TUNBRIDGE Wells is being prioritised for a new Aldi store.
The company has included Tunbridge Wells on its list of 30 ‘priority’ places in which it wishes to open, despite already having an out-of-town location on the North Farm Industrial Estate.
Giles Hurley, CEO of Aldi UK, said: “Demand for Aldi has never been higher, but there are still some towns and areas that either don’t have access to an Aldi or have capacity for additional stores.”
Aldi opened its first supermarket in Tunbridge Wells at the Great Lodge Retail Park in November 2019, and had planned to open a second store in Eridge Road.
However, the supermarket chain was forced to sell that plot in late 2021 when fellow German discounter Lidl opened a shop off Linden Park Road – about 100 yards away.
Following that setback, Aldi had said it would pay a ‘finder’s fee’ to anyone – staff or member of the public – who could find it a location to buy or lease.
According to the discount supermarket’s specifications, it will pay 1.5 per cent of the purchase price (if freehold) or a 10 per cent of the annual rent (if leasehold) finder’s fee if someone introduces the company to a ‘previously unknown’ site.
More details at: www.aldi.co.uk/about-aldi/property/required-towns/south-east
