The ALDI Effect: ALDI Carrigaline store opens with the creation of 30 new local jobs

ALDI-ECONOMICS

How does it impact forecourt and convenience retailers when a new ALDI opens – are there positive or negative spin-offs?

ALDI’s 27th store in Co. Cork signifies an investment of €10M in the local area – but what is the impact of the “ALDI Effect” on convenience stores and forecourts in the area?

ALDI’s new store in Carrigaline, Co Cork has opened creating 30 new permanent jobs. It continues ALDI’s nationwide expansion and represents an investment of over €10 million in the local area.

Located on Old Pottery Road, the store becomes ALDI’s 27th store in County Cork and 161st store nationwide. It was officially opened today by the local team, Store Manager, Jason Murphy and ALDI Play Rugby Ambassador, Paul O’Connell.

Cork Investment

Since opening its first Cork store in Ballincollig in 1999, ALDI has invested over €233 million in the county. The retailer employs over 900 people across its 27 stores in Cork, spending over €30 million on wages annually.

However, while ALDI invests in Cork, what impact does this have on indigenous forecourts and convenience stores?

ALDI spent €70 million with its 30 local Cork based suppliers in 2022.

Additionally, ALDI has invested €1.6 million in Cork as part of its Project Fresh initiative. ALDI Project Fresh stores focus on reducing the reliance on fossil fuels, using sustainable energy and avoiding CO2 emissions as much as possible.

Flip-side

Yet, while there’s no denying economic investment of this nature is valuable for communities, there could be a flip side, especially during a ‘cost of living crisis.’

Speaking at the Carrigaline store opening, Jason Murphy, ALDI Carrigaline Store Manager said: “I’m delighted to open our 27th store in Cork today. This new €10 million store in Carrigaline is the latest step in ALDI’s expansion programme. The new store, and the 30 new jobs we have created, will support our ambition to deliver value to the people of Ireland at the locations most convenient to them.

Households and families in Carrigaline and the surrounding areas can now shop at their local ALDI and enjoy our range of great quality fresh produce, Irish ingredients and household products, all at affordable prices. Our promise to our Cork customers is that we’ll never be beaten on price, and we’ll always provide the best value when they shop with us.”

ALDI Carrigaline

The spacious new 1,315sqm store features ALDI’s award winning Project Fresh layout and features wide aisles and hi-spec fixtures and fittings. ALDI shoppers will be able to make use of 119 car parking spaces and 7 electric vehicle charging spaces. A total of 12 bike parking spaces are also available outside the ALDI store.

The store has been designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible. It is powered by 100% green electricity and features 52 solar panels on the roof of the store, powering items such as energy saving lights and ALDI’s new chiller fridges. It also features ALDI’s new Electronic Shelf Labels in store in place of traditional paper price labels, meaning that stock or price changes can be quickly and easily communicated to customers.

Community Support

ALDI says its existing stores across Co. Cork are deeply rooted in their local communities. To date, the stores have donated over 376,000 meals to local charities through FoodCloud, worth over €474,000. Each store is also part of ALDI’s Community Grants network, with Marymount Hospital & Hospice, Cobh Community Hospital and St Johns Ambulance Glanmire among the charities that availed of the €500 bursary grant last year.

In addition to supporting local charities, ALDI, in collaboration with Green Belt, is the first retailer in Ireland to commit to planting 1 million native Irish woodland trees by 2025.

Supplier Support

The Grow with ALDI supplier development programme offers up-and-coming artisan Irish food and drink producers the chance to have their products listed in ALDI’s 161 stores. ALDI has invested more than €8 million in the programme since 2018. Currently working with over 330 Irish food and drink producers, ALDI spent €1.1 billion with its Irish suppliers in 2022.

Reputation

ALDI was voted as the most reputable supermarket in Ireland by Irish shoppers according to the 2023 RepTrak Ireland Report. ALDI Ireland employs over 4,650 people and operates a network of 161 stores across the country, with stores in each county in the Republic of Ireland.

ALDI has pledged to invest €320 million over the next three years (2022-2024) in a bid to further accelerate its share of the Irish grocery market.

ALDI also plans to on expand its store network in Dublin, resulting in an investment of €73 million in 11 new stores with the creation of 350 new full-time jobs over the next five years.

ALDI Ireland increased its hourly pay rates for store colleagues from 1st February 2023, maintaining its position as Ireland’s best paying supermarket. ALDI pays all store assistants up to €16.00 an hour, with a market leading entry rate of €13.85 an hour.

Irish suppliers

ALDI currently stocks over 1,800 products and works with over 330 Irish suppliers. In addition to this, ALDI has invested more than €8 million in its Grow with ALDI supplier development programme since 2018, which provides an opportunity to Irish food and drink companies to gain a listing in ALDI’s 157 stores.

ALDI was announced as Gluten Free Retailer of the Year at the 2022 FreeFrom Food Awards, along with 46 product wins across multiple FreeFrom categories.

In 2022, ALDI held the title of Ireland’s most awarded discount retailer.