Aldi, Inc.

Aldi now has three co-presidents overseeing its rapidly expanding U.S. business following the promotion of Brent Laubaugh.

Laughbaugh, a 20 year veteran of the company, currently serves as VP of the Aldi division based in the Pittsburgh suburb of Saxonburgh, was named co-president of Aldi U.S. In that capacity, he joins David Behm and Chuck Youngstrom who will continue in their roles as co-presidents. All three report to Aldi CEO Jason Hart.

When it comes to the customer experience, one retail segment stands out above all others.

Supermarket chains took 13 out of the top 20 spots in the sixth annual Temkin Experience Ratings, with regional grocers Publix and H-E-B earning the highest overall scores. Other supermarket chains in the top 20 were Save-a-Lot, Kroger, Wegmans, Aldi, Food Lion, Shop Rite, Giant Eagle, Trader Joe’s, Wawa (classified as a supermarket by Temkin), Winn-Dixie and Hy-Vee.

Chicago -- CBRE recently completed the sale of two retail centers in the Chicago, Illinois suburbs for $14.8 million.

Regency Square, a 43,361 sq. ft. center, located in Huntley, Illinois is 97% leased. The center is anchored by Aldi and includes tenants Athletico, Jimmy John’s, Little Caesar’s and SportClips. CBRE represented the seller, Interstate Partners. Regency Square sold for $10.8 million. CBRE’s Derrick Almassy and Rich Frolik represented Interstate Partners in the sale to Hamilton Partners.

Discount grocer Aldi has deployed an energy management solution that gives it control and visibility across its nearly 1,500 U.S. stores.

The chain has implemented Siemens’ Site Controls energy management system, with the majority of the installations involving retrofits at existing stores where thermostats or third-party energy management systems were replaced. But the system has been deployed in newly constructed stores as well. Aldi will also install the Site Controls system in new stores as it continues to expand across the nation.

Fast-expanding grocery chain Aldi is making it even easier for consumers to shop its no-frills stores.

The European chain has announced it will now accept credit cards – including Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express – at all of its stores across the country.

Discount grocer Aldi will make its long-awaited California debut on March 24, with the opening of eight Southland stores. But that’s just the beginning of the company’s expansion plans for the market.

In all, Aldi plans to open approximately 45 stores in Southern California by the end of 2016. The opening of Aldi in California is part of the company's five-year strategic plan to open 650 new stores across the nation. By the end of 2018, the grocer expects to operate nearly 2,000 stores.

Healthy checklanes free of bad-for-you impulse items are coming to nearly all Aldi stores by year end, and that’s just the beginning of the retailer’s stepped up commitment to offering healthier options at its expanding network of 1,500 stores.

Aldi isn’t shooting itself in the foot and getting rid of all impulse items from its checklanes, but rather re-merchandising select checkout lanes to feature healthier options such as single serving of nuts, trail mixes, dried fruits and granola bars.

Judging from the latest 2015 Temkin Loyalty Index, which measures consumer loyalty to large companies, shoppers are maniacal when it comes to their favorite grocery stores.

Based on a study of 10,000 U.S consumers, H-E-B, Publix and Trader Joe's were at the top of the list when it comes to consumer loyalty, bookended on either side by credit card and insurance company USAA.

Aldi and Hy-Vee also made the top 10 list of companies to which consumers are most loyal.