Aldi is making major changes in a move that appears to be learning from its close rival. The budget supermarket chain had been ramping up adding in-store bakeries to a number of its shops.
It is also changing layouts such as bringing fruit and vegetables to the front of the stores nationwide. It has also been seen to be redesigning its health and beauty section.
Lidl has long had an in-store bakery which is known for a massive array of bakes including fresh bread, pizzas, cakes and muffins. Now, it appears its rival is looking to do the same.
According to The Grocer Aldi first introduced a bakeries trial in 2019 at its Aldi Local stores in London. By March this year there were only 16 stores with the addition with most of these in the capital.
However this has now reached 25 as stores across the south-east and east of England are beginning to see them appear. Aldi has been contacted to ask if there are plans for this to be extended across the rest of the country.
Lidl’s bakeries, along with its loyalty app, have been credited by analysts with helping fuel its rapid sales growth over the past year. Its sales were up 8.8% year on year in the 12 weeks to 29 September, according to new Kantar data published this week, while Aldi’s were up 1.8% in the same period.