German discounter Aldi Süd is said to be preparing to enter the Italian market, most probably through the acquisition of a local retail chain, as it bids to make up ground on German rival Lidl and local discounter Eurospin in the country.
As reported in the German retail trade weekly Lebensmittel Zeitung, the company is understood to be considering various options available to it in Italy, with the establishment of a chain across the northern part of the country thought to be the most likely starting point.
A move into Italy would certainly be in line with a more general effort on the part of Aldi to expand its reach into new developed and emerging markets.
Late last year, German business monthly Manager Magazin revealed that Aldi was assessing the potential for entering China, while the group itself revealed that it was planning a major push into western USwith the opening of 650 news stores – including 200 in California– over the next four years.
In the UK, where like Lidl it has seen impressive growth at the expense of more mainstream grocery retailers, Aldi is pressing ahead with a £600m expansion scheme that involves the building of bigger stores.
And in Australia, media reports suggest the discounter is going to spend around A$700m on new outlets in the south and west of the country.
Aldi Süd currently has around 4,700 stores in a total of eight countries, mainly in Europe. Combined with the Aldi Nord, which operates independently, the Aldi chain has more than 9,000 stores in 17 countries.
Aldi Nord recently entered the Spanish market, where it now operates more than 200 outlets.
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