Low-cost grocery store Aldi, which opened its first store in Louisiana this year, plans to move to the New Orleans area this summer.
Aldi is scheduled to open June 2 in Slidell at 137 Northshore Blvd., its third location in Louisiana.
In February, Aldi opened its first Louisiana location in Lafayette at 4518 Ambassador Caffery Parkway. It has since added a second store in New Iberia at 1102 East Admiral Doyle Drive.
The company plans to open stores in LaPlace, Metairie, Covington and a second store in Lafayette by the end of the year. Marrero is slated for a location in early 2023, said Heather Moore, divisional vice president for Aldi.
Aldi has more than 2,200 stores in 38 U.S. states, and the expansions are part of a strategic plan announced in early 2022 to add 150 locations nationwide by the end of the year – including stores along the Gulf Coast and the construction of a 564,000-square-foot regional distribution center in Loxley, Alabama.
“Aldi continues to grow across the United States, adding hundreds of stores in new and existing markets,” Moore said. “We have invested more than $5 billion in a multi-year national growth initiative and have opened more than 500 stores in the past five years.” ALDI is looking to hire approximately 300 store associates and 200 warehouse associates to support its growth. ALDI is on track to become the third-largest grocery retailer by number of stores by the end of 2022.
Here are the planned locations of ALDI grocery stores. No specific date has been announced, but Moore confirmed that they should open by the end of 2022.
- Lafayette – 3200 Louisiana Ave.
- LaPlace – 2122 West Airline Hwy.
- Covington – 123 Holiday Blvd., Covington
- Métairie – 8855, boulevard Commemoratif des Vétérans, Métairie
- Marrero – 1849 Barataria Blvd. (*early 2023)
The Slidell site will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and will employ approximately 25 to 30 people. The store will offer local specialties such as Tony Chachere’s Creole seasoning, Crystal’s hot sauce, Blue Plate mayonnaise, Blue Bell ice cream and Luzianne sweet tea.
Exclusive Aldi brands represent 90% of the store’s offer. It also sells fresh and organic produce delivered daily, cheese and wine selections, and plant-based gluten-free alternative food options, in addition to traditional offerings. Shoppers can also find candles, seasonal foods, kitchen gadgets, decor and more.
Beyond lower prices, Aldi markets its stores as easier to navigate than traditional grocery stores. A typical Aldi store is about 12,000 square feet of retail space, Moore said.
“The consistent size of Aldi stores across the country is part of our formula for success,” Moore said. “Every Aldi has a similar, easy-to-navigate layout, so you’ll always feel like you’re shopping at your local store.”
