60|Retail News|December 2016|www.retailnews.ie
Retail Groups Review
A Big Year for Aldi Ireland
Aldi enjoyed a tremendous 2016, with new store openings, refurbishments, food awards and a new rugby initiative. 2016 was another busy year for Aldi Ireland as it expanded its Irish network to include 128 stores nationwide, launched a new initiative, Play Rugby in association with the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU), continued to build a strong corporate responsibility programme and celebrated its award winning products across Irish and international food awards. Aldi has continued to invest in and develop its Irish operations, opening six new stores this year, in Sallynoggin, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Paul O’Connell launching Aldi Play Rugby at Aldi’s Terenure store. Mullingar, Athy, Bandon, Skibbereen and Swords. It also completely refurbished and extended three of its existing stores, including its Ashe Road Waterford, Castletroy and Palmerstown stores. Aldi is delivering continuous, long-term growth. According to Kantar Worldpanel, more and more households are visiting Aldi stores each week and it has now captured an impressive 11.3% of the market. Aldi employs over 3,000 people, recruiting 400 employees this year alone. Aldi Play Rugby Aldi introduced its first sports partnership as Official Supermarket Partner to the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU). As part of this, in September, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Paul O’Connell unveiled Aldi Play Rugby at Aldi’s Terenure store. The partnership with the IRFU will see Aldi providing a substantial investment over the next four years to support the national initiative for school children. Aldi Play Rugby will assist teachers, coaches and parents to develop a rugby programme in their school, encouraging kids to get active and eat healthy.
Charities throughout the country benefited from Aldi's new Community Support Fund. Pictured are Hilda Baker, 46th/ 92nd Glanmire Scout Leader, and Cliona Marten, Aldi’s Glanmire store ‘Charity Champion’.