Aldi sign

German discount supermarket chain Aldi has said it will expand its network in Australia from over 200 stores currently to 460 in six to seven years.

The rollout coincides with expansion plans back home in Europe, according to International Supermarket News.

Aldi is currently building new distribution centres in Melbourne and Sydney to service the outlets.

The pace of store openings last year was “frantic”, said managing director Michael Kloeters. Aldi opened 38 new outlets in Australia in 2008.

Mr Kloeters said the retailer plans to open about 30 stores a year “for the foreseeable future”.

Aldi currently has about 3 per cent of the Australian market share.