Aldi Celebrates 35 Years Since Opening First Store in 1990
Aldi, the renowned supermarket chain, is commemorating a significant milestone in 2025 – it has been 35 years since the opening of its very first store in the UK. What started as a solitary store in 1990 has blossomed into one of the UK’s most remarkable supermarket success tales, known for its affordability, unique middle aisle, and top-notch products. With over 1,050 stores sprawled across the country presently, Aldi has indeed come a long way from its humble beginnings. To mark this remarkable achievement, we delved into the evolution of Aldi by speaking with an insider familiar with the company’s journey.
Back in 1990, the concept of Aldi’s much-loved Specialbuys was non-existent. Unlike today, where Specialbuys are a key feature of Aldi’s offerings, the initial focus of the supermarket was centered on delivering high-quality groceries at pocket-friendly prices. The advent of Specialbuys materialized in the 2000s, introducing a plethora of seasonal and limited-time products to Aldi’s shelves. Beginning modestly with garden tools and Christmas decorations, Specialbuys have expanded to encompass a diverse range of items such as home goods, clothing, and electronics, adding an element of excitement to shoppers’ weekly visits.
In its formative years, Aldi’s pricing mechanism involved hand-written price tags on vibrant yellow cards that were manually updated by staff throughout the day. Fast forward to the present day, and electronic shelf labels have revolutionized the display of prices, offering real-time updates that enhance efficiency for store personnel and furnish shoppers with up-to-date pricing information. During Aldi’s nascent stage until 2001, employees had to commit to memory the prices of a whopping 750 products, as scanning at the tills was not yet in place. The advent of automation heralded a speedier checkout process, much to the delight of both staff and customers.
The debut store launch leaflets of Aldi in 1990 were characterised by their black-and-white format, featuring bold text and clear price comparisons that underscored the supermarket’s value proposition. In stark contrast, today’s store leaflets are vibrant, community-centric, and replete with colourful imagery, contemporary typography, and refined design elements that resonate with customers.
The store layouts at Aldi have undergone a significant transformation over the years. Initially designed for simplicity and efficiency, the store layouts have evolved to offer customers a more enriching shopping experience. While the essence of simplicity remains intact, modern-day Aldi stores boast wider aisles, improved signage, and a diverse range of food and non-food items, catering to varied customer preferences.
In its early days, Aldi Store Managers sported white coats with their name badges neatly embroidered on the pockets. However, the uniform has since been revamped for enhanced comfort and functionality. Presently, Aldi’s employees don navy blue polo shirts featuring the Aldi logo, with Velcro-backed name badges for easy attachment and removal.
Back in 1990, the inception of brand characters was unheard of at Aldi. However, in 2016, Kevin the Carrot made his debut in Aldi’s Christmas advertisements and swiftly captured the hearts of audiences. What commenced as a simple holiday tale soon escalated into a national sensation, with Kevin emerging as the endearing face of Aldi’s festive campaigns, captivating shoppers of all ages.
As Aldi commemorates 35 glorious years since its inception in the UK, the journey from its humble beginnings to becoming a cornerstone of the British retail landscape showcases a remarkable tale of perseverance, innovation, and customer-centricity.
Wales Online reports.