Aldi plans to open 180 new stores across the US

Forget bratwurst and beer — Germany’s most successful export to America right now might be cheap groceries. After opening a record 225 new stores last year, Aldi is pushing even harder in 2026, with plans to open more than 180 additional locations across the US. It is a bold move at a time when many retailers are shutting stores — but one that reflects a simple reality for American shoppers: price now trumps everything. As households cut back on dining out and scrutinize every grocery receipt, Aldi — originally from Germany and now dominant all over Europe — has positioned itself as a refuge for stretched budgets.

The chain, headquartered near Chicago, built its US following on ultra-low prices and a no-frills model built almost entirely around private labels. More than 90 percent of what Aldi sells is its own-brand food, allowing it to undercut rivals while maintaining quality. That formula appears to be working. Aldi now operates more than 2,600 US stores and is aiming to reach nearly 3,200 by 2028 — one of the most aggressive expansion plans in American grocery retail, and enough to make it the fastest-growing national chain.

For millions of Americans trimming grocery receipts and eating out less, shopping at Aldi has become a practical solution — and its rapid expansion reflects that shift. The rise of Aldi — alongside rival German discounter Lidl and value favorite Trader Joe's, which operate similar private-label-heavy models — is squeezing traditional grocers such as Kroger and Albertsons. Even big-box giants like Walmart are feeling the pressure.

While Walmart still wins on selection, national brands, bulk buying and its one-stop-shop appeal, Aldi is generally cheaper on everyday staples and store-brand essentials — exactly where consumers are cutting costs. Amazon, which is rapidly expanding its grocery ambitions online and through Whole Foods, which it bought in 2017, is also emerging as a major threat to traditional stores.

In December, Amazon expanded same-day delivery of fresh food to more than 2,300 cities and towns, with plans to broaden the service further this year. Amazon and Aldi compete fiercely in the budgetgrocery market, with Aldi generally winning on ultra-low prices for its private-label staples, while Amazon counters with convenience.