Aldi has expanded its trial of self-service checkouts to four more stores, sparking a wave of criticism from shoppers who threaten to boycott the budget supermarket. The move follows a successful trial at its Glascote store in Staffordshire, with new self-serve tills now being introduced in Woodgate, Leicester; Manchester Arndale; Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire; and Bedford.
An Aldi spokesperson said: 'Following positive feedback, we've extended our trial of self-service checkouts to four more locations to further improve the customer experience.' However, many customers have expressed strong opposition, fearing job losses and a less personal shopping experience.
Shopper Phyllis Ward told Mirror Online: 'I refuse to use any self service tills whether its Sainsburys, Aldi or anywhere else. This only encourages the big companies to employ less staff.' Jean Pearn added: 'What about the elderly, there would be long queues and frustration, not to mention a lot of jobs lost.'
Despite the backlash, some shoppers support the initiative. Lorraine Simmons said she was 'pleased' as the queuing system is 'unfair and lengthy', while Irene Jones noted that self-service checkouts are beneficial for those with few items but would be time-consuming for a full shop.
It remains unclear whether the new tills will be rolled out across all Aldi stores. The supermarket has not confirmed any further expansion plans beyond the current trial locations.
