ALDI in $100m bid for eight new stores

Jessica Benton
Budget supermarket chain ALDI has announced plans for eight new stores across Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.
The stores would open at Grovedale, Newtown, Geelong West, Norlane, Lara, Leopold, Ocean Grove and Drysdale as part of a $100 million expansion plan.
ALDI Victorian managing director Tom Daunt said the company’s eight stores would deliver a $100 million financial windfall to the region.
“Not only is there the population to support more stores but we also believe consumers will welcome the opportunity for increased price competition,” he said.
Mr Daunt said ALDI had been “actively” looking for suitable sites since 2001 but council planning laws were delaying progress.
“The greatest challenge we have is the lack of appropriately zoned land and the current zoning laws,” he said.
“Geelong is certainly one of the most difficult areas we face in the state of Victoria. Since 2001 we’ve only been able to secure one appropriately zoned location in Belmont and we’ve spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to rezone and secure another two sites at Corio and Newcomb.”
Mr Daunt called on council to “keep pace” with future development and long-term growth opportunities.
Mr Daunt said ALDI expected to open the new stores during the next three to four years.
Councillor Tom O’Connor backed the supermarket plan.
“I reckon it’s fantastic,” he said.
“One of the most important things is the global state of money which is going to put enormous pressure on people’s ability to buy groceries, so ALDI can really help out here.”
However, Cr O’Connor said council would have to rezone some sites to make way for ALDI.