November 1994 was a month of firsts: Noel Edmonds presented the first National Lottery draw, the first passenger trains started running through the Channel Tunnel, and Aldi made its Scottish debut with a store on Glencairn Street in Kilmarnock.
Three decades later, Noel Edmonds is running a rural retreat in New Zealand, the Eurostar still links London and Paris, and Aldi can now boast 106 stores across Scotland.
The business employs more than 3,600 staff in these stores and its Bathgate headquarters. That figure is set to grow by 25 when store number 107, in Castle Douglas, opens later this month.
Its charity projects, including its Supermarket Sweep and Sports Fund initiatives, have donated more than £475,000 to foodbanks and local sports teams since they first began in 2016.
Aldi has now won the Which? cheapest supermarket for three years in a row and has scooped the monthly award 11 times in a row. These wins have been rewarded with soaring footfall, in the shape of an additional five million customers in 2023, with numbers set to increase by the end of this year.
Much of this success could be attested to Aldi’s commitment to championing locally produced food and drink. It is the only retailer to have a dedicated Scottish buying department, and it currently works with more than 90 Scottish suppliers and stocks 450 Scottish products.
This commitment to Scottish produce saw it scoop no fewer than 50 Scottish Retail Food & Drink Awards between 2021 and 2023, including six top Platinum Awards.
It was also awarded ‘Best of Scottish’ for the third time in the last four years at the Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards 2024.
Graham Nicolson, regional managing director for Aldi Scotland, said: “Our 30-year milestone is a testament to our commitment to Scotland. It’s really special to look back at how far we’ve come as a business since our first store opened in Kilmarnock – we are incredibly grateful to our loyal customers and devoted team members who have been with us every step of the way.
“Looking to the future, we remain committed to the strong relationships we have built with our Scottish suppliers, allowing our customers the opportunity to purchase locally sourced, high-quality Scottish products at affordable prices. Here’s to the next 30 years.”
