September 2, 2023, 7:18 am | Read time: 4 minutes
Grocery delivery services have also established themselves in Germany as an alternative to shopping in stores. Now, discount retailer Aldi is entering the business.
So far, the online offerings of Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd in Germany have been limited to a joint shop, primarily selling promotional items. However, after successful test runs in the UK and the U.S., Aldi Süd launched a grocery delivery service for Germany on its own this spring. Initially, it was just a pilot project. But now, the service is officially available in Germany.
Overview
“meinAldi” officially launches in Germany
As Aldi Süd confirmed to TECHBOOK in May, the service was to start in June with a trial run. Initially, the offering of around 1,300 grocery items was available only to employees near the Aldi Süd International Services office in Mülheim. The test was successful, allowing the new delivery service called “meinAldi” to officially launch. Interested customers can now register for the service on the “meinAldi” website. Aldi plans to begin deliveries soon, and customers will be informed of the exact start date after registration.
Through “meinAldi,” the discount retailer offers a wide range of everyday products, including groceries, pet food, and alcoholic beverages. These are neatly categorized. In addition to organic products, the delivery service also offers affordable discount brands and branded products. Discounted promotional items are also available.
Deliveries are made via electric delivery vans on weekdays during fixed time slots that customers can book through the app or website. The retailer advertises that all offers are “always available at the original Aldi price.” For orders up to 49.99 euros, Aldi charges a delivery fee of 4.50 euros. Orders over 50 euros are shipped free of charge.
Read also: Netto tests unlocking shopping carts via app
Aldi Nord Tests New Payment System
Aldi discontinues popular service offer! Customers have to adapt
Offer initially only in the southern part of Germany
As mentioned earlier, the “meinAldi” project is under the banner of Aldi Süd. TECHBOOK learned from Aldi Süd that a “nationwide implementation is not planned.” The company cites higher costs due to delivery fees, which would make shopping more expensive for many people, as one reason. Additionally, “online grocery retail in Germany […] is currently not a profitable business model.”
Whether a collaboration with Aldi Nord is planned, Aldi Süd did not disclose to TECHBOOK. So far, the company is building the entire infrastructure both abroad and in Germany on its own. Whether a joint delivery service modeled after the Aldi online shop is being considered seems doubtful.
Incidentally, Aldi is also testing a completely new payment system in the Netherlands. An introduction in Germany is very likely in this case.
In the U.S., Aldi already has experience with its own delivery service
In the U.S., Aldi Süd launched a grocery delivery service in 2022. The company operates more than 2,200 stores in 38 states, with nearly 98 percent of them offering online order delivery to customers. Aldi Süd partners with online shopping specialist Instacart in the United States, which handles order processing. Initially, the grocery offering was only available through the Instacart site, but there is now a completely new online presence at new.aldi.us.
There, in addition to dairy and meat products, you can find fruits and vegetables, frozen and baked goods, beverages, household items, and much more. There’s even a “German Cuisine” category featuring items like “Bavarian Bratwurst,” “Smoked Knackwurst,” “Braunschweiger,” and “German Style Sauerkraut.”
In the U.S., Aldi Süd not only delivers but also offers a pickup option. Customers can place their orders online and pick them up directly at the store. This service is also available in the UK as “Click & Collect“–however, Aldi Süd does not offer a delivery service there.