Following the release of Aldi’s figures for the year ending 31 December 2025; Tash Van Boxel, senior retail analyst at GlobalData, a leading intelligence and productivity platform, offers her view: “Aldi outpaced growth in the UK food & grocery market in 2025 with full year sales rising 5.0%, as its store expansion strategy and reputation for low prices have enabled the value grocer to retain its shopper base whilst attracting new customers who have traded down due to inflationary pressures. With UK food inflation is set to climb again, Aldi’s £340m investment in price cuts so far in 2026 is a wise move and will solidify its position as the go-to value retailer for low-cost food & grocery.
“Aldi’s market share growth in recent years has been significantly aided by new stores, and this ongoing expansion at a rapid pace will enable the discounter to continue to outperform. Aldi plans to open 30 stores in the next 10 weeks, followed by 40 new stores in 2027, as the discounter’s focus remains on broadening its shopper base and growing its presence in the UK. To address consumers’ food inflation concerns, Aldi is maintaining its price cuts and strengthening its partnerships with British suppliers to ensure ongoing steady pricing and robust stock in the year ahead. The retailer already depends heavily on its UK supply base which generates around 80% of its sales and these partnerships will be vital for Aldi going forward, allowing for more flexibility and lower transportation costs than its rivals, many of whom rely on importing from Europe.
“Fellow discounter Lidl is yet to release its FY2025 results but given the strength of its Christmas results (sales up 10%, compared to Aldi’s 3%) and its similar ongoing store expansion plan, we anticipate it will report robust results for the full year. Aldi will need to remain wary of Lidl in the coming years, as Lidl has continued to invest in its store estate and distribution centres, opening 40 new stores in its last financial year. Ensuring that expansion is happening at a manageable scale will be vital for Aldi going forward to ensure it retains its lead over its rival.”
