German discount supermarket ALDI to open 45 stores in Southern California

The big German discount supermarket chain Aldi announced plans today to open some 45 stores employing more than 1,100 people in Southern California by the end of the year.

The first eight are scheduled to open March 24, with each holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony that day, the company said in a statement. "The opening of ALDI in California marks a significant achievement in the company's five-year strategic plan to open 650 new stores across the nation. By the end of 2018, ALDI expects to operate nearly 2,000 stores,'' the statement said.

ALDI, whose headquarters are in Essen, now operates nearly 1,500 stores in 32 states and nearly 10,000 around the world.

The eight stores opening on March 24 will be in Beaumont, Fontana, Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, Palm Springs,
San Bernardino and Yucaipa.

Twelve more stores are scheduled to open between April and July, several of them in Los Angeles County. They will be in Anaheim, Arcadia, Bakersfield, Buena Park, Calexico, Cerritos, Covina, El Centro, Fountain Valley, Inglewood, La Puente and La Verne.

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