Aldi has opened a new store, featuring its new concept, in Braine-l’Alleud near Brussels. The city in Walloon Brabant was one of the last major municipalities in Belgium where the discounter was not yet active.
Focus on sustainability
The new Aldi is part of a mixed-use development near the town’s railway station, also including 98 apartments and several other stores. “We had our eyes on Braine-l’Alleud for a while now”, expansion manager Eric Demasy admits. “We noticed a growing demand for an Aldi store. We have looked at several possibilities to guarantee the best proximity possible, hence this central location. We are close to the railway station and also easily accessible by bike and on foot.”
The store measures 1,050 sqm, with a parking garage in the basement, and features the new Aldi lay-out with a focus on fresh products near the entrance. Special attention was given to sustainability: a heat recovery system means the shop consumes no natural gas and the refrigerators and freezers are cooled by natural cooling. With the new store, Aldi now has 443 locations in Belgium.
