No. Aldi is a phenomenal grocery store chain with more than 10,000 locations in about 20 countries. Because Aldi is a privately owned family business, there are no Aldi franchise opportunities. Because the company is privately held, have it in mind that you cannot purchase shares or franchise a site from them.
With more than 2000 stores in the United States alone, Aldi is indeed not your typical grocery store. It is ranked amongst the top three grocery stores in the United States. Founded in 1913 by the Albrecht family as a small grocery shop in Germany following World War II, it has grown into a strong company.
ALDI is the world’s oldest discount retailer and a well-known brand in Europe. Currently, there are over 10,000 stores in 20 countries. The very first store in the United States began in Iowa in 1976. There have more than 1900 stores in 36 states.
Despite competition from various other low-cost grocery stores, ALDI thrives. This no-frills brand places a premium on client satisfaction and affordable prices. With just four or five aisles of products, the shops are considerably smaller than mall-style grocery stores.
The Aldi concept is to sell high-quality goods at low prices. One way the business keeps its price down is by carrying its own products. Aldi typically does not carry major brand names.
Other reasons for their low prices are that their stores are smaller, their product showcases are simple, there are no free plastic bags, and their staff is reduced to a bare minimum. Aldi does not have a butcher or baker on staff. Onboarding employees are expensive, so this grocer maintains staff levels to a minimum.
How to Become a Member of the Aldi Family
There are two well-known methods for leveraging the Aldi brand name to sprout your own business. They are as follows:
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Become an Aldi Supplier
Aldi gets their food from a wide range of vendors. Because Aldi does not permit franchising, this is another way to continue doing business with them.
If you’ve got a commodity that you’d like to pitch to the corporation to offer in stores, all you are required to do is to fill out such a form. Aldi US does not divulge their vendors, but on Aldi UK’s website, they do, such as where they obtain their cheese, vegetables, and dairy.
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Rent Your Property to Aldi
Real estate seems to be another avenue for doing business with Aldi. Aldi is constantly looking for new stores nationwide. They must meet the following conditions:
- Approximately 22,000 square feet with parking areas for at least 95 cars.
- Within three miles of the store, there should be a closely packed trade area.
- Should be situated in regional commercial districts and neighborhoods with population access.
- The site must be permitted for grocery use.
- It is better to have a full-access intersection.
- A constant traffic count of over 20,000 vehicles.
- Pads of 2.5 acres will also need to be available for purchase and development.
- End-cap or inline space with a minimal level frontage of 103′.
Aldi will start construction once your site has been selected and all required approvals have been obtained. The timescale differs based on the construction company. For example, Aldi’s assigned construction firm in Philadelphia asserts that it took only 51 days to build and complete the store. A construction firm in Ireland, on the other hand, notes that a new build can take them about 6 months.
Alternatives to Aldi in the United States to Consider
As stated previously, Aldi is unique in that it does not use franchisees to expand its physical footprint but rather leases each of its locations directly. Even if you are unable to invest in the Aldi business concept, there are numerous other options to consider. They include:
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Circle K
Circle K, as an internationally known brand, has a longstanding experience of franchising beyond the United States and Canada. Whenever it happens to come to franchise business opportunities, the Circle K service station might just be what you’re searching for.
Circle K is committed to providing outstanding instruction since it has remained in business for many years and has several stores. Two weeks of training will occur at their head office in Phoenix, AZ, followed by another two weeks at another store.
Financial Requirements
- Initial investment: from $186,500
- Royalty Fees: 3 – 7.5%
2. 7-Eleven
7-Eleven is the world’s largest supermarket chain, headquartered in Irving, Texas, and operating, franchising, or licensing 56,600 retail locations in 17 countries. 7-Eleven is an award-winning franchisor with a strong market position and widely known quality goods, with more than 40% of their retail locations controlled by independent franchisees.
7-Eleven assists business owners in tailoring their businesses “to the uniqueness of their identified market units and client needs,” resulting in higher levels of customer satisfaction who return.
Financial Requirements
- Initial investment: from $47,050
- Royalty Fees: Varies