ALDI to Open Store on Atlanta Highway

In a couple of weeks, there will be another grocery offering merchandise to Athens area shoppers. Discounter ALDI is opening a new store on the Atlanta Highway and Mitchell Bridge Road on Feb. 2 at 9am.

ALDI officials say they offer “high-quality grocery items at unbeatable prices.” They do so by selling their own exclusive brands. Prevalent across Europe, ALDI opened its first American store in 1976.

The Athens store features ALDI’s “new look,” which includes higher ceilings, improved natural lighting and environmentally friendly recycled materials and energy-saving refrigeration and light bulbs. Customers will find more than 1,400 frequently purchased items sold under ALDI exclusive brands that cost less than half of what’s charged in traditional supermarkets.

To reduce overhead costs, ALDI offers a cart rental system similar to what you find at Hartsfield-Jackson. Shoppers insert a quarter to release a cart and receive the quarter back when they return the cart. Other cost-saving moves include a smaller store footprint, open carton displays and push for customers to bring their own shopping bags.

The grocery store will be open from 9am to 8pm, Monday through Saturday, and from 11am to 6pm on Sunday. ALDI accepts cash, debit and EBT cards.

ALDI hasn’t bought other stores or merged with another company, but it did open 75 stores in the U.S. in 2011, and plans to open 90 stores in 2012. ALDI has approximately 1,200 stores in 31 U.S. states