Posted on: 27 Feb 2020

Aldi’s Gort “Project Fresh” store has reopened its doors to customers following an extensive renovation project which has seen the store completely refurbished as part of Aldi’s €160m investment in its Irish store network. Aldi has committed €100m to constructing and opening 20 new stores, while Project Fresh sees Aldi invest a further €60m in revamping the layout and design of all of its 142 stores nationwide.

The newly refurbished store has received a full makeover in line with Aldi’s award-winning Project Fresh design.  Aldi’s Project Fresh store layout was recognised at the Checkout National Retail Supplier Awards, by scooping the Best New Store Build award for Aldi’s Ennistymon store, one of Aldi’s first Project Fresh stores.

Featuring the new layout, Aldi’s Gort store offers a wide selection of fresh food at the front of the store, hi-spec fixtures and fittings and new signage that provides a more efficient and hassle-free shopping experience.

The store will be powered by 100% green electricity. Aldi has invested heavily in improving its energy management systems and its entire store network is now powered by 100% wind generated energy.  Aldi was the second retailer in Ireland to achieve ISO 50001 accreditation in recognition of its efforts to improve energy efficiencies.

Operating nine stores in Co. Galway, Aldi has become an established part of Galway’s retail landscape, proving very popular with shoppers for bringing greater competition, choice and value for money.

Aldi’s Gort store participates in Aldi’s national partnership with FoodCloud, donating surplus food to local charities daily.  The store has donated over 1,000 meals to its charity partners to date.  Aldi Gort is also part of Aldi’s Community Grants network, with Burren Animal Rescue just one of several charities availing of the €500 bursary grants this year.

Speaking at the reopening, Patrick Coffey, Aldi Gort Store Manager said: “The Project Fresh revamp of our store is great news for our customers.  Its new spacious design makes for a very easy and enjoyable shop.”

“Our commitment to our customers is we will never be beaten on price and will always provide the best value. Our Swap and Save campaign continues and the goal of this campaign is to remind shoppers about the saving that can be generated by swapping their weekly shop to Aldi.”

Aldi is committed to growing its Irish supply base and increasing the number of Irish products available in its stores.  It has invested more than €1,500,000 in its Grow with Aldi supplier development programme since 2018, which offers up-and-coming artisan Irish food and drink producers the chance to have their products listed in Aldi’s 142 stores.  Aldi also recently increased its support for small Irish suppliers by reducing its payment terms to 14 days for suppliers that transact up to €300,000 annually with Aldi.

Aldi will sell over €750 million worth of Irish goods this year, sourced from Irish producers, manufacturers and suppliers across the country.

About Aldi

Aldi has been Ireland’s fastest growing supermarket for most of the last ten years, achieving a 11.4% market share (Kantar Worldpanel data).

Employing almost 4,000 people, the company operates a network of 142 stores across the country, with stores in each county in the Republic of Ireland.

Aldi is investing €160m to expand and upgrade its Irish store network. It has committed €100m to constructing and opening 20 new stores, while Project Fresh sees a further €60m investment to revamp the layout and design of all 142 Aldi stores nationwide.

Aldi is attracting thousands of new customers in Ireland every year with its range of award-winning products and exclusive brands.

Aldi was the number one Irish retailer at the 2019 Great Taste Awards, with four of its own-brand products winning the most coveted three gold stars award - more than any other supermarket in Ireland.  Aldi also won 30 Blás na hEireann Awards and 40 Irish Quality Food Awards in 2019.

Aldi was ranked as the most reputable supermarket in Ireland by Irish consumers for the third year in a row by the prestigious RepTrak survey.

The company’s current initiatives include:

• Aldi has been Ireland’s highest paying supermarket for over a decade. Aldi will become the first supermarket to pay staff the Living Wage Technical Group’s €12.30 rate, coming into effect from the 1^st February 2019.
• Aldi has made a capital investment of more than €1.2 billion in Ireland since entering the market in 1999. 
• Each year Aldi contributes to the generation of over €1 billion to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the Irish economy.
• Aldi Ireland is stocked by over 200 Irish suppliers.
• Aldi has agreed a three-year, €900,000 extension to its partnership with leading youth organisation Foróige. Aldi funds a number of exciting activities, including the Aldi Foróige Youth Citizenship Awards and the Aldi Foróige Junior Baking Competition.
• Aldi partners with FoodCloud to donate food from all 142 stores to charity partners nationwide, helping to alleviate food poverty and food waste. To date, Aldi has donated 1.5 million meals to charities, equating to a saving of more than €2 million for the charity partners involved.
• Aldi is the official supermarket partner of the IRFU and the sponsor of Aldi Play Rugby, a programme that encourages school children to lead healthy, active lifestyles.  Aldi Play Rugby was named the Best Grass Roots Sponsorship at the 2018 Irish Sponsorship Awards.
• Aldi is the official sponsor of the Aldi Community Games, ensuring young people have the opportunity to participate in the Games.

• Aldi is a verified member of Bord Bia’s national sustainability programme Origin Green. 
• Aldi has invested more than €1,500,000 in its Grow with Aldi supplier development programme since 2018, providing Irish food and drink companies with the opportunity to gain a listing at Aldi’s 142 stores.

• Aldi recently increased its support for small Irish suppliers by reducing its payment terms to 14 days for suppliers that transact up to €300,000 annually with Aldi.
• Aldi’s Project Fresh store design was recognised at the Checkout National Retail Supplier Awards winning the Best New Store Build award for Aldi’s Ennistymon store and at the Checkout ‘Best in Fresh’ Awards 2019 for Aldi’s The Glen Waterford store. 
• Aldi Ireland was crowned Ireland’s Best Family-Friendly Supermarket for the second year in a row at the National Parenting Product Awards 2019.
• A wide-ranging packaging and plastics reduction plan is being implemented across Aldi’s Irish operations. Aldi has pledged that 100% of its own-label packaging will be recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2022 and committed to a 50% reduction in all product packaging by 2025 (relative to 2015 levels), working towards the goal that half of all Aldi product packaging will be made from recycled material by 2025.
• Aldi was the first retailer in Ireland to pledge to buy 100% of its bananas from sustainable sources.
• Aldi’s entire own-label household and beauty range has been accredited as cruelty free certified by leading animal protection organisation, Cruelty Free International.
• Aldi has banned all microbeads and microplastics from products since 2015.
• Aldi was the first retailer in Ireland to restrict the sale of energy drinks to under 16s.
• Aldi achieved the ISO 50001 internationally recognised energy management certification in November 2015. This certification covers all stores, Regional Distribution Centres and offices in both the UK and Ireland. This accreditation highlights Aldi’s commitment to effectively manage its energy consumption and reduce its impact on the environment.