Fast-growing supermarkets Aldi and Lidl have no plans to launch online home delivery despite the online grocery market set to surge by 50 per cent in the next two years.
“E-commerce is not an immediate focus for Aldi, as we currently have the best performing business model in the grocery sector,” said Giles Hurley, managing director of corporate buying at Aldi told Retail Gazette. “However, it is an area we monitor as part of our customer focused approach.”
The latest Kantar Worldpanel figures showed a year-on-year sales uplift of 35.9 per cent for the 12 weeks ending 25 at Aldi as customers flock to discount stores to save money on the weekly food shop.
A significant proportion of consumers are in favour of a home delivery service being rolled out at Aldi. One consumer said: ”I would definitely switch to Aldi if they did home delivery. It‘s really hard with 2 children and no car so I opt for home delivery.”
But one expressed concern that discounters‘ low prices could rise if online shopping is launched as significant investment is required in maintaining websites, servicing vans and employing packer‘s in-store.
A Lidl spokeperson said: “We don‘t have any plans to explore online shopping at the moment.”
