Last year was one of the most dynamic in the history of ALDI

Bernhard Haider
managing director
ALDI Magyarország

– What did 2022 bring for ALDI?

– We had the most exciting and dynamic year since we entered the Hungarian market, characterised by retail and store network development, and job creation. We opened new stores in 10 cities, including the first ALDI store in Eger.

– What were your biggest investments last year?

– Besides the money we spent on opening new stores, we invested HUF 2bn in improving our in-store bakeries – new furnishings and 10% more products are waiting for shoppers in the bakery sections of ALDI stores. In total we invested HUF 20bn in 2022, which was an exceptionally big sum.

– Did your investment also create new jobs?

– At group level we created more than 1,300 jobs in 2022, in the fields of commerce, logistics and informatics. This meant that last year ALDI was one of Hungary’s biggest job creators, and today we are the country’s 15th biggest employer. ALDI also created new jobs indirectly, via the orders we placed with Hungarian supplier partners – in comparison with 2021, the value of such orders was HUF 50bn bigger in 2022.

– What new things could ALDI customers see in the stores?

– Shoppers can choose from a large number of new products. We launched new Kokárdás private label products, so in addition to dairy products and processed meats, ALDI stores also sell various Kokárdás pickles. ALDI’s free-from and healthy product selection grew to nearly 500 items. Customers can take back used cooking oil to 111 stores, and 133 of our shops save food in collaboration with the Hungarian Food Bank.

The first Aldi store opened in Eger in April 2022

(x)