Aldi asks the public where a new store should go in Berkshire

Aldi is on the lookout for a new store location in Berkshire as part of its rapid UK expansion plans.

And it has invited the public to suggest areas most in need of an Aldi store.

It already has a load of data, which suggests Reading is turning out as the most popular spot for a new one. And just last week, a planning application went in to West Berkshire Council for one in Hungerford.

The application, by Aldi Stores Limited and Kerridge Properties Limited, is for a 1.725sqm store with 102 customer parking spaces on currently vacant ‘brownfield’ – previously developed – land north of Charnham Street.

Aldi currently has more than 1,050 stores across the UK, including in Newbury, and is working towards a long-term target of 1,500.

The expansion is part of a £650 million investment this year.

Jonathan Neale, managing director of national real estate at Aldi UK, said: "We want to make high-quality, affordable food accessible to everyone, and that means opening new stores in the communities that need them most.

“The response from the public has been invaluable in helping us identify where demand is greatest, and where we need to focus our efforts on finding the sites that can become new stores."

Each site should be able to accommodate a 20,000 sq ft store with around 100 parking spaces. Ideally the location will be near a main road with good visibility and access.