Discount retailer Aldi has unveiled plans for a significant Irish expansion with 35 new stores and 650 new jobs over the next three years.
The German owned group is also setting up its second Irish distribution centre which will be located in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, to supply outlets in the south of the country.
Today Aldi says it will spend €350m as it increases its presence in Ireland. It currently has 59 stores here and will open a further 17 by the end of next year.
New locations for outlets include Drogheda, Wexford, Mallow and Dublin.
Unlike conventional outlets discounters Aldi and its rival Lidl usually offer one brand of each product. They also have relatively low numbers of staff per store with Aldi employing an average of 14.
Over the past decade the two discount retailers have grown their market share at the expense of existing players. Today Aldi says it has a 4.5% share of Irish grocery spending.
