ITALY: Aldi confirms Italian market entry | Progresiv

German discounter Aldi Süd has confirmed plans to enter Italy. Austrian Subsidiary, Hofer will co-ordinate the market entry in 2016 and most likely via the acquisition of a local retail chain. Aldi Süd currently has around 4,700 stores in a total of eight countries, mainly in Europe and the discounter had been doing extensive research on the country as it assesses the feasibility and potential of any such entry.

The Market certainly has huge potential for another discounter player, with Eurospin, Penny and Lidl currently operating in the market. However, Italian shoppers’ preference for national retailers remains a challenge, with national players making up the majority of the Top 10 grocery retailers. (www.kantarretailiq.com)