Aldi launches staff-only discount stores across the UK — A bold step to tackle food waste and support workers

Aldi UK has unveiled a new wave of staff-exclusive stores across Britain, designed to slash food waste while offering its employees access to heavily discounted groceries. Following a successful pilot in Darlington, the supermarket giant is rolling out this eco-friendly initiative at all 11 of its regional distribution centres, reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and waste reduction.

The new “colleague shops” are not open to the general public — only Aldi employees can shop there. These outlets sell products that are still perfectly safe to consume but cannot be sold in the main stores due to damaged packaging or nearing best-before dates.

The initiative has now reached distribution centres located in Bathgate, Darlington, Bolton, Goldthorpe, Neston, Sawley, Atherstone, Cardiff, Swindon, Chelmsford, and Sheppey. By extending the scheme nationwide, Aldi hopes to prevent approximately 240 tonnes of food from being discarded every year.

According to Luke Emery, Aldi UK’s National Sustainability Director, the move demonstrates the retailer’s growing investment in practical sustainability measures. “The colleague shop is another example of how we’re working to cut food waste across our operations. It’s a practical initiative that benefits both colleagues and the environment,” Emery said, highlighting how the programme supports staff welfare while championing environmental responsibility.

This development aligns with Aldi’s wider pledge to reduce food waste by 90% by 2030, compared to its 2017 levels. In addition to the colleague stores, the supermarket has already introduced ‘reduction zones’ in its regular outlets — dedicated areas where shoppers can find marked-down items approaching their expiry dates.

Aldi, which employs more than 45,000 people in the UK, joins a growing list of retailers prioritising sustainability. Tesco, for instance, has operated a similar internal initiative since 2018, allowing staff to claim unsold food through its “colleague shops.” These are accessible via the Colleague Clubcard scheme, provided the items have not been allocated to local charities or food banks.

Meanwhile, other organisations such as Company Shop — which partners with brands like M&S and Asda — continue to provide access to surplus stock for select groups, including NHS workers, emergency service personnel, and those receiving means-tested benefits.

Even for non-employees, there are many ways to access affordable or free food while reducing waste. Apps like Too Good To Go and Olio have become household names across the UK, connecting consumers with discounted meals and groceries that would otherwise go to waste. Too Good To Go users, for example, can purchase “surprise bags” from local restaurants or bakeries for as little as £2 to £6, while Olio enables neighbours and businesses to share unused items for free.

With this latest move, Aldi is sending a clear message: cutting food waste isn’t just good for the planet — it’s also good for people. By combining sustainability with affordability, the retailer is helping reshape how the UK thinks about food, value, and environmental responsibility.

FAQs

1. Who can shop at Aldi’s new colleague stores?
Only Aldi employees can access these staff-only shops located within regional distribution centres across the UK.

2. What types of products are available?
The stores sell food and household products that are perfectly safe to consume but can’t be sold in the main store due to damaged packaging or proximity to expiry dates.

3. How much food will this initiative save?
Aldi estimates that the programme will prevent around 240 tonnes of food waste every year.

4. Where are the colleague stores located?
They are located in Bathgate, Darlington, Bolton, Goldthorpe, Neston, Sawley, Atherstone, Cardiff, Swindon, Chelmsford, and Sheppey.

5. What other initiatives does Aldi have to reduce food waste?
In addition to colleague shops, Aldi has set up in-store “reduction zones” and partners with food-sharing networks to redistribute surplus products.