Aldi to open 180 U.S. stores in 2026 as shoppers seek value

As Americans across incomes look to trim the grocery budget, Aldi plans to open more than 180 stores in the U.S. this year — including on the traditional turf of rival supermarkets and big-box stores.

The German grocer’s latest growth plans follow an already aggressive expansion over the past decade. Aldi, which is known for its low prices, small stores and emphasis on private brands, has become the third-largest grocer in the country by store count, trailing behind only Walmart and Kroger. And last year, Aldi marked its biggest expansion since it opened its first U.S. store in Iowa in 1976 by opening nearly 200 locations. It had 2,614 stores in the U.S. as of Dec. 31.

Along with opening more locations, Aldi said it will relaunch its website and enter Maine, its 40th state, this year. The company will also add new distribution centers in Florida, Arizona and Colorado in the next five years.

Grocery in the U.S. has long been a fragmented industry, with slices of the business divided up by regional grocers, specialty players, large supermarket operators, big-box stores and membership-based clubs. Yet Aldi’s growth illustrates the fiercer competition traditional players face as discounters lure away shoppers and win more of their weekly grocery runs.

“Consumers now really are not looking for fancy stores, and tens of thousands of different items to choose from,” said Atty McGrath, CEO of Aldi U.S. “They’re really savvy shoppers. They know that private labels can save them money without sacrificing quality.”

She added, “people, more and more, are really safeguarding their resources, whether that’s the wallet or their time.”

In a recent survey of grocery shoppers by consulting firm AlixPartners, the percentage of key shopper groups that said they spend most of their grocery budget in the traditional grocery channel dropped for every group compared with 2024. The survey was conducted in September and included 1,635 people.

Those declines were sharper among more affluent households and younger shoppers, with a 7 percentage point year-over-year drop among households with an annual income of more than $100,000 and a 6 percentage point year-over-year fall among shoppers between the ages of 25 and 34, the survey found.

Matthew Hamory, co-leader of the global grocery practice at AlixPartners, said in particular, large supermarket chain operators such as Kroger, Albertsons and Stop & Shop’s parent company Ahold Delhaize have lost ground as discounters like Aldi, Walmart and Costco offer produce, meat and other staples for less.

“U.S. customers have learned that if you go to a discounter, you’re not buying crap cheaply,” he said. “You’re buying good quality fresh food, good quality private brands. They’re in stock. They’re local to you. And they’re convenient.”

Plus, he said U.S. shoppers have gotten more used to buying private brands because of their success at big…