// Aldi trials its first ever self-service checkouts
// First automated tills being piloted in Tamworth, Staffordshire
Aldi has finally caught up with its competitors with the launch of its first ever self-service checkout tills.
Currently being piloted at the discount grocer’s Glascote store in Tamworth, Staffordshire, Aldi said the trial of the new system of automated tills will be evaluated before a decision on further roll outs is made.
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Other supermarket giants, including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons already use self-serve checkouts.
Aldi’s main competitor Lidl has them in 150 and its 740 UK stores.
“As well as providing outstanding quality products at unbeatable prices, we are focused on giving our customers a quick and simple experience in our stores,” Aldi UK communications director Richard Thornton said.
“We think these new checkouts will help further improve that experience and we are looking forward to seeing how customers respond to this extra option at our Glascote store.”
The new self-service tills follows Aldi’s launch of a smaller inner-city store format in Balham, south London.
Aldi said this was not a move into convenience retailing, and that the Balham store – at 6500sq ft – is still twice the size of a typical convenience store.
However, the store in question sells 300 fewer products than a regular-sized Aldi, and does not have a Special Buy section.
The Aldi Local concept is only being trialled at Balham for the time being, and the results would be evaluated before deciding whether to roll out the concept and branding.
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