Shoppers across the UK need to plan their grocery trips carefully, as discount supermarket giant Aldi has confirmed it will shut the doors of all its British stores on New Year's Day. The retailer, which operates over 1,070 branches nationally, has issued a detailed schedule for the festive period, warning of fluctuating opening times.
Festive Opening Hours: What You Need to Know
The German-owned chain has outlined its trading plans for the crucial end-of-year period. On Monday, December 29th and Tuesday, December 30th, stores will be open from 8am until 8pm, giving customers ample time for last-minute purchases.
For New Year's Eve, the majority of Aldi supermarkets will operate on reduced hours, opening from 8am and closing at 6pm. However, the key date for shoppers to note is Thursday, January 1st, 2025, when every single Aldi store in the UK will be closed for the bank holiday.
Normal service will resume swiftly. From Friday, January 2nd, all locations will return to their standard operating hours of 8am to 10pm.
Aldi's Rapid Expansion Continues
This operational update comes hot on the heels of a significant expansion drive by the retailer. In a remarkable move just before Christmas, Aldi opened five new stores within a 24-hour window.
The new locations are:
- Uxbridge, London
- Old Kent Road, London
- Northallerton
- Pershore (opened Thursday, December 11th)
- Yate, Bristol (opened Friday, December 12th)
This opening spree created approximately 200 new jobs, with all roles offering Aldi's market-leading pay rates. The company remains the only UK supermarket to provide paid breaks for all store colleagues, a benefit worth nearly £1,475 annually for the average worker.
Investment and Industry Recognition
This growth is part of Aldi's ambitious plan to reach 1,500 stores in the UK. The retailer is backing this ambition with substantial investment, including £650 million earmarked for new openings and refurbishments in 2025 alone. A further £1.6 billion is committed over the following two years, supporting the rollout of around 40 new stores annually.
Aldi's value proposition continues to be recognised. It was recently crowned Christmas Retailer of the Year for the sixth consecutive year at the Quality Food Awards. Furthermore, it retained its title as the Which? Cheapest Supermarket for November, a position it has now held for four years running.
Jon Neale, Real Estate Managing Director at Aldi UK, commented on the expansion: "Opening any new store is exciting, but opening five in 24 hours, just before Christmas, will make a huge difference for customers in each of these areas. It reflects the demand we’re seeing right across the UK and the scale of our ambition as we continue to grow."
He added, "We’re committed to growing in the right places, with the right teams, bringing our low prices and high-quality products to even more communities."
