HISTORY THATMEANS MORE ABOUT US SCROLL TIMELINE TO SEE MORE 1913 It’s 1913 and a small grocery store opens in Essen, Germany - this is where the Aldi journey begins! There at the counter stands Anna Albrecht. Over time, she’s joined by her two sons Karl and Theo. In a smart move, the Albrechts acquire a liquor licence, gaining an advantage over their competitors. They also let their customers buy goods on account and pay later. This results in huge customer loyalty. The business wasn’t just surviving now – all these strategies send their turnover soaring. This business model continues to work brilliantly. With award-winning products, our amazing colleagues and continued growth, we’re going from strength to strength. 1930s By the 1930s, the family business is well established but the Great Depression makes things extremely difficult. Time for some Aldi bold thinking. 1947 Aldi reveal another string to their bow: liquid soap which doesn’t need a ration coupon (they were the only retailers for miles who stocked this). 1954 By now, Karl and Theo have already taken over the business. In 1954, they make history by opening their first self-service store in Essen-Schonnebeck. It’s a first in Germany. 1962 They decide to think of a new name and come up with ‘Aldi’, short for Albrecht Discount. 1961 The brothers now own 300 stores, and decide to split the operation into Aldi Nord (North) and Aldi Süd (South) – which now operate independently. 1990 Aldi Süd are operating in Germany, Austria and America. In 1990, the business arrives in the UK. Customers are amazed to see a true example of ‘no frills’ shopping. Because overheads are kept low, customers can benefit from amazing quality at low prices. N S