Any time a company plans to expand into a new country, it is a huge undertaking and the process behind planning everything and actually making it happen can take a long time, cost a lot of money, and be a risky move.
Companies must also think about things such as finding the best location, meeting local regulations and laws, determining the local market and competition, and other factors that can make or break the success of the business.
Aldi is a very popular German supermarket chain with over 10,000 stores spread throughout 20 different countries. These supermarket giants are no strangers when it comes to international expansion.
However, that doesn’t mean international expansion is easy or guaranteed for Aldi. After Aldi expanded to Australia, those living in New Zealand might be wondering when it’s their turn to get an Aldi.
And in this article, we will share with you all of our findings. To find out when Aldi is coming to New Zealand, continue reading below.
Table of ContentsShow
Is Aldi Coming To New Zealand In 2023?
The short and unfortunate answer to this is no. Aldi has no plans to expand to New Zealand in the near future.
Back in 2020, Aldi put out an official statement, decisively saying that they would not be expanding their stores to New Zealand for the foreseeable future. They did not explicitly give a reason as to why that may be.
Further back, in 2010, Aldi did give a reason, saying that it was focused on its Australian expansion and growing the amount of stores it had there instead of moving to New Zealand, as well.
With this small bit of information, we are left wondering why exactly Aldi has chosen not to place stores in New Zealand.
Why Isn’t Aldi Coming To New Zealand?
To put it simply, New Zealand is a pretty small country with an established grocery market. New Zealand’s population is around 5 million people.
As for the country itself, it is only 103,000 square miles. To put that into perspective, the United States is 3.8 million square miles. That is quite a huge difference in land space.
On top of this, New Zealand’s grocery market is dominated by 2 established chains, Foodstuffs and Countdown. Foodstuffs also owns the popular chain Pak ‘n Save while Countdown is owned by the notable Woolworths Group.
Between these two, they have 85% of the supermarket share. This is a really big hurdle for Aldi to overcome if it plans to try and set up in New Zealand. The German supermarket chain would have to accept the fact that they would be losing profit for years to gain a foothold in New Zealand until Aldi becomes a popular choice for shoppers.
Beyond this, there is no prime location to build new Aldi New Zealand stores at. As mentioned before, the country of New Zealand is small. The other major supermarket chains have already snatched up the best spots.
However, Costco is coming to Auckland, New Zealand in 2022. With this expansion in play for the major bulk retailer, Aldi may reconsider their expansion plans, or lack thereof. The supermarket chain can patiently wait to see how Costco does in New Zealand and move forward depending on that information.
What Has Been Done To Bring Aldi To New Zealand?
New Zealand is known for having a high cost of living. This remains apparent whenever you make a visit to the grocery store. Food prices are relatively steep.
This isn’t something that is easy to deal with, even for those who were born and raised in New Zealand. Aldi, which is known for its affordable pricing, would be a great fit and a welcome one if it ventured into New Zealand.
Despite the fact that there are items Aldi shoppers should avoid buying, there is actually a Facebook page dedicated to the cause, called Bring Aldi to New Zealand. The page was created in 2017 and has 1,358 total followers. This shows that there is a desire for Aldi to make its entrance into New Zealand and that it is already popular among locals.
It’s important to mention that New Zealand isn’t the only country that wants an Aldi store. Canadians too wonder if Aldi is coming to Canada in the near future.
How Can You Convince Aldi To Come To New Zealand?
Aldi has a habit of truly listening to its customers’ wants and needs, and this should be no different when concerning the wants and needs of potential customers. With that being said, you need to make the desire for Aldi and its fair pricing heard. Take to social media and speak up, like so many fans of Aldi that live in New Zealand already have.
The more interest that is shown about Aldi, the more likely they are to take the plunge and expand to New Zealand. You can even try reaching out directly to Aldi to really make sure your thoughts are heard.
Go ahead and join the Facebook page mentioned earlier and sign the petition to have Aldi come to New Zealand. Ask everyone you know to sign it as well.
A corporation as big as Aldi making another international expansion won’t happen overnight. However, Aldi does keep a close eye on potential markets.
Where Can You Go Instead Of Aldi?
The cheapest and most similar option you have to Aldi would be Pak ‘n Save. It is owned by Foodstuffs and boasts low prices that bring customers into its stores.
It is noted to be cheaper than its rivals by $10 per week. This might not seem like much, but it adds up to be over $500 each year.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, no, Aldi is not looking to expand to New Zealand anytime in the near future. The German supermarket chain has been focusing on its Australian expansion, as well as its growth in other countries. It also doesn’t have much interest in trying to enter an already dominated market.
As Aldi fans have learned with Australia, these things take time. However, they are completely worth the wait.
Aldi has had its eye on New Zealand since around 2005, and it hasn’t looked away. Costco is opening its first store in Auckland, which might give Aldi the push it needs to enter the New Zealand market, but until then, only time will tell.
