[13] Internationally, Aldi Nord operates in Belgium, Netherlands, France, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal and Spain, while Aldi Süd operates in Australia, Austria, China, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Slovenia, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Aldi Nord also owns the Trader Joe's grocery chain in the United States, which operates separately from the group.

[16] In 1913, Karl and Theo Albrecht's mother opened a small store in a suburb of Essen, Germany.

[15] Their father was employed as a miner, and after asthma forced him to quit said job, later found work as a baker's assistant.

[citation needed] Karl Albrecht took over a food shop formerly run by F. W. Judt, and later served in the German Army during World War II.

The market leaders at the time, which often were co-operatives, required their customers to collect rebate stamps and to send them at regular intervals to reclaim their money.

[24] After the death of Theo's son Berthold, Aldi Nord continues to be controlled by the Albrecht family through its Markus, Lukas, and Jakobus Foundations, which hold a combined 80.5 per cent of the company's issued capital.

[8] In August 2023, Aldi Süd acquired Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket in the US, including about 400 stores across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

'Aldi equator')[35][36] and runs from the Rhine via Mülheim an der Ruhr, Wermelskirchen, Marburg, Siegen, and Gießen east to just north of Fulda.

Aldi Nord is responsible for its stores in Northern Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, and Spain.

Aldi Nord also owns the Trader Joe's grocery chain in the United States, which operates separately from the group.

[46] Aldi opened its first Australian store in Sydney in 2001, and has grown rapidly since, maintaining a 12.6% market share as of early 2016.

[49] Financial website Canstar rated Australia's supermarkets based on the feedback of 2,897 consumers who had visited one in the past month with Aldi coming out on top.

[54] Reports in August 2019 stated that the company was in the process of using a $3.4 billion investment to expand to 2,500 stores in the country by the end of 2022.

[56] Groceries ordered online could be delivered to homes in the areas covered by 95% of stores in the US, provided in conjunction with Instacart.

[57] In March 2024, Aldi said that it is planning to invest over $9 billion and open 800 new stores in the United States by the end of 2028.

[70] In August 2018, Aldi Nord announced plans to expand its product selection by offering more organic, fresh, and easy-to-prepare meals.

[needs update][75][76] On 18 September 2018, Aldi announced its intent to offer grocery delivery in the United States.

Aldi began testing grocery delivery in 2017 in select cities, such as Atlanta, Georgia and Chicago, Illinois.

[citation needed] Branded products carried include Haribo in Germany, Knoppers in Belgium, France, and the United States, Marmite and Branston Pickle in Great Britain, and Vegemite and Milo in Australia.

[citation needed] In addition to its standard assortment, Aldi has weekly special offers,[79] some of them on more expensive products such as electronics, tools, appliances, or computers.

Aldi's early computer offers in Germany, such as a Commodore 64 in 1987, resulted in those products selling out in a few hours.

Some US stores also sell alcoholic beverages, mainly beer and wine, where permitted by local and state laws.

[85] In the United States, it advertises in newspapers and on television, as well as print ads distributed in stores, and via the Internet.

In 2016, Aldi began producing a series of Christmas ads to rival John Lewis' featuring a carrot named Kevin.

[needs update][92] In January 2024, the company announced plans to eliminate plastic bags from its 2,300 US stores.

[104] Australian trucking giant Scott's Refrigerated Logistics was plunged into receivership and liquidation in March 2023 after going into voluntary administration that February.

This sparked protests from the Transport Workers' Union, who put the blame on Aldi Australia for increasing strains on the company[105] during the last few years of shortages and inflation.

[113] The 85 stations in Austria are on or near the stores, providing self-serve unleaded or diesel fuel by card-operated pumps.