppers need us while positively impacting the communities we serve,” said Aldi CEO Jason Hart in a press release.
The expansion will strengthen its presence in the Northeast and Midwest, adding nearly 330 locations across both regions. The company also plans to add more locations in Southern California, Phoenix, and Las Vegas, among others, by the end of 2028.
Aldi will also convert Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets locations over the next few years as part of the grocer’s purchase of Southeastern Grocers.
“Starting mid-summer, Aldi will begin a phased approach to the store conversion process. Aldi anticipates that approximately 50 stores will begin the conversion process during the latter half of 2024, with the majority of these stores reopening as Aldi in 2025,” the company said.
The grocer said some of the Winn-Dixie and Harveys locations will remain under their existing banners.
In January, Southeastern Grocers announced that it had completed its divestiture of Fresco y Más to Fresco Retail Group, LLC, as part of the acquisition deal.
“With the acquisition of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets, Aldi will serve even more communities in the Southeast, bringing us closer to our customers in a region where we’ve already experienced significant demand for affordable, quality groceries,” said Hart in the press release.