THIRD WARD – ALDI, a burgeoning international supermarket chain renowned for its combination of quality groceries and discount prices, is expanding to the Third Ward with a location at 3618 Old Spanish Trail scheduled to open on Oct. 13, 2016.

Based in Germany, ALDI has enjoyed a healthy domestic expansion in recent years, approaching 1,600 stores in the United States including more than two dozen in Greater Houston. Rising demand has fueled that growth, with ALDI expected to reach 2,000 stores in the continental U.S. by the close of 2018. The Third Ward is part of that accelerated expansion, with its residents standing to benefit greatly.

“We are always evaluating site locations and looking into opening new stores because we want to be conveniently located for our shoppers,” said ALDI Rosenberg Division vice president Karla Waddleton. “We have 32 million customers in our stores each month and we help them save up to 50 percent on their groceries, including fresh meat, bread, dairy, organic produce, the liveGfree gluten-free product line and the SimplyNature line of products free from over 125 artificial ingredients and preservatives.

“With this new location, we look forward to serving more Houston shoppers for many years to come.”

According to Waddleton, ALDI selects site locations based on neighborhood population density, proximity to competitors, property costs, and traffic patterns. OST hit all those benchmarks, and Third Ward residents will soon have an additional option to satisfy their grocery needs.

That ALDI enters the market with a sterling reputation for quality goods at affordable price points should produce a honeymoon that yields a lasting relationship.

“(A) growing numbers of smart shoppers are discovering that they can save time and money at ALDI without sacrificing quality,” Waddleton said. “We are always looking to be conveniently based where ALDI shoppers are located.”