German supermarket chain Aldi has joined Deliveroo’s “shop & deliver” scheme, becoming the first discount supermarket to offer rapid delivery in the UK.

The project is modelled on the chain’s previous partnerships with Deliveroo’s US-based parent company, DoorDash, in the US and Australia, and will offer grocery delivery picked, packed and delivered by Deliveroo riders. Aldi said this will allow shop staff to focus on keeping the store functioning smoothly for customers.

The arrangement, which shifts the time burden from shop staff to delivery drivers, has allowed Aldi to become the first discount supermarket in the UK to offer rapid delivery services.

The chain will offer around 2,000 Aldi products through the service, including fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy, household essentials and its miscellaneous middle-isle items known as Specialbuys.

The companies emphasised that the service will remain optional for riders, and those in the initial rollout regions, which include Norwich, Ipswich and several locations in Kent, will receive guidance on how the new service works.

The initial trial will begin in early October with eight stores. Should the trial be successful, Aldi will roll out the scheme more widely in early 2027.

Giles Hurley, chief executive officer at Aldi UK, said: “We've always been committed to bringing low prices to as many people as possible, and this partnership with Deliveroo allows us to do exactly that without changing how our stores operate.

“The DoorDash model has been incredibly popular with Aldi customers in Australia and the United States, and we know from our previous trials there is clear demand for more affordable groceries on a rapid delivery platform in the UK. By working with Deliveroo, in this unique and efficient way, we can give more people access to Aldi quality and value, however they choose to shop with us.”

Earlier this week, Aldi announced that it had expanded operations at its £500 million automated distribution centre to include fresh fruit and veg handling. Once fully operational in 2027, the site is expected to handle more than 1.5 million kilograms of fruit and vegetables a day during peak periods.

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