ALDI has launched a new wave of exclusive shops across the UK, offering food at even lower prices.
Launched after a successful trial in Darlington, these stores help reduce food waste by selling perfectly safe products that can’t be offered in the main shop at discounted prices.
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The staff-only shops are opening at all 11 of Aldi’s regional distribution centres across BritainCredit: Alamy
However, only Aldi staff can shop at the new stores and enjoy the lower prices.
The staff-only shops are opening at all 11 of Aldi’s regional distribution centres across Britain.
These are location in Bathgate, Darlington, Bolton, Goldthorpe, Neston, Sawley, Atherstone, Cardiff, Swindon, Chelmsford and Sheppey.
This is part of Aldi‘s plan to be more eco-friendly and its goal to cut food waste by 90% by 2030 compared to 2017 levels.
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Luke Emery, national sustainability director at Aldi UK, said: “The colleague shop is another example of how we’re working to cut food waste across our operations.
“It’s a practical initiative that benefits both colleagues and the environment, and we’re pleased to extend it nationwide following a successful pilot.”
The scheme is expected to stop around 240 tonnes of food from going to waste every year.
Aldi, which employs 45,000 people across the UK, has also created “reduction zones” in stores to help shoppers find cheaper food and reduce landfill waste.
This is not the first time a supermarket has offered discounted food to staff.
Tesco has run a similar scheme since 2018.
Its “colleague shops” are available in all UK stores, allowing staff to take unsold food for free, as long as it hasn’t already been claimed by a charity or community group.
The scheme is open to all employees with a Colleague Clubcard, either from 9pm or one hour before the store closes.
There’s also a lesser-known supermarket called Company Shop, which sells products from retailers like M&S and Asda at up to 60% off.
Company Shop has 13 stores and buys excess stock from businesses to sell to its members.
To qualify, you need to work in areas like the NHS, emergency services, the armed forces, charities, or support services, work in consumer goods or logistics, or receive means-tested benefits.
Strict criteria apply, but each member can share their membership with up to two people.
Even if you’re not eligible to shop at these stores, there are still plenty of clever apps that can help you save money on your food shop.
You could find food that is near its expiry date for free on the sharing app Olio.
The items are listed by people in your area and the idea is someone local to you will pick it up.
We’ve previously revealed how you can get free food using the Olio app.
Meanwhile, Too Good To Go is the world’s leading marketplace for surplus food.
It works by allowing restaurants and bakeries to list items they would otherwise throw away at a discount.
For example, a bakery may list a bread bundle for £3 – saving you £9.
All items are sold as “surprise bags” so you never know what is inside.
But most of these bags cost between £2 and £6, meaning you’ll get good food at a significant discount.
Once you have downloaded the app you simply swipe through to see what restaurants and cafes are offering.
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Next confirm your choice, reserve the food and pay through the app.
Then simply head to the shop at the specified pick up time, swipe the app and enjoy your food.
How to save money on your food shop
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save hundreds of pounds a year:
Odd boxes – plenty of retailers offer slightly misshapen fruit and veg or surplus food at a discounted price.
Lidl sells five kilos of fruit and veg for just £1.50 through its Waste Not scheme while Aldi shoppers can get Too Good to Go bags which contain £10 worth of all kinds of products for £3.30.
Sainsbury’s also sells £2 “Taste Me, Don’t Waste Me” fruit and veg boxes to help shoppers reduced food waste and save cash.
Food waste apps – food waste apps work by helping shops, cafes, restaurants and other businesses shift stock that is due to go out of date and passing it on to members of the public.
Some of the most notable ones include Too Good to Go and Olio.
Too Good to Go’s app is free to sign up to and is used by millions of people across the UK, letting users buy food at a discount.
Olio works similarly, except users can collect both food and other household items for free from neighbours and businesses.
Yellow sticker bargains – yellow sticker bargains, sometimes orange and red in certain supermarkets, are a great way of getting food on the cheap.
But what time to head out to get the best deals varies depending on the retailer. You can see the best times for each supermarket here.
Super cheap bargains – sign up to bargain hunter Facebook groups like Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK where shoppers regularly post hauls they’ve found on the cheap, including food finds.
“Downshift” – you will almost always save money going for a supermarket’s own-brand economy lines rather than premium brands.
The move to lower-tier ranges, also known as “downshifting” and hailed by consumer expert Martin Lewis, could save you hundreds of pounds a year on your food shop.
