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ROADSHOW: SOUTH AUSTRALIA THERE’S NO STOPPING ALDI IN SA In March, ALDI opened its 34th South Australian store, in the Adelaide suburb of Salisbury, after entering the state just four years ago. A s ALDI continues to expand its store network in SA, it is boosting the employment of local people. Its store network, SA head office and distribution centre employs more than 650 South Australians, the company says, adding that in 2018 it contributed more than $168 million to the state economy. But according to ALDI, its impact on SA won’t stop there, with a further five new stores in Adelaide and surrounds – at Clovelly Park, Findon, Mawson Lakes, Norwood and Plympton – to be opened this year, with plans to keep adding to the network. “Every year, our impact on SA becomes more significant as our store network grows,” ALDI Australia Managing Director of South Australia Viktor Jakupec said. “Our focus in 2020 is to continue to support local communities through new store openings, employment and food charity partnerships. We look forward to a successful year of growth in the state, which sees even more South Australians save on their grocery shop.” ALDI says it will continue to partner with local businesses and growers, stocking a large variety of SA grown produce, including apples, carrots, broccolini and mandarins, as well as pasta and confectionery. While the retailer’s SA shoppers support its locally grown and made products, ALDI says it has also noted that they have their own distinctive set of ALDI favourites. As part of ALDI’s ‘The People’s Picks’ consumer-voted awards program, local shoppers selected the retailer’s Cowbelle Tasty Shredded Cheese, Bon Appetit Chocolate Chip Mini Brioche Rolls, Bakers Life Plain Bagels, Jindurra Station Beef Eye Fillet and Moser Roth Orange and Almond Chocolate as some of their top-rated products. ALDI says the unique shopping patterns of South Australians are shown in the company’s best-selling Special Buys in the state. Among the top 10 sellers are various models of the retailer’s Bauhn TV range, a petrol garden mower, Android TV, the Dyson V7 Origin vacuum cleaner, and its 1kg pack of cashews. In addition, ALDI has continued to expand its charity partnerships with OzHarvest, Foodbank and SecondBite. In 2019, ALDI says, its SA stores donated more than 491 tonnes of food to local charities, which is claimed to be equivalent to 980,000 meals. “Our focus in 2020 is to continue to support local communities through new store openings, employment and food charity partnerships. We look forward to a successful year of growth in the state.” 28 RETAIL WORLD MAY, 2020