Aldi announced it will open 80 new stores across the UK in 2026 and 2027, as part of a £1.6bn investment programme. Aldi has confirmed that an estimated £17m of this investment will be spent in Somerset over the next two years. Aldi currently operates 1,060 stores in the UK and is aiming to reach 1,500 as part of its long-term expansion strategy. Giles Hurley, chief executive officer for Aldi UK and Ireland, said: "Shoppers are still finding things difficult and that’s why we’re staying laser-focused on doing what Aldi does best – offering customers great quality products at unbeatable prices. "We’re more determined than ever to meet that demand, and that’s why we’re investing a record £1.6bn over the next two years, to bring Aldi prices closer to millions more customers."