ALDI: A steady retail chain and a reliable employer

Bernhard Haider, managing director of ALDI Magyarország Élelmiszer Bt. talked to our magazine about their 2019 achievements and the situation in 2020.

What was 2019 like for ALDI?

– We kept growing in 2019 and our new investments created many jobs. The ALDI network now consists of 144 stores and we employ more than 3,800 people. We are building a new 8,800m² cold storage facility at our Biatorbágy headquarters. The services centre ALDI International IT Services Kft. moved to a bigger office in Pécs – this centre already offers 160 business and IT solutions for ALDI South companies.

Bernhard Haider, managing director of ALDI Magyarország Élelmiszer Bt.: „In 2019, we made major investments, through which we’ve created a number of new jobs”

Employers have been competing for workers for years and this forces them to increase salaries. How can ALDI cope with this situation?

– Our philosophy is simple: we focus on the person, be it a shopper or an employee. ALDI believes that only motivated, dedicated and loyal workers can provide a high-level service to the customers that choose us. Our efforts for present and future workers bore fruit in 2019: ALDI won the ‘Reliable Employer’ prize of the German-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DUIHK) for the second time in 2019.

In the last few years, ALDI introduced several innovative green solutions. What were the steps you took to reduce the company’s ecological footprint?

– In 2019 we banned plastic lids from Hungarian-made private label dairy products, and thanks to this our plastic use dropped 6.4 tons. This year we continue this programme and will increase the proportion of responsible non-food products, e.g. FSC-certified wood and paper products. Last year we phased out single-use plastic cutlery and drinking straws. By 2025 ALDI will use 100-percent recyclable packaging for private label products.

Last year ALDI started building a nationwide e-charging network. How are things going?

– We started this project in partnership with E.ON, and the plan is to establish a network of 360 e-vehicle charging points at 123 ALDI stores in 82 towns. Currently, 50 free charging points of 31 ALDI stores are operational.

„One of the most extensive networks of e-vehicle charging points and the reduction of packaging materials are examples of the steps we’ve taken for a sustainable future”

What kind of challenges did the coronavirus pose to ALDI?

– For us, it is very important to be a stable partner at all times. In the pandemic situation, we ensured a continuous product supply, and we took the necessary hygiene measures in all ALDI stores for the protection of customers and workers. I was very impressed to see how the ALDI staff helped shoppers and one another in this difficult situation! The pandemic proved that in the long run, it pays off to invest in training workers.

What new things we can expect from ALDI this year?

– ALDI offers a large selection of high quality organic, vegan, vegetarian, no added sugar, sugar-, palm oil-, lactose- and gluten-free products. From May next to the price tags shoppers find symbols that help them to identify these. Thanks to the expansion of our cold storage capacity, our stores will offer a 40 percent bigger chilled product selection. We continue working together with the Hungarian Food Bank Association: at the moment 99 from our 144 stores are saving food and donating it to people in need. Since 2018 ALDI’s operations have been carbon-neutral. We would also like to lead the way in utilising eco-friendly packaging solutions. ALDI will carry on with its water protection initiative too. (x)