The festive season is upon us, and Aldi is stirring up the Christmas cheese board with a series of unconventional new offerings that are guaranteed to get shoppers talking.
A Festive Cheese Controversy
In a move that is set to polarise its customer base, the budget supermarket, recently crowned Christmas Retailer of the Year, has taken a bold step away from tradition. The centrepiece of its controversial new range is a Wensleydale cheese that has been dramatically reinvented with white chocolate and caramel.
This Specially Selected Wensleydale Ballycastle with White Chocolate & Caramel, priced at £2.49, aims to combine dessert and cheese into one indulgent experience. It incorporates Ballycastle Irish Cream alongside the sweet additions, a far cry from the cheese's traditional creamy, crumbly texture and citrus notes.
The Full Unconventional Line-Up
The surprises don't stop with the Wensleydale. Aldi's festive range expansion includes two other cheeses designed to challenge the palate.
Shoppers can also look for a Sweet and Smokey Maple Cheddar and the returning Cheddar and Pineapple variety. All three of these Specially Selected Speciality Cheeses will be available on Aldi's shelves from 26th November.
For those seeking a more traditional cheesy offering, Aldi is also launching several other options. These include a Specially Selected Luxury Cheese Truckle Tower for £13.99, a Hickory Smoked Vintage Cheddar, and an Ultimate Cheese Selection Pack priced at £12.99.
Aldi's Broader Festive Push
This cheesy innovation is part of a larger Christmas strategy from the UK's fourth-largest supermarket. In the run-up to the holidays, Aldi has announced plans to open 16 new stores across the country.
Locations set for new stores include Liverpool, Kirkintilloch in Scotland, Cheadle in Staffordshire, Billericay in Essex, and Kentish Town in London.
This expansion is supported by a £650 million investment in Aldi's store opening and refurbishment programme for 2025. Each new store is expected to create approximately 40 new jobs.
To handle the anticipated Christmas rush, Aldi is also bolstering its workforce by hiring an additional 4,500 staff members nationwide. These new employees will be crucial for restocking shelves and assisting customers during one of the busiest retail periods of the year.
