Seafood has been playing a much bigger role in Aldi stores in both the U.K. and U.S. in recent years.
Atherstone, U.K.-based Aldi UK, which claims it is the U.K.’s third-largest fish retailer, continues to expand its British-sourced fish offerings, with 20 new products launched in 2024 so far, including British pollock, chunky breaded cod, and haddock. One of its longtime suppliers is Peterhead, Scotland-based Thistle Seafoods, which provides Aldi with coated fish, fishcakes, and specially-selected frozen cod and haddock.
“At Aldi, we are incredibly proud of the longstanding relationships we have with British fisheries across the country. This increased investment demonstrates our commitment to these partnerships and our dedication to providing our customers with high-quality, sustainably sourced British fish,” Aldi UK Managing Director of Buying Julie Ashfield said.
Aldi also works with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) to drive continuous improvement of fisheries, the retailer said, and demands suppliers employ certification programs such as the Marine Stewardship Council and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council for farmed fish and seafood.
Aldi UK said it has invested more than GBP 45 million (USD 59 million, EUR 53 million) in the British seafood industry over the past year. It also announced an GBP 800 million (USD 1.05 billion, EUR 947 million) annual investment program and a GBP 1.4 billion (USD 1.8 billion, EUR 1.7 billion) two-year plan to invest in the country’s economy.
In tandem with those initiatives, Aldi is opening 23 new stores in the U.K. by the end of the year and will refurbish 100 existing stores.
The moves will bring “high-quality, affordable groceries to millions more British families, while creating thousands of jobs and more opportunities for British suppliers,” Aldi said.
Aldi, which has more than 1,020 stores across the U.K., said it spent an extra GBP 1.3 billion (USD 1.7 billion, EUR 1.5 billion) with its 5,000 British suppliers last year and established more long-term supply partnerships.
To help consumers through inflation and cost-of-living issues, the retailer invested nearly GBP 100 million (USD 131 million, EUR 118.5 million) in over 300 price cuts in the most recent quarter on products ranging from fish goujons to potatoes and peaches.
In the U.S., Aldi announced earlier this year it would open 800 additional stores by the end of 2028. Additionally, Batavia, Illinois-based Aldi US said it will hire more than 13,000 store and warehouse associates as it prepares for the upcoming holiday season. The operator of more than 2,000 stores will raise its starting national average hourly pay to USD 18.00 (EUR 16.30) per hour for store positions and USD 23.00 (EUR 21.00) per hour for warehouse employees, based on market and position.
Similar to its U.K. stores, Aldi stores in the U.S. source sustainable seafood and feature it frequently. The retailer told SeafoodSource that in September, it is featuring its own-label Fremont Fish Market Pub Style Shrimp or Lobster Bites and Honey Garlic Shrimp Bowl as returning Aldi Finds products. Additionally, new seasonal products include Fremont Fish Market Bay Scallops, Fremont Fish Market Black Tiger Shrimp, and Specially Selected Snow Crab Legs.
The retailer highlights seafood products in its Aldi Finds selection every month and often rolls out new products such as Fremont Fish Market Fish Sandwich Portions made with Alaska pollock.
