Discount Grocer Aldi to Open 180+ Stores in US in 2026

Aldi plans to open more than 180 stores in the U.S. this year, including on the traditional turf of rival supermarkets and big-box stores. The German grocer’s latest growth plans follow an already aggressive expansion over the past decade. Aldi, which is known for its low prices, small stores and emphasis on private brands, has become the third-largest grocer in the country by store count, trailing only Walmart and Kroger. And last year, Aldi marked its biggest expansion since it opened its first U.S. store in Iowa in 1976 by opening nearly 200 locations. It had 2,614 stores in the U.S. as of Dec. 31. Along with opening more locations, Aldi said it will relaunch its website this year.

Total Retail's Take: As consumers seek value across all product categories, including grocery where inflationary pricing has been very well publicized, Aldi thrives. The discount grocery chain is reacting to that consumer demand for value pricing by increasing its physical footprint in the U.S. Furthermore, Aldi's vast private label portfolio positions itself well for growth going forward. US private label grocery sales are experiencing strong, consistent growth, outpacing national brands, with sales projected to hit $277 billion in 2025. Private label goods now account for nearly 25 percent of grocery sales.

Even with its expansion, there's still plenty of runway for growth at Aldi. In the competitive grocery sector, Walmart is the nation’s largest by market share with 21 percent, according to market researcher Numerator, followed by Kroger, Costco, Albertsons, and Publix to round out the top five. Aldi has 2.8 percent of U.S. market share, according to Numerator data. Expect that number to grow as Aldi invests further resources into the U.S. market.