Aldi, the major grocery retailer, has announced its ambitious plan to open 800 new stores across the United States within the next five years.

The Illinois-based chain, owned by a German company, revealed on Thursday its intention to construct or expand numerous Aldi outlets in its established strongholds in the Northeast and Midwest.

Additionally, the expansion will extend to the western U.S. and Southern California, with the inclusion of the first Aldi location in Las Vegas.

In a strategic move, Aldi will also focus on the Southeast, where it plans to transform numerous Winn-Dixie and Harveys locations into Aldi stores, NBC News reported.

While a significant number of these establishments will retain their current branding, Aldi disclosed that the acquisition of Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of Winn-Dixie and Harveys, has been successfully finalized.

Aldi anticipates that approximately 50 stores will initiate the conversion process in the latter half of 2024.

The majority of these stores are projected to reopen as Aldi outlets in 2025, marking a significant milestone in the company’s expansion strategy.

Written by B.C. Begley