Aldi is sticking to its expansion playbook

Heading westward in search of opportunity: It sounds like the story of the United States. For one discount retailer, it’s part of a strategy to boost an ever-growing brand.

German grocery chain Aldi is celebrating 50 years of its American adventure by bulking up its offering, opening 180 new stores across 31 states this year. The expansion comes as US consumers continue to feel the impact of high food prices (for those hoping for a gradual deceleration in inflation, read this).

Westward ho!

Colorado is one state firmly in the company’s crosshairs: Aldi is eyeing over 50 stores in Denver and Colorado Springs in a five-year expansion strategy. Phoenix and Las Vegas are also primed to benefit from the moves; the retailer has already made its mark on Sin City, opening multiple stores last year. The shelves won’t stock themselves of course. It’s opening three new distribution centers over the next three years in Florida, Arizona, and Colorado.

The growth picture

According to a report from real estate investment firm JLL, Aldi was the fastest-growing grocer in the United States in 2024. The latest expansion plans mean it will operate a total store count of nearly 2,800 by the end of this year.

“One in three US households shopped at Aldi this past year, and in 2026 we’re focused on making it even easier for customers to shop our aisles first,” Aldi US CEO Atty McGrath said in a press release.

The inflation situation

Aldi’s expansion has ramped up in recent years amid unease over the economy. So-called “sticky” inflation has tormented US consumers for several years now, with the consumer price index (CPI) rising at an annual rate of 2.7% in December 2025.

Strong earnings reports from the likes of Dollar General support the idea that Americans are increasingly looking for deals amid tricky economic conditions. On that note, there is no better barometer for the health of the consumer than Walmart: Those full-year earnings hit February 19.