ALDI, a supermarket chain with stores throughout the country, will have a grand opening at 4580 Atlantic Ave. on Thursday, Dec. 15. However, those curious to see what the retailer has to offer may attend an open house the day prior, from 9am to 9pm. Although, during that event, residents won’t be able to actually make purchases yet, they will be allowed to tour the store and sample items, the company says.
The supermarket chain, which began opening locations in California earlier this year, operates nearly 1,600 stores in 35 states, according to its website. It is known for selling primarily exclusive store brands of items at discounted prices.
“We take a simple, cost-effective approach to grocery shopping that saves shoppers on their grocery bills,” states the company’s website, which claims “smart shoppers” switching from national brands to ALDI’s exclusive brands can save up to 50 percent on their weekly “must-haves.”
Although the retailer does carry some brand names, more than 90 percent of its products are exclusive brands, according to the company’s website.
“ALDI exclusive brands allow us to provide the same high-quality product without passing on all of the hidden costs associated with the national brands, such as marketing and advertising,” its website states. “Recently, we have added a limited selection of national brands in addition to our ALDI exclusive brands. We made this decision in response to feedback from our customers, who have strong brand preferences, yet would like to complete more of their grocery shopping at ALDI. We also may carry a national brand if we are not able to procure an exclusive brand product that meets or exceeds the quality and taste of the national brand.”
As local residents begin to adjust their multiple-store shopping lists to account for ALDI’s offerings, there is one thing they will need to remember on their trips to the latter— a quarter. ALDI keeps its carts in one place, where shoppers can insert a quarter to retrieve one and then return it to get the coin back. The company says this approach helps it to keep prices low because employees don’t spend time retrieving carts.
Blair Cohn, executive director of the Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association, said he and his staff are excited about the new store.
“With Island Pacific Market opening in the south end of our district and now Aldi in the north end, we are seeing some of the big projects come to fruition,” Cohn said. “It’s been a pretty good year for new businesses in Bixby Knolls, and this is a good way to end 2016. It’s nice to have another market to provide options for the neighborhood. Next up is the new post office, Smart & Final and Steelcraft.”
