Aldi has announced a major expansion of its UK store network, with 16 new locations set to open in the coming months as part of a £370 million investment in 2026. The discount supermarket chain revealed that new stores will include sites in Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham; Malton, North Yorkshire; Watford and Hoxton in London; Hattersley and Wigan in Greater Manchester; and Balsall Common in the West Midlands. One notable location is Newport on the Isle of Wight, a popular holiday destination.
Long-Term Growth Strategy
The expansion supports Aldi's long-term goal of operating 1,500 stores across the UK, bringing affordable, high-quality products to more communities. This follows the opening of a new branch in Salford Quays last month and is part of the chain's planned £370 million investment in new stores during 2026.
Jonathan Neale, Managing Director of National Real Estate at Aldi UK, said: "At Aldi, we're committed to making high-quality, affordable food accessible to everyone, which is why we continue to invest in expanding our store network across the UK. Our £370 million investment in new stores this year will help us bring Aldi's unbeatable value to even more communities, supporting local economies through our industry-leading pay for colleagues."
Wage Increases for Staff
Earlier this year, Aldi boosted wages for shop floor staff following a £42 million investment in pay during 2026. Store Assistant wages now start at £13.50 per hour nationally, rising to £14.47 based on length of service. Staff within the M25 earn £14.88 per hour, increasing to £15.20 with service.
Full List of New Aldi Stores Opening in 2026
- Hattersley, Greater Manchester
- Newport, Isle of Wight
- Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham
- Newport, South Wales
- Orpington, London
- Hoxton, London
- Ashford, Kent
- Watford, London
- Rayleigh, Essex
- Balsall Common, West Midlands
- Marble Arch, London
- Malton, North Yorkshire
- Port Talbot, Wales
- Sutton Coldfield, West London
- Wigan, Greater Manchester
- Sudbury, Suffolk
Solar Energy Expansion
Aldi has also announced that over 500 of its stores could be powered by solar energy by the end of the year, as part of a new wave of installations. The supermarket chain has already fitted panels at 470 locations across the UK and plans to introduce the renewable technology to an additional 62 stores in 2026. Potential locations for these installations include Stratford-upon-Avon, Maghull, Northampton and Wrexham.
Unveiling the plans on Friday, Aldi stated that the new installations are part of its £8.4 million investment in fitting solar panels at 100 stores throughout 2025 and 2026. According to Aldi, each installation can supply up to 30% of a store's annual energy requirements, aiding the company in bolstering its energy resilience across its estate. This comes as households and businesses in the UK have been hit by fluctuating energy costs in recent years, due to conflicts and geopolitical instability pushing up fossil fuel prices.
Jonathan Neale added: "We've made significant progress over the past year, and we are advancing the next phase of our solar rollout across even more stores in 2026. The programme has expanded to cover even more sites than originally planned, and through ongoing investment in our estate, we're making our operations more resilient while ensuring we continue to deliver great value for customers in a more sustainable way."
