Aldi is set to create 2,000 jobs over the next year as part of a £1.3 billion investment aimed at increasing its share of the UK grocery market.

The news comes as the budget supermarket announced revenue growth of 10.2 per cent to a record £13.5 billion in the year to 31st December 2020, up from £12.3 billion in 2019.

However, the company’s pre-tax profit fell from £264.8 million from £271.5 million in 2019.

Aldi said the planned expansion will include opening 100 additional stores and expanding its logistics infrastructure to include a 1.3m square foot site in Leicestershire over the next two years.

Aldi also said it will invest further in its click and collect service and other technology initiatives.

The past year has been a busy one in terms of expansion for the supermarket; Aldi said it has invested £600 million in stores and distribution centres across the UK and expanded its click and collect service to over 200 stores over the period.

Aldi’s workforce has also been gradually expanding; 7000 new permanent jobs have been created over the past two years according to the supermarket.

The news comes after Aldi reportedly began trialling a checkout-free concept store in Greenwich, London last week that will enable customers to scan a smartphone app to enter the store, pick up their shopping, and walk out of the store without the need to pay at the till.

The cost of the self-checkout refit has been estimated at £1.8 million, according to reports.

Aldi is also currently being impacted by the HGV driving shortage, raising wages last month in attempt to alleviate its short fall in terms of drivers.

“Whilst 2020 was an extremely challenging year, our 41,000 colleagues stepped up when it mattered most - their dedication to the communities they serve has been nothing short of remarkable,” said Giles Hurley, chief executive officer for Aldi UK and Ireland. “Despite some of the most difficult conditions our sector has ever seen, our people underlined the strength, success and spirit of our business.”

“As well as delivering record sales, we continued to invest for growth, deploying over £600m in stores and distribution centres across the UK. This helped to create thousands of much-needed jobs and support for British farmers and manufacturers. Whilst the cost of responding to the pandemic dampened profits, our decision to return business rate relief was the right thing to do.”

“We’re continuing to gain even more customers - with over 60 per cent of households shopping with Aldi in the last year.”

He added: “By redefining the discount supermarket in the UK, creating more places and more ways to shop with us, we are excited to provide millions of new customers with access to Aldi’s award-winning quality and unbeatable value.”

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