ALDI looks to open Rochester Hills location

Plans by German-based grocery chain ALDI to build a new location in Rochester Hills appear to be moving forward as the city considers a building permit application from the company for a $2 million project at 1106 S. Rochester Road.

Inquiries about the plans weren't returned by the company's public relations firm, which earlier this year denied any plans to build a new location in the city. However, a building permit application to the city was submitted on July 3, with an estimated construction cost of $2.1 million. The builder for the project is to be determined.

Aldi, a low-cost grocery store, has approximately 1,700 stores in 35 states, including 70 in Michigan, with about 30 in metro Detroit.

The new location will be part of a major $3.4 billion expansion announced by ALDI in 2017 that includes a goal of establishing 2,500 stores in the United States by the end of 2022. Those plans come on the heels of a $1.6 billion program to remodel 1,300 stores by 2020.

“We take a simple, cost-effective approach to grocery shopping that saves shoppers on their grocery bills. In fact, smart shoppers have found that switching from national brands to ALDI exclusive brands can save them up to 50 percent on their weekly must-haves. More than 40 million customers each month benefit from the ALDI streamlined approach, bringing shoppers the highest quality products at the lowest possible prices every day,” Aldi s on its website. Ninety percent of its brands are Aldi exclusives, “manufactured by many of the nation’s leading food producers, and we work closely with suppliers to ensure that ALDI exclusive brands meet or exceed the quality of national name brands.”

The plans would establish the company as the third largest grocer in the country, and include the addition of about 25,000 new jobs in stores, warehouses and offices.

"We pioneered a grocery model built around value, convenience, quality and selection, and now ALDI is one of America's favorite and fastest growing retailers," ALDI CEO Jason Hart said in a release announcing the company's expansion plans. "We're growing at a time when other retailers are struggling. We are giving our customers what they want, which is more organic produce, antibiotic-free meats and fresh, healthier options across the store, all at unmatched prices up to 50 percent lower than traditional grocery stores."