UNITED KINGDOM - Aldi has a gift for its consumers this season, and it may be a little too big to wrap. The supermarket chain announced a strategy that could help sharpen its competitive edge in the produce department and expand consumer access as it recently rolled out a new innovation at some of its England stores.

"Extending this trial is about providing thousands more of our existing customers with another convenient way to shop with us, while also making Aldi accessible for many others who may not have shopped with us before," said Giles Hurley, Chief Executive Officer for the supermarket in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Shoppers at Aldi stores in Southampton Road, Portsmouth; West Street, Fareham; Mumby Road, Gosport; and Central Retail Park, Havant can order from a full range of groceries from the retailer’s online site and pick them up in pre-booked one-hour collection slots, according to The News, Portsmouth.

Aldi has incorporated click-and-collect points into its parking lot, where shoppers can have their groceries brought out to their cars contact-free, something that many consumers have surely been prioritizing since the beginning of the current pandemic. The retailer expects to expand this trial to over 200 additional stores this holiday season.

According to the release, Aldi has also doubled down on its partnership with Deliveroo, extending the trial to nearly 130 stores across the U.K., and allowing shoppers living near select stores to order from a large range of Aldi products and have them delivered to their doors in less time than a traditional grocery trip.

As the world changes around us, retailers are channeling new innovations to meet consumers’ needs and stay ahead of the pack. What else will change in the world of retail and how long will it take for Aldi to start channeling these innovations into the U.S. market? We at AndNowUKnow plan to find out.

Aldi