Powell and Liberty Township residents will soon have another option for groceries as ALDI prepares for its grand opening this week. The store, located at 9965 Sawmill Parkway, will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8.
As part of the festivities, ALDI will be giving away gift cards for the first 100 customers as part of its Golden Ticket Giveaway. Food samplings of brands exclusive to ALDI stores and a sweepstakes for the chance to win a year’s supply of ALDI produce will also be part of the opening.
Operating since 1976, ALDI currently has more than 1,800 stores in 35 states. The Powell location is part of a $3.4 billion investment by ALDI to expand to 2,500 stores by the end of 2022.
“Everyone deserves great food at affordable prices. This is our mantra at ALDI, and we’re excited to introduce it to customers in Powell with our brand new store,” said Sarah Brown, Springfield division vice president for ALDI, in a press release. “ALDI stores are designed with shoppers’ time and money in mind, and we’re proud to bring the community a better grocery shopping option.”
The franchise is known for utilizing cost-saving approaches such as shopping cart rentals that eliminate the need for employees dedicated to wrangling up carts, as well as asking customers to bag their own groceries in their own bags or boxes, to allow for savings to be reflected in the stores’ prices. The 25-cent cart rental is refunded upon return of the cart, and reusable bags can be purchased at the store if needed.
According to the press release, as part of the product expansion, ALDI is increasing its fresh food selection by 40 percent with many organic, convenient and easy-to-prepare options. The new store in Powell will feature an improved in-store experience with open ceilings, natural lighting, and environmentally-friendly building materials. Additional refrigeration space will also allow for “more fresh, healthy and convenient products.”
Of the decision to choose Powell as a location, Brown said, “When it comes to choosing store locations, we look at many factors. We want the best sites that are closest to our shoppers and can support a high daily traffic volume. As the demand for ALDI grows, so do our real estate options. Bottom line, we want to be conveniently located for our shoppers, and Powell was a natural fit.”
ALDI store hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.