Aldi US pilots one-hour online delivery service

Aldi US has announced plans to launch its online grocery service after teaming up with delivery service Instacart – but has ruled out alcohol sales online for the meantime.

Aldi US plans big store expansion

The pilot scheme, which will offer a one-hour delivery service to online shoppers, is being launched in Atlanta, Dallas and Los Angeles this month, but the discounter said there was potential to expand it further.

“We know customers are looking for new ways to save time and money. Instacart provides easy access to our low prices at the click of a button,” Jason Hart, CEO of Aldi said in a statement.

The retailer did not initially confirm which categories will be available via Instacart, however it has since confirmed to db that while the majority of its products can be bought online, alcohol and Aldi Finds products will not be available.

Customers can also choose a delivery window tho suite them, choosing between the hour slots or delivery up to a week later.

The move is being widely seen as a reaction to online giant Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods Markets in June for $13.7 billion (£10.7 billion), which offers wine in around 250 of its 450 US stores. Market analysts called it a “wake-up” call for the retail industry.

In June, Aldi announced it was ramping up its US store opening programme, ploughing $3.4 billion into opening 900 stores over the next five years, taking its total US estate to around 2,500 sites. The move is expected to make it the third largest grocery retailer in the US.

Aldi launched its online operation in the UK in January 2016 by rolling out an online wine shop that offered wines by the case for home delivery and click-and-collect. In its first year, the site sold more than 2 million bottles, driven by sales of sparkling wine and its premium own-brand wines.

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