Aldi heads to Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. Discount retailer Aldi has announced store projects in Rhode Island, stating that it is planning to open its first outlets there in the state capital of Providence, and three additional towns.

The move, which is part of a plan to expand in New England, will feature stores in Providence, East Providence, Cranston and West Warwick.

The Smith Hill section of Providence, where one of the Aldi stores will make its debut, has not had a supermarket in the area for close to a decade.

The chain has recently opened its fifth store in neighboring Connecticut and is building a distribution center in South Windsor, CT, to serve up to 50 stores in the state plus 20 in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

“Aldi has been very well received as we’ve increased our presence up and down the East Coast,” said Bruce Person, a regional Aldi manager. “We’ve developed an extremely loyal customer base that has become accustomed to the high-quality, low-cost products they can get at Aldi. We’re excited to bring these benefits to the residents of Rhode Island.”

Aldi introduced the limited assortment concept to the United States in 1976 when the first stores were opened in southeastern Iowa. Today, Aldi Inc. operates over 850 stores in 27 states, primarily from Kansas to the east coast.