Aldi - Business Practices

Business Practices

Note: Store hours are given in 24-hour time.

Many Aldi practices are common in German supermarkets but largely unique to Aldi in other countries. These include the system of metal gates and turnstiles forcing customers to exit through the checkout, and charging customers for shopping bags. Until 2004, Aldi stores accepted only cash (since then, German stores have accepted domestic Girocard debit cards). Debit cards also are accepted in the USA, the UK, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Australia, Slovenia, and Hungary.

Aldi generally does not accept credit cards, though Aldi Australia accepts MasterCard and Visa for a 0.5% surcharge. In the USA, Aldi unsuccessfully experimented with accepting Discover Card and Visa.

Another practice at Aldi stores in Europe, Australia, and the USA, is requiring a coin, or an Aldi-issued reusable token, to use a shopping trolley. When the coin or token is inserted, the trolley is unlocked from the other trolleys. When the cart is returned, the customer is refunded their coin, effectively costing the customer only the time to return the cart. By contrast, other American stores often have employees return carts left in parking areas.

Almost all of Aldi's German stores are open until 20:00 Mondays through Saturdays. Aldi's USA stores open at 9:00 or 10:00, and close at 21:00, except 20:00 on Sundays. UK Aldi stores close at 19:00, 20:00 or 21:00 weeknights and Saturday; stores in England and Wales, as with most supermarkets, open Sundays 10:00-16:00, while stores in Scotland, where Sunday blue laws do not exist, have hours similar to weekdays. Aldi stores in Australia generally open from 08:30-20:00 most weekdays, closing on Thursdays at 21:00, and weekends at 19:00; these stores open Sundays where permitted. Irish Aldi stores are open 9:00-20:00 Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday; 9:00-21:00 Thursdays and Fridays, and 10:00-19:00 Sunday.