Aldi set to create 35,000 jobs as part of UK expansion

10th Nov 2014 15:48

Discount supermarket chain Aldi has announced it intends to create some 35,000 new jobs in the UK.On Monday, the German firm unveiled plans for a £600m investment, which would see the number of stores across the country doubled to 1,000."This includes plans to create at least one apprenticeship position per store, per year, which would see the employment of between 600 - 1,000 apprentices each year as Aldi strives towards 1,000 stores," the company said in a statement."Apprentice training and development will be supported by a new Apprenticeship Academy located at Aldi's offices and distribution centre in Bolton, which is due to open in March 2015."The firm added the new jobs would include regional distribution centre roles, as well as a range of management roles, both within the firm's offices and in its stores."Our expansion plans mean that we can accommodate growing shopper numbers, while ensuring that there is an Aldi store only a short drive away from people, no matter where they live in the country," Matthew Barnes, group managing director of Aldi UK, said."We are opening our doors across the UK, making it even easier for people to shop and save with us."Discount chains such as Aldi and Lidl have seized the opportunity to capitalise on the so-called 'Big Four' supermarket chains' problems and have moved to secure a larger share of the market.Aldi's grocery market share currently stands at 4.8% and with an increasing number of families facing budget constraints, discount chains could attract even more customers in the future, while the likes of Tesco, Sainsbury's and Morrisons scramble to cut their prices.Tesco's efforts to fight back against discount chains have been complicated by the financial scandal that has hit the retailer, while Morrisons has seen its sales declining steadily in recent months and Sainsbury's recently backed a trial return to the UK of Danish discount chain Netto.David Cameron, who visited Aldi's UK headquarters in Warkwicshire on Monday, said the firm's plans were a "vote of confidence" to the government's economic policy."Aldi's plans to create tens of thousands more jobs across the country are a vote of confidence in our long-term economic plan to back business, create more jobs and secure a brighter future for Britain," the prime minister said."This news will mean more financial security for hardworking families and opportunities for young people who want to get on in life."