Aldi is considering the launch of an online grocery service in the UK which could be extended into Europe if successful, according to a report in German newspaper Lebensmittel Zeitung.
Retail analyst ResearchFarm said the UK market is ideal for a trial as the online grocery market is one of the most developed in Europe. It claims that although Germany's biggest discounter has studied the online channel and online grocery business models for over ten years, its management feared that such a move would cannibalise in-store sales.
“For now this is only a trial, however should Aldi decide to really venture into online grocery retailing in future, perhaps with a dedicated click & collect offer, then this would have the potential to change the dynamics of the entire industry,” said ResearchFarm’s research director Daniel Lucht.
“Once both Aldi and Lidl add the online channel to their overall proposition and tap into latent demand, all bets are off in terms of where their market share could go.”
Lucht said that many UK areas are still underserved by Aldi and Lidl, leaving shoppers without easy access to a hard discounter.
“Without knowing the specifics of the trial, which geographic areas the discounter would target and fulfilment options Aldi would offer, this remains speculation, but it looks like shopper reach could be widened significantly through a home delivery option.”
This is not Aldi’s first online venture. The discounter has been operating an online wine shop in Australia for over two years.
