Aldi celebrates 25 years of success in Ireland
Print21 June 2024
In 1999, Aldi opened its first stores in Ireland. Now, 25 years and 161 stores later, Aldi is celebrating a quarter of a century in business in Ireland.
To mark the occasion, here are 25 facts to celebrate Aldi’s journey:
1.) In 1999, Aldi opened its doors for the first time with stores on Parnell Street, Co. Dublin and Westside Retail Park, Co. Cork. That same year, it started working with key Irish suppliers, including Iverk and Glenhaven.
2.) On the day Aldi opened its first two stores in Ireland, Westlife’s Flying Without Wings was number one in the Irish singles chart.
3.) There is an Aldi store in every country in the Republic of Ireland.
4.) In 2005, Aldi launched its award-winning Specially Selected range and partnered with supplier ABP Cahir to bring premium 100% Irish Bord Bia Quality Assured steak to shoppers at affordable prices.
5.) Since Aldi first opened in Ireland, the country has had six different Taoisigh – Bertie Ahern, Brian Cowen, Enda Kenny, Leo Varadkar, Micheál Martin and Simon Harris.
6.) Aldi employs more than 4,650 people across Ireland.
7.) Aldi first sold avocados in April 2012.
8.) Since 1999, between sponsorships and charitable donations, Aldi has given back more than €25 million to more than 1,000 charities and local organisations.
9.) Aldi opened its 100th store in Ireland in 2013 in Callan, Co. Kilkenny. Hurling legend Henry Shefflin was on hand to cut the ribbon and mark the momentous milestone.
10.) Five of the top eight selling products in Aldi’s Kilkenny stores are milk or butter products, a testament to the storied tradition of milk, cheese, butter and cream production in the Marble City and county.
11.) In 2014, Aldi partnered with FoodCloud, a not-for-profit social enterprise working to reduce the environmental and social impacts of food waste. Since then, Aldi has donated 2.5 million meals to people in need and helped save more than three million kg of CO2 emissions.
12.) In 2016, Ireland’s favourite Kevin the Carrot made his very first appearance in Aldi’s Christmas advert.
13.) Aldi is the largest retailer of Fairtrade tea in Ireland with shoppers helping to make a difference with every cuppa.
14.) Since 2018, Aldi has operated Grow with Aldi, a supplier development programme that gives SMEs the chance to have their products listed on Aldi shelves. In that time, it has invested more than €10 million into the programme and helped nurture and support more than 330 Irish suppliers.
15.) Cork is home to the most Aldi stores in Ireland with a whopping 27 stores across the county. Followed by Dublin (26), Galway (12), Kildare (9) and Tipperary (8)
16.) Aldi has partnered with Barnardos since 2020, working to raise €1 million for vulnerable children and their families across Ireland.
17.) In 2021, Aldi dipped its toe into the world of podcasting for the first time with Mamia & Me, a parenting podcast. Oscar nominee Barry Keoghan has appeared on the podcast along with Paul O’Connell and Chris O’Dowd.
18.) In 2023, Donegal was the only country in Ireland where pancakes were one of Aldi’s top 20 selling products.
19.) Aldi sold its first carton of oat milk in 2021.
20.) In 2022, Aldi pulled on its wellies and became the Official Supermarket Partner to Electric Picnic, Ireland’s premier music & arts festival.
21.) Aldi’s store in Caherciveen, Co Kerry – the 150th store in Ireland – holds the title of being the westernmost Aldi store in Europe.
22.) In 2023, data showed that mini banana packs, bananas and fresh milk are the three biggest selling products in Aldi stores nationwide, consistently appearing in the top five across each county.
23.) Aldi Ireland was the first supermarket to partner with the food surplus app, which has not only been successful in addressing food waste but has also allowed Aldi to offer lower prices to their customers – providing 175,000 Surprise Bags to Aldi customers to date
24.) Instead of just one bar code on each item, the majority of products sold in Aldi have multiple barcodes printed around the packaging, making the swiping a much quicker process ensuring customers get their shop completed in a timely manner.
25.) And last but not least, this year Aldi is celebrating 25 years in Ireland with an overall spend of €10 billion with Irish suppliers since 1999.
Opening its doors
Since Aldi first opened in 1999, it has become a fixture in Ireland’s supermarket retail landscape.
“From starting out with two stores in Dublin and Cork to now operating 161 stores nationwide, it has been quite the journey – and we’re only getting started,” said Padraig Barry, communications director, Aldi Ireland.
For more information, visit here.
Read more: Aldi Ireland secures €125m contract with Dawn Meats
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