Aldi has called on other major UK supermarkets to follow its lead in making free period products available in customer toilets. The supermarket and its charity partner, Freedom4Girls, have written to the chief executives of major UK supermarkets, urging them to provide free period products where store facilities allow.
Research shows strong shopper support
New research commissioned by Aldi found that 67% of shoppers think supermarkets should provide free period products in customer toilets. The same percentage said they would be more likely to view a supermarket positively if it offered the service, while 75% said period products should be treated as an everyday bathroom essential, like toilet paper and soap.
Additionally, 66% of shoppers said supermarkets have an important role to play in supporting people who may struggle to access or afford period products. The findings also suggested that free products in supermarket toilets would help tackle a range of barriers, with 69% saying it would help people who unexpectedly come on their period while away from home, 58% saying it would help those who cannot afford products when they need them, and 48% saying it would reduce embarrassment around asking for or buying period products.
Aldi's initiative and impact
Aldi said it was the first UK supermarket to offer free period products in all customer and colleague toilets. Since launching the initiative in March 2025, the supermarket has provided one million free period products through its store toilets, aiming to make everyday essentials such as tampons and pads more accessible to everyone who needs them.
When asked where free period products should be made available, 56% of shoppers selected supermarket customer toilets, ahead of shopping centres, transport hubs and leisure centres. 62% said they would expect large supermarkets to provide free period products in customer toilets, while just over half said they would be more likely to shop with a retailer that made period products freely available in-store.
Voices from Aldi and Freedom4Girls
Among those who have or have ever had a period, 53% said they had been caught short without period products while shopping or away from home, while 93% said they had used toilet roll, tissue or another alternative because they did not have a product available.
Julie Ashfield, chief commercial officer at Aldi UK, said: "Access to period products should be a basic right, not a privilege. That is why we made free period products available in our store toilets for customers and colleagues, with no questions asked."
"The latest research shows shoppers support supermarkets making period products more accessible. Together with Freedom4Girls, we’ve written to the chief executives of other major UK supermarkets, encouraging them to consider introducing free period products where facilities allow. This is a simple, practical step that could make a real difference to customers and colleagues across the country. These products are essential, and we believe making them freely available is the right thing to do."
Tina Leslie MBE, founder of Freedom4Girls, a menstrual equity charity dedicated to tackling period poverty, said: "Period poverty remains a huge issue in the UK, and we’re encouraged to see Aldi continuing to use its platform to push for wider change. Providing free period products in supermarket toilets is a practical way to help people access what they need discreetly and with dignity. We would welcome more retailers taking similar action to help tackle stigma, affordability and access."
Customers can donate period products through Aldi’s in-store donation points, with items distributed to food banks and charitable organisations via its community partner Neighbourly.
