Aldi, the discount grocer that operates about 1,300 stores from the East Coast to Kansas, said last week it would accelerate store growth with a goal of 650 new stores in the next five years, and nearly 2,000 stores by 2018. Aldi’s plans call for approximately 130 new stores per year, compared to its pace of 80 new stores in recent years.
The company’s growth plan includes a strong presence in California, including a warehouse and regional headquarters to be located in Moreno Valley, CA. Aldi announced earlier in the year that it would expand to California.