There are a few things done differently at Aldi, which opened 10 new stores. Toni Guinyard reports for the NBC4 News at Noon on Thursday April 21, 2016.
German discount supermarket chain Aldi opened 10 Southern California stores Thursday, mostly in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
The openings increase the number of Aldi stores in the area to 18. The first eight Aldi stores opened in late March, primarily in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Three women camped out early Thursday at the Buena Park location hours ahead of its 9 a.m. grand opening. When a store in Fontana opened last month, shoppers also lined up outside to be among the first customers.
The company plans to open about 45 stores in Southern California by the
end of the year, employing more than 1,100 people. Aldi operates nearly 1,500 stores in 32 states and nearly 10,000 around the world.
First-time Aldi customers might notice a few differences in the way things operate. Cashiers sit to ring up sales, shoppers must bag what they buy and shopping carts come with a 25-cent rental fee, returned to the shopper after returning the cart.
It's a no-frills experience with names shoppers will not find in other major stores.
"We have our own products," said Jim Taylor, director of store operations. "Ninety percent of them are manufactured for us in our own exclusive brand format."
Most shoppers at the Buena Park location heard about the opening through word of mouth. They received grand opening gift cards.
Stores opening Thursday are at:
- 275 S. Euclid St., Anaheim;
- 1403 S. Baldwin Ave., Arcadia;
- 8351 La Palma Ave., Buena Park;
- 11530 South St., Cerritos;
- 1400 N. Azusa Ave, Covina;
- 17070 Magnolia St., Fountain Valley;
- 3330 W. Century Blvd., Inglewood;
- 2268 Foothill Blvd., La Verne;
- 740 W. Rancho Vista Blvd., Palmdale; and
- 4020 Highland Ave., San Bernardino.
Ribbon-cutting ceremonies will be held at all of the stores at 8:45 a.m.
